<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000708955 <NAME> FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 168,256 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 12,659 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 895 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 511,906 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 36,843 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 37,487 <LOANS> 2,988,836 <ALLOWANCE> 38,729 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,860,382 <DEPOSITS> 2,921,146 <SHORT-TERM> 386,828 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 32,123 <LONG-TERM> 152,345 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 305,812 <OTHER-SE> 62,128 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 3,860,382 <INTEREST-LOAN> 182,946 <INTEREST-INVEST> 24,572 <INTEREST-OTHER> 498 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 208,016 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 71,988 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 85,267 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 122,749 <LOAN-LOSSES> 6,027 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 56 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 91,768 <INCOME-PRETAX> 55,534 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 36,331 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 36,331 <EPS-BASIC> .85 <EPS-DILUTED> .85 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.40 <LOANS-NON> 10,430 <LOANS-PAST> 3,318 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 1,354 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 34,800 <CHARGE-OFFS> 6,248 <RECOVERIES> 3,050 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 38,729 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 38,729 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0