<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000708955 <NAME> FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 110,896 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 3,774 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 12,758 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 301,120 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 67,496 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 70,835 <LOANS> 1,742,895 <ALLOWANCE> 23,651 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,308,651 <DEPOSITS> 1,897,536 <SHORT-TERM> 103,955 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 28,439 <LONG-TERM> 11,223 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 120,401 <OTHER-SE> 147,097 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,308,651 <INTEREST-LOAN> 39,016 <INTEREST-INVEST> 6,080 <INTEREST-OTHER> 273 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 45,369 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 16,825 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 18,131 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 27,238 <LOAN-LOSSES> 860 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 9 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 18,520 <INCOME-PRETAX> 14,045 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 14,045 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,414 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.63 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.63 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.51 <LOANS-NON> 6,611 <LOANS-PAST> 1,009 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 550 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 22,672 <CHARGE-OFFS> 665 <RECOVERIES> 346 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 23,651 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 23,651 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0