Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
harvey david s
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/ [FFBC] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP & CCO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
300 HIGH STREET		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/21/2006
(Street)

HAMILTON, OH 45011		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 01/21/2006   M(1)   800 A $ 17.4 18,927 D  
Common Stock 01/22/2006   M(1)   1,342 A $ 17.4 20,269 D  
Common Stock               1,420.74 I 401-K
Common Stock 01/21/2006   M(2)   1,250 D $ 0 8,794 I Restricted
Common Stock 01/22/2006   M(2)   2,097 D $ 0 6,697 I Restricted

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
1999 (ISO) Stock Option $ 22.565             01/25/2000 01/25/2009 Common Stock 4,043   4,043 D  
2000 (ISO) Stock Option $ 17.56             01/24/2001 01/24/2010 Common Stock 5,694   5,694 D  
2000 (NQ) Stock Option $ 17.56             01/24/2001 01/24/2010 Common Stock 8,481   8,481 D  
2001 (ISO) Stock Option $ 16.0124             01/22/2002 01/22/2011 Common Stock 6,244   6,244 D  
2001 (NQ) Stock Option $ 16.0124             01/22/2002 01/22/2011 Common Stock 1,631   1,631 D  
2002 (ISO) Stock Option $ 17.2             01/12/2003 01/17/2012 Common Stock 5,000   5,000 D  
2003 (ISO) Stock Option $ 16.58             01/22/2004 01/22/2013 Common Stock 5,000   5,000 D  
2004 (ISO) Stock Option $ 17.09             01/21/2005 01/21/2014 Common Stock 2,500   2,500 D  
2005 (ISO) Stock Option $ 17.51             04/18/2006 04/18/2015 Common Stock 5,711   5,711 D  
2005 (NQ) Sock Option $ 17.51             04/18/2006 04/18/2015 Common Stock 4,889   4,889 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
harvey david s
300 HIGH STREET
HAMILTON, OH 45011		       EVP & CCO  

Signatures

 terri j ziepfel   01/24/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Vesting of Restricted Stock Award (less shares sold to cover taxes)
(2) Vesting of Restricted Stock Award

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