<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000708955
<NAME> FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                         125,990
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           3,578
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 6,811
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    352,932
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          41,706
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            43,763
<LOANS>                                      2,091,980
<ALLOWANCE>                                     28,917
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,737,793
<DEPOSITS>                                   2,261,685
<SHORT-TERM>                                    90,888
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             27,357
<LONG-TERM>                                     62,247
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       231,837
<OTHER-SE>                                      63,779
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,737,793
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 93,704
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               13,129
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   433
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               107,266
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              39,829
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              43,040
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           64,226
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,448
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 337
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 45,336
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 32,125
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      32,125
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    21,171
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .64
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .64
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.37
<LOANS-NON>                                      5,306
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,746
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 1,170
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                27,510
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  (2,396)
<RECOVERIES>                                       549
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               28,917
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            28,917
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0