<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000708955 <NAME> FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 136,489 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 2,498 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 4,921 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 313,175 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 34,920 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 37,214 <LOANS> 2,266,873 <ALLOWANCE> 29,684 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,871,104 <DEPOSITS> 2,326,596 <SHORT-TERM> 109,363 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 27,877 <LONG-TERM> 105,335 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 298,285 <OTHER-SE> 3,648 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,871,104 <INTEREST-LOAN> 193,924 <INTEREST-INVEST> 24,897 <INTEREST-OTHER> 690 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 219,511 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 80,282 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 88,447 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 131,064 <LOAN-LOSSES> 6,077 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 804 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 92,739 <INCOME-PRETAX> 66,589 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 66,589 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 44,106 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.21 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.21 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.82 <LOANS-NON> 6,152 <LOANS-PAST> 1,839 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 78 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 191 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 27,510 <CHARGE-OFFS> 5,759 <RECOVERIES> 1,050 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 29,684 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 29,684 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0