<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000708955
<NAME> FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                              JAN-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                         120,547
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           2,106
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 5,930
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    312,672
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          65,981
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            69,638
<LOANS>                                      1,813,987
<ALLOWANCE>                                     24,553
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,394,034
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,945,357
<SHORT-TERM>                                   139,870
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             23,225
<LONG-TERM>                                     11,161
<COMMON>                                       120,401
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     154,110
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,394,034
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 79,718
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               12,464
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   454
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                92,636
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              34,083
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              36,945
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           55,691
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    1,983
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   7
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 37,231
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 28,894
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      19,428
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    19,428
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.29
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                      7,089
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,026
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   704
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                23,651
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      892
<RECOVERIES>                                       197
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               24,553
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            24,553
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0