<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000708955 <NAME> FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 124,222 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 9,029 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 11,354 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 288,971 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 32,087 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 2,321,281 <ALLOWANCE> 30,502 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,905,535 <DEPOSITS> 2,317,297 <SHORT-TERM> 132,062 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 148,630 <LONG-TERM> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 297,687 <OTHER-SE> 307,546 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,905,535 <INTEREST-LOAN> 50,701 <INTEREST-INVEST> 5,024 <INTEREST-OTHER> 83 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 55,808 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 19,074 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 21,700 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 34,108 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,939 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 17 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 23,805 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,136 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,130 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.31 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.31 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.70 <LOANS-NON> 5,792 <LOANS-PAST> 2,446 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 570 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 165 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 29,684 <CHARGE-OFFS> 1,389 <RECOVERIES> 268 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 30,502 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 30,502 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0