<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000708955
<NAME> FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         142,334
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           3,487
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                18,773
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    332,617
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          58,347
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            60,961
<LOANS>                                      1,977,031
<ALLOWANCE>                                     27,510
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,636,111
<DEPOSITS>                                   2,230,178
<SHORT-TERM>                                    52,288
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             26,332
<LONG-TERM>                                     41,054
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
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<COMMON>                                       132,464
<OTHER-SE>                                     153,795
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,636,111
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                166,336
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               24,997
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   852
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               192,185
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              70,311
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              76,833
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          115,352
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    4,736
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  54
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 77,677
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 59,916
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    40,308
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.44
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<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    8.88
<LOANS-NON>                                      5,257
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,203
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 1,581
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  1,612
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                22,672
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    3,910
<RECOVERIES>                                       999
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               27,510
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            27,510
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
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