EXHIBIT 28


                                                           Thomas H. Neuschaefer
                                                           (715) 345-4427

                                                           Kenneth F. Csinicsek
                                                           (715) 345-4352

NEWS RELEASE:

                     FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES
                            STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

   STEVENS POINT,  WISCONSIN,  October 16, 1996 ... First Financial  Corporation
(NASDAQ/NMS: FFHC) announced today that it intends to repurchase up to 1,500,000
shares (approximately 5%) of its outstanding common stock from time to time over
the next 6 months in open market and privately  negotiated  transactions.  Under
the Program no shares  knowingly will be purchased from officers or directors of
First  Financial  or from  persons  who hold in  excess of five  percent  of its
outstanding shares of common stock.

   John C.  Seramur,  First  Fincinal's  President and Chief  Executive  Officer
stated:  "The  Board  of  Directors  considers  First  Financial  stock to be an
attractive investment. Its objective in authorizing the repurchase program is to
increase  earnings per share and return on shareholder's  equity of those shares
of First Financial stock that remain outstanding after the repurchases."

   First  Financial,  which  presently  has  29,915,306  shares of common  stock
outstanding, is headquarterd in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The principal business
of First  Financial is the  business of its banking  subsidiary,  First  Fincial
Bank. As of September 30, 1996,  First  Financial  reported total assets of $5.6
billion and stockholders  equity of $401 million.  First Financial  operates 128
consumer banking offices throughout Wisconsin and Illinois.

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