This preliminary prospectus supplement relates to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, but it is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and they are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state or other jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No.: 333-153751

Subject to Completion, dated January 26, 2010

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated May 1, 2009)

$85,000,000

Common Shares

We are offering common shares, without par value. Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “FFBC”. On January 25, 2010, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $15.58 per share.

Our common shares are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any of our bank or non-bank subsidiaries and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

You should read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus carefully before you invest. Investing in our common shares involves a high degree of risk. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement.

		Per Share				Total
Public offering price			$				$
Underwriting discounts and commissions			$				$
Proceeds to First Financial Bancorp. (before expenses)			$				$

Barclays Capital, on behalf of the underwriters, also may purchase up to an additional $11,475,000 of common shares within 30 days of the date of this prospectus supplement to cover over-allotments, if any.

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission, nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined that this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Barclays Capital, on behalf of the underwriters, expects to deliver the common shares on or about February   , 2010.

Barclays Capital

RBC Capital Markets

Raymond James

Prospectus Supplement dated       , 2010

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		Page
Prospectus Supplement
About this Prospectus Supplement			ii
Where You Can Find More Information			ii
Special Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			iii
Prospectus Supplement Summary			S-1
Risk Factors			S-6
Use of Proceeds			S-12
Price Range of Common Shares and Dividends			S-13
Dividend Policy			S-13
Capitalization			S-14
Description of Capital Shares and the Warrant			S-15
Benefit Plan Investor Considerations			S-17
Certain U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders			S-18
Underwriting			S-21
Validity of Securities			S-29
Experts			S-29
Prospectus
About this Prospectus			1
Where You Can Find More Information			1
Special Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			2
Prospectus Summary			3
Risk Factors			6
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges			6
First Financial Bancorp			6
The Trusts			6
Use of Proceeds			7
Plan of Distribution			7
Description of Debt Securities			10
Description of Common Shares			14
Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Articles of Incorporation Provisions			15
Description of Purchase Contracts			17
Description of Units			17
Description of Warrants			18
Description of Rights			19
Description of Trust Preferred Capital Securities			20
Description of Guarantees			26
Effect of Obligations Under the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities and the Guarantees			28
Validity of Securities			28
Experts			28

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

We provide information to you about our common shares in two separate documents: (1) this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering of our common shares and adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus; and (2) the accompanying prospectus, which provides general information about securities we may offer from time to time, including securities other than our common shares being offered by this prospectus supplement. If the information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on this prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information”.

In making your investment decision, you should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other information. If you receive any information not authorized by us, you should not rely on it.

Our common shares are being offered for sale only in places where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of our common shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of our common shares and the distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than its respective date.

Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “First Financial Bancorp.”, “First Financial”, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, “ours”, and “us” mean First Financial Bancorp. and its subsidiaries.

As used in this prospectus supplement, the terms “Series A Preferred Stock” and “Warrant” refer to the 80,000 shares of our Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, without par value, having a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, and the ten-year warrant to purchase common shares in accordance with its terms, respectively, issued and sold by us, in each case, to the U.S. Department of Treasury (the “U.S. Treasury”) on December 23, 2008 as part of its Capital Purchase Program under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP CPP”).

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on its public reference room. In addition, our SEC filings are available to the public at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can also inspect reports, proxy statements and other information about us at the offices of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway, New York, New York 10006.

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The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the following documents listed below and any future filings (other than current reports or portions thereof deemed “furnished” under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K) made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), until we or any underwriters sell all of the securities:

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

First Financial Bancorp.
4000 Smith Road, Suite 4000
Cincinnati, OH 45209
Telephone: (513) 979-5837
Attention: Investor Relations

Unless otherwise indicated, currency amounts in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are stated in United States dollars.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with additional or different information. We may only use this prospectus supplement to sell securities if it is accompanied by a prospectus. We are only offering these securities in jurisdictions where the offer is permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the dates of the applicable documents.

SPECIAL CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus which are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (the “Act”). In addition, certain statements in future filings by us with the SEC, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by or with our approval which are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, projections of revenues, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or non-payment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items, statements of plans and objectives of us or our management or board of directors, and statements of future economic performances and statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “intends”, and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

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Such forward-looking statements are meaningful only on the date when such statements are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such a statement is made to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights certain information about us and this offering. This summary may not contain all of the information that may be important to you. To understand the terms of our common shares, as well as the considerations that are important to you in making your investment decision, you should carefully read this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus including the information set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement, and the information incorporated therein by reference.

First Financial Bancorp.

We are a Cincinnati, Ohio based bank holding company with approximately $6.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2009. Our banking subsidiary, First Financial Bank, N.A., founded in 1863, provides retail and commercial banking products and services, and investment and insurance products through its 127 banking centers. Our strategic operating markets are located within the four state regions of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan where we operate 118 banking centers as of December 31, 2009. The bank’s wealth management division, First Financial Wealth Resource Group, provides investment management, traditional trust, brokerage, private banking, and insurance services, and has approximately $2.2 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2009.

Our principal executive offices are located at 4000 Smith Road, Suite 4000, Cincinnati, Ohio 45209 and our telephone number at that address is (513) 979-5837. We maintain an Internet website at www.bankatfirst.com. We are not incorporating the information on our website into this prospectus supplement, and neither this website nor the information on this website is included or incorporated in, or is a part of, this prospectus supplement.

We refer you to the documents incorporated by reference in the attached prospectus, as described in the section “Where You Can Find More Information”, for more information about us and our businesses.

Recent Developments

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Results from Operations

On January 26, 2010, we announced results of operations for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2009. We have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K containing additional preliminary information relating to our results of operations as of and for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2009 portions of which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. You should carefully review such information contained in the Current Report on Form 8-K in addition to the summary set forth below.

Overview

Our full-year 2009 net income was $246.5 million, net income available to common shareholders was $243.0 million, and earnings per diluted common share were $5.33. This compares with full-year 2008 net income of $23.0 million and earnings per diluted common share of $0.61. Fourth quarter 2009 net income was $13.8 million, net income available to common shareholders was $12.8 million and earnings per diluted common share were $0.25. This compares with net income of $2.1 million and earnings per diluted common share of $0.06 for the fourth quarter of 2008, and net income of $225.6 million, net income available to common shareholders of $224.6 million and earnings per diluted common share of $4.36 for the third quarter of 2009.

Credit Quality (excluding covered loans)

Nonperforming assets to total assets increased from 0.94% of total assets at September 30, 2009 to 1.23% of total assets at December 31, 2009 due to continued stress in the commercial and commercial real estate portfolios. Quarterly provision expense exceeded net charge-offs by approximately $3.5 million.

Net Charge-offs

Full-year 2009 total net charge-offs were $32.6 million or 116 basis points of average loans and leases, compared with $12.6 million or 47 basis points of average loans and leases for the full-year of 2008.

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Nonperforming Assets

Nonperforming loans were $77.8 million and nonperforming assets were $81.9 million at December 31, 2009, compared with $63.6 million and $67.9 million, respectively, at September 30, 2009, and $18.2 million and $22.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2008.

Provision Expense/Allowance for Loan & Lease Losses

Full-year 2009 provision expense was $56.1 million compared with $19.4 million for the full-year of 2008, and was $14.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with $26.7 million in the third quarter of 2009, and $10.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Provision expense for the full-year of 2009 represented approximately 171.8% of full-year 2009 net charge-offs, and represented approximately 131.4% of fourth quarter 2009 net charge-offs.

Covered Assets/Loss Share Agreements

In connection with our FDIC-assisted transactions, First Financial Bank, our bank subsidiary, entered into loss sharing arrangements with the FDIC. Under the terms of these agreements the FDIC will reimburse the Company for losses with respect to certain loans and other real estate owned (OREO) (collectively, “covered assets”) beginning with the first dollar of loss. At December 31, 2009, approximately 40% of total loans were covered assets.

Net Interest Income & Net Interest Margin

Full-year 2009 net interest income increased $59.8 million from 2008’s comparable period, and the net interest margin increased 34 basis points. Fourth quarter 2009 net interest income increased $32.5 million from the third quarter of 2009, and the net interest margin increased 73 basis points from the third quarter of 2009. Approximately 56 basis points of the linked-quarter increase in the net interest margin was due to the yield on both covered loans and the indemnification asset. The linked quarter increase was also positively impacted by the repricing of the assumed deposit portfolios (15 basis points) and other balance sheet mix changes (7 basis points), which were partially offset by the increased interest expense in the acquired long-term borrowing portfolios (4 basis points).

Noninterest Income

Full-year 2009 noninterest income, excluding the third quarter 2009 bargain purchase gain of $379.1 million, was $62.2 million, compared with $51.7 million for the full-year of 2008. Included in this increase was other noninterest income related to covered loans that were paid off, as well as higher income on the sales of investment securities. Fourth quarter 2009 noninterest income increased $12.2 million to $24.1 million from $11.9 million, excluding the $379.1 million bargain purchase gain, from the third quarter of 2009, primarily due to the previously mentioned income related to covered loans.

Noninterest Expense

Full-year 2009 noninterest expense was $170.6 million, an increase of $55.4 million from $115.2 million in 2008’s comparable period. Fourth quarter 2009 noninterest expense was $61.6 million, an increase of $15.3 million from $46.3 million in the third quarter of 2009.

Risk Factors

An investment in our common shares involves significant risks. You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement and in the “Risk Factors” section included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, as well as other information included or incorporated by reference into the accompanying prospectus, including our financial statements and the notes thereto, before making an investment decision.

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The Offering

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Summary Historical Financial Information

The following table contains certain information concerning our consolidated financial position and results of operations. The selected historical financial information for each of the two years ended December 31, 2008 is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The information at or for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 was not audited, but in the opinion of management, reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation.

		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)		2009				2008				2007
		(unaudited)
Summary of operations
Interest income		$	233,228			$	183,305			$	206,442
Tax equivalent adjustment(1)			1,265				1,808				2,281
Interest income tax – equivalent(1)			234,493				185,113				208,723
Interest expense			57,245				67,103				87,942
Net interest income tax – equivalent(1)		$	177,248			$	118,010			$	120,781
Interest income		$	233,228			$	183,305			$	206,442
Interest expense			57,245				67,103				87,942
Net interest income			175,983				116,202				118,500
Provision for loan and lease losses			56,084				19,410				7,652
Noninterest income			441,307				51,749				63,588
Noninterest expenses			170,638				115,176				120,747
Income from continuing operations before income taxes			390,568				33,365				53,689
Income tax expense			144,022				10,403				18,008
Income from continuing operations			246,546				22,962				35,681
Net income			246,546				22,962				35,681
Dividends on preferred stock			3,578				0				0
Net income available to common shareholders		$	242,968			$	22,962			$	35,681
Per share data
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Basic		$	5.40			$	0.62			$	0.93
Diluted		$	5.33			$	0.61			$	0.93
Earnings per common share from discontinued operations:
Basic		$	0.00			$	0.00			$	0.00
Diluted		$	0.00			$	0.00			$	0.00
Earnings per common share
Basic		$	5.40			$	0.62			$	0.93
Diluted		$	5.33			$	0.61			$	0.93
Cash dividends declared per common share		$	0.40			$	0.68			$	0.65
Average common shares outstanding – basic (in thousands)			45,029				37,112				38,455
Average common shares outstanding – diluted (in thousands)			45,557				37,484				38,459
Selected period-end balances
Total assets		$	6,681,123			$	3,699,142			$	3,369,316
Earning assets			5,672,255				3,379,873				3,054,128
Investment securities(2)			579,147				692,759				346,536
Loans, net of unearned income			4,823,039				2,683,260				2,599,087

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		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)		2009				2008				2007
		(unaudited)
Interest-bearing demand deposits			1,356,249				636,945				603,870
Savings deposits			1,010,469				583,081				596,636
Time deposits			2,229,400				1,150,208				1,227,954
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits			754,522				413,283				465,731
Total deposits			5,350,640				2,783,517				2,894,191
Short-term borrowings			37,430				354,533				98,289
Long-term debt			404,716				148,164				45,896
Other long-term debt			20,620				20,620				20,620
Shareholders’ equity(3)			675,167				348,327				276,583
Annualized performance ratios
Return on average assets			5.20	%			0.67	%			1.08	%
Return on average common equity			61.43	%			8.27	%			12.73	%
Return on average equity			52.04	%			8.21	%			12.73	%
Return on average tangible common equity			72.27	%			9.24	%			14.20	%
Net interest margin			4.05	%			3.71	%			3.94	%
Net interest margin (tax equivalent basis)(1)			4.08	%			3.77	%			4.01	%
Efficiency ratio			27.59	%			67.85	%			65.49	%
Dividend payout			7.41	%			109.68	%			69.89	%
Asset quality ratios
Allowance for loan losses to period end loans			2.05	%			1.34	%			1.12	%
Nonperforming loans to period end loans			2.69	%			0.68	%			0.58	%
Allowance for loan losses to period end nonperforming loans			76.25	%			197.27	%			193.95	%
Nonperforming assets to period end total assets			1.23	%			0.60	%			0.51	%
Net charge-offs to average loans			1.16	%			0.47	%			0.24	%
Capital ratios
Average total shareholders’ equity to average total assets			9.99	%			8.16	%			8.47	%
Average common shareholders’ equity to average total assets			8.34	%			8.11	%			8.47	%
Tangible common shareholders’ equity to tangible assets			8.10	%			6.57	%			7.41	%
Leverage ratio			9.57	%			10.00	%			8.33	%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio			16.74	%			12.38	%			10.29	%
Total risk-based capital ratio			18.00	%			13.62	%			11.38	%

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common shares involves a number of risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors and other information set forth below and under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, as well as other information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before making an investment decision.

Risks Related to First Financial

We may not be permitted to repurchase the U.S. Treasury’s TARP CPP investment if and when we request approval to do so.

As described below under “Use of Proceeds — Intent to Repurchase Series A Preferred Stock”, we have had discussions with representatives of the Federal Reserve, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and the OCC regarding our ability to repurchase the Series A Preferred Stock issued to the U.S. Treasury under the TARP CPP. We have advised the Federal Reserve and the OCC of our intention to request approval from the U.S. Treasury to repurchase the Series A Preferred Stock. There can be no assurance, however, that our request to repurchase the Series A Preferred Stock, when submitted, will be granted, and if so granted, when the Series A Preferred Stock will be repurchased. Until such time as the Series A Preferred Stock is repurchased, we will remain subject to the terms and conditions of that instrument, which, among other things, require us to obtain regulatory approval to pay dividends on our common shares in excess of $0.17 per share and, with some exceptions, to repurchase our common shares. Further, our continued participation in the TARP CPP subjects us to increased regulatory and legislative oversight, including with respect to executive compensation. These new and any future oversight and legal requirements and implementing standards under the TARP CPP may have unforeseen or unintended adverse effects on the financial services industry as a whole, and particularly on TARP CPP participants such as ourselves.

Real estate market volatility and future changes in our disposition strategies could result in net proceeds that differ significantly from our OREO fair value appraisals.

Our other real estate owned (“OREO”) portfolio consists of properties that we obtained through foreclosure or through an in-substance foreclosure in satisfaction of loans. Properties in our OREO portfolio are recorded at the lower of the recorded investment in the loans for which the properties previously served as collateral or the “fair value”, which represents the estimated sales price of the properties on the date acquired less estimated selling costs. Generally, in determining “fair value” an orderly disposition of the property is assumed, except where a different disposition strategy is expected. Significant judgment is required in estimating the fair value of OREO property, and the period of time within which such estimates can be considered current is significantly shortened during periods of market volatility, as is currently being experienced and as experienced during 2008 and 2009.

In response to market conditions and other economic factors, we may utilize alternative sale strategies other than orderly disposition as part of our OREO disposition strategy, such as immediate liquidation sales. In this event, as a result of the significant judgments required in estimating fair value and the variables involved in different methods of disposition, the net proceeds realized from such sales transactions could differ significantly from appraisals, comparable sales, and other estimates used to determine the fair value of our OREO properties.

The information that we use in managing our credit risk may be inaccurate or incomplete, which may result in an increased risk of default and otherwise have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions with clients and counterparties, we may rely on information furnished by or on behalf of clients and counterparties, including financial statements and other financial information. We also may rely on representations of clients and counterparties as to the accuracy and completeness of that information and, with respect to financial statements, on reports of independent auditors. Although we regularly review our credit exposure to specific clients and counterparties and to specific industries that we believe may present credit concerns, default risk may arise from events or circumstances that are difficult to detect, such as fraud. Moreover, such circumstances, including fraud, may become

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more likely to occur and/or be detected in periods of general economic uncertainty, such as at the present time. We may also fail to receive full information with respect to the risks of a counterparty. In addition, in cases where we have extended credit against collateral, we may find that we are undersecured, for example, as a result of sudden declines in market values that reduce the value of collateral or due to fraud with respect to such collateral. If such events or circumstances were to occur, it could result in a potential loss of revenue and have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

When we loan money, commit to loan money or enter into a letter of credit or other contract with a counterparty, we incur credit risk, or the risk of losses if our borrowers do not repay their loans or our counterparties fail to perform according to the terms of their contracts. Large, individual loans, letters of credit and contracts magnify such credit risks.

As lending is one of our primary business activities, the credit quality of our portfolio can have a significant impact on our earnings. We estimate and establish reserves for credit risks and credit losses inherent in our total loan portfolio. This process, which is critical to our financial results and condition, requires difficult, subjective and complex judgments, including forecasts of economic conditions and how these economic predictions might impair the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans. As is the case with any such assessments, there is always the possibility that we will fail to identify the proper factors or that we will fail to accurately estimate the impacts of factors that we identify. In addition, large loans, letters of credit and contracts with individual counterparties in our portfolio magnify the credit risk that we face, as the impact of large borrowers and counterparties not repaying their loans or performing according to the terms of their contracts has a disproportionately significant impact on our credit losses and reserves.

First Financial Bank’s acquisition of Irwin from the FDIC exposes us to liabilities arising from certain litigation instituted against Irwin. While the FDIC has agreed to indemnify us against certain liabilities, seeking such indemnification could be a time-consuming process.

Pursuant to the Purchase and Assumption Agreement by and among the FDIC, the FDIC as receiver, and First Financial Bank dated September 18, 2009, as amended (the “Purchase Agreement”), and subject to certain exclusions set forth therein, the FDIC as receiver has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless First Financial Bank against any and all costs, losses, liabilities, expenses (including attorneys’ fees) prior to assumption of the defense by the FDIC as receiver, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with certain claims against Irwin and its former subsidiaries for actions taken on or prior to September 18, 2009. We have identified a number of claims against which we believe we should be indemnified pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and we have submitted and expect to continue to submit requests for indemnification to the FDIC as receiver. The process of seeking indemnification from the FDIC as receiver with respect to such litigation could be time-consuming and subject to dispute. Further, until the FDIC as receiver has approved and reimbursed us for the claims for which we should be indemnified, we could be exposed to liabilities arising from the defense of such claims.

First Financial Bank’s acquisitions of Peoples and Irwin from the FDIC have caused us to modify our disclosure controls and procedures, which may not result in the material information that we are required to disclose in our Exchange Act reports being recorded, processed, summarized, and reported adequately.

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to cause the material information that we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act to be recorded, processed, summarized, and reported to the extent applicable within the time periods required by the SEC’s rules and forms. The internal control over financial reporting of Peoples’ and Irwin’s banking operations were excluded from the evaluation of effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the period ended September 30, 2009, because of the timing of the acquisitions. As a result of the Peoples and Irwin acquisitions, however, we will be implementing changes to processes, information technology systems and other components of internal control over financial reporting as part of our integration activities. Notwithstanding any changes to our disclosure controls and procedures resulting from our evaluation of the same after the Peoples and Irwin acquisitions, our control systems, no matter how well designed and operated, may not result in the material information that we are required to disclose in our Exchange Act reports being recorded, processed, summarized, and reported adequately. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected.

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Certain fair value estimates and other measures associated with the assets of Peoples and Irwin acquired from the FDIC remain uncertain, and subject to change, based on future determinations made by the FDIC, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

We have determined that the acquisitions of the net assets of Peoples and Irwin constitute business combinations as defined under GAAP. Accordingly, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed have been presented by us in our financial statements at their fair values as required. In many cases, the determination of these fair values requires management to make estimates about discount rates, future expected cash flows, market conditions and other future events that are highly subjective in nature and subject to change. Under GAAP, these fair value estimates are considered preliminary, and remain subject to change for up to one year after the closing dates of the acquisitions as additional information relative to closing date fair values becomes available. We and the FDIC are engaged in on-going discussions that may impact which assets and liabilities were acquired or assumed by First Financial and/or the associated purchase prices. Based upon these discussions, there could be further adjustments to those assets acquired or assumed. In addition, the tax treatment of FDIC assisted acquisitions is complex and subject to interpretations that may result in future adjustments of deferred taxes as of the acquisition dates. Any future changes to such measures or determinations could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

First Financial Bank’s failure to fully comply with the loss-sharing provisions relating to its acquisitions of Peoples and Irwin from the FDIC could jeopardize the loss-share coverage afforded to certain individual or pools of assets, rendering First Financial Bank financially responsible for the full amount of any losses related to such assets.

In connection with First Financial Bank’s acquisitions of Peoples and Irwin from the FDIC, First Financial Bank entered into loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC whereby the FDIC has agreed to cover 80% of the losses on certain single family residential mortgage loans and certain commercial loans (together, “covered assets”), and 95% of the losses on such covered assets in excess of thresholds stated in the loss-sharing agreements. First Financial Bank’s management of and application of the terms and conditions of the loss-sharing provisions of the Purchase and Assumption Agreements related to the covered assets is monitored by the FDIC through periodic reports that First Financial Bank must submit to the FDIC and on-site compliance visitations by the FDIC. If First Financial Bank fails to fully comply with its obligations under the loss-sharing provisions of the Purchase and Assumption Agreements relating to First Financial Bank’s acquisitions of Peoples and Irwin from the FDIC, First Financial Bank could lose the benefit of the loss-share coverage as it applies to certain individual or pools of covered assets. Without such loss-share coverage, First Financial Bank would be solely financially responsible for the losses sustained by such individual or pools of assets.

Risks Related to Our Common Shares

The market price of our common shares can be volatile and may decline.

Stock price volatility may make it more difficult for you to resell the common shares at the time and at prices you find attractive. Our stock price can fluctuate significantly and may decline in response to a variety of factors including:

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General market fluctuations, industry factors and general economic and political conditions and events, such as economic slowdowns or recessions, interest rate changes or credit loss trends, could also cause our stock price to decrease regardless of operating results.

Stock markets in general and our common shares in particular have experienced significant volatility over the past two years, and continue to experience significant price and volume volatility. As a result, the market price of our common shares may continue to be subject to similar market fluctuations that may be unrelated to our operating performance or prospects. Increased volatility could result in a decline in the market price of our common shares.

There may be future sales or other dilution of our equity, which may adversely affect the market price of our common shares.

Except as described under “Underwriting”, we are not restricted from issuing additional common shares, including any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common shares. We are currently authorized to issue up to 160 million common shares, of which     shares will be outstanding after giving effect to this offering, and up to 80,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, all of which shares are outstanding. Our board of directors has authority, without action or vote of the shareholders, to issue all or part of the authorized but unissued shares. These authorized but unissued shares could be issued on terms or in circumstances that could dilute the interests of other shareholders.

Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, which we entered into with the U.S. Treasury in connection with our participation in the TARP CPP, the U.S. Treasury received the Warrant, and we have agreed to provide the U.S. Treasury with registration rights covering the Warrant and the underlying common shares. The issuance of additional common shares as a result of exercise of the Warrant or otherwise or the issuance of securities convertible or exercisable into common shares would dilute the ownership interest of our existing common shareholders. Although the U.S. Treasury has agreed to not vote any of the common shares it receives upon exercise of the Warrant, a transferee of any portion of the Warrant or of any common shares acquired upon exercise of the Warrant is not bound by this restriction. The market price of our common shares could decline as a result of this offering as well as other sales of a large block of common shares or similar securities in the market after this offering, or the perception that such sales could occur.

In addition, the terms of the Warrant include an anti-dilution adjustment, which provides that in certain circumstances, if we issue common shares or securities convertible or exercisable into, or exchangeable for, common shares at a price that is less than 90% of the market price of such shares on the last trading day preceding the date of the agreement to sell such shares, the number of common shares to be issued would increase and the per share price of common shares to be purchased pursuant to the Warrant would decrease. This anti-dilution adjustment is not applicable to this offering but may have a further dilutive effect on other holders of our common shares.

The trading volume in our common shares is less than that of other financial services institutions.

Although our common shares are listed for trading on NASDAQ, the trading volume in our common shares is generally less than that of other financial services companies. A public trading market having the desired characteristics of depth, liquidity and orderliness depends on the presence in the marketplace of willing buyers and sellers of our common shares at any given time. This presence depends on the individual decisions of investors and general economic and market conditions over which we have no control. Given the lower trading volume of our common shares, significant sales of our common shares or the expectation of these sales could cause the price of our common shares to fall.

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We may further reduce or eliminate the cash dividends on our common shares.

Holders of our common shares are only entitled to receive such dividends as our board of directors may declare out of funds legally available for such payments. In January 2009, we announced the board of directors’ decision to reduce our quarterly cash dividend to common shareholders to $0.10 per share from the previous $0.17 per share. Although we have historically declared cash dividends on our common shares, we are not required to do so and may further reduce or eliminate our common share cash dividend in the future. This could adversely affect the market price of our common shares. Furthermore, holders of our common shares are subject to the prior dividend rights of any holders of our Series A Preferred Stock at any time outstanding. Additionally, the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock currently prohibit us from paying cash dividends in excess of $0.17 per share. See “Price Range of Common Shares and Dividends”.

Our results of operations depend upon the results of operations of our subsidiaries.

We are a holding company that conducts substantially all of our operations through our bank and other subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to make dividend payments on our common shares will depend primarily upon the receipt of dividends and other distributions from our subsidiaries. There are various regulatory restrictions on the ability of our bank subsidiary to pay dividends or make other payments to us. As of the close of business on December 31, 2009, our bank subsidiary had an additional $223.7 million available to pay dividends to us without prior regulatory approval.

Our common shares are equity and are subordinate to our existing and future indebtedness and the Series A Preferred Stock, and effectively subordinated to all the indebtedness and other non-common equity claims against our subsidiaries.

Our common shares are equity interests in us and do not constitute indebtedness. Accordingly, our common shares will rank junior to all of our indebtedness and to other non-equity claims on First Financial Bancorp. with respect to assets available to satisfy claims on First Financial Bancorp. Additionally, holders of our common shares are subject to the prior dividend and liquidation rights of holders of our outstanding Series A Preferred Stock, if any. Furthermore, our right to participate in a distribution of assets upon any of our subsidiaries’ liquidation or reorganization is subject to the prior claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, including holders of any Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock held by the U.S. Treasury has an aggregate liquidation preference of $80 million. The terms of the Series A Preferred Stock currently prohibit us from paying dividends with respect to our common shares unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all completed dividend periods with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock have been paid.

In addition, our right to participate in any distribution of assets of any of our subsidiaries upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or otherwise, and thus your ability as a holder of our common shares to benefit indirectly from such distribution, will be subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that any of our claims as a creditor of such subsidiary may be recognized. As a result, our common shares will effectively be subordinated to all existing and future liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries.

At December 31, 2009, our subsidiaries’ total deposits and borrowings were approximately $5.9 billion.

The Series A Preferred Stock reduces the net income available to our common shareholders and earnings per common share.

The dividends declared and the accretion on discount on our Series A Preferred Stock will reduce the net income available to common shareholders and our earnings per common share. The Series A Preferred Stock will also receive preferential treatment in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.

Anti-takeover provisions and restrictions on ownership could negatively impact our shareholders.

Provisions of Ohio law and our articles of incorporation and code of regulations could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us or have the effect of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire control of us. These provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us even if an acquisition might be in the best interest of our shareholders. Additionally, the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (the “Bank Holding Company Act”) requires any bank holding company (as defined in that Act)

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to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve prior to acquiring more than 5% of our outstanding common shares. Any person other than a bank holding company is required to obtain prior approval of the Federal Reserve to acquire 10% or more of our outstanding common shares under the Change in Bank Control Act. Any holder of 25% or more of our outstanding common shares, other than an individual, is subject to regulation as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We expect to receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $80.3 million (or approximately $91.2 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full), after underwriting discounts and estimated expenses payable by us. Subject to obtaining regulatory approval, we intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for the funding of the repurchase of the Series A Preferred Stock, as described below. While we intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for the redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock, there can be no assurance that any request to repurchase the Series A Preferred Stock, when submitted, will be granted, and if so granted, when the Series A Preferred Stock will be repurchased. If we do not use the net proceeds of this offering for the repurchase of the Series A Preferred Stock, we will use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes.

Repurchase of Series A Preferred Stock

In December 2008, we issued 80,000 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock to the U.S. Treasury pursuant to a Letter Agreement dated December 23, 2008 and the Securities Purchase Agreement — Standard Terms attached thereto (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), for an aggregate purchase price of $80 million, as part of the U.S. Treasury’s TARP CPP.

In connection with purchasing the Series A Preferred Stock, the U.S. Treasury also received the Warrant, initially to purchase 930,233 of our common shares, at an initial per share exercise price of $12.90, subject to adjustment, which expires ten years from the issuance date. On June 8, 2009 we completed a “qualified equity offering” (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) through the sale of 13.8 million common shares in a public offering, resulting in aggregate gross proceeds to us (before underwriting discounts and commissions) of $103.5 million. As a result of the successful completion of the qualified equity offering with aggregate gross proceeds in excess of $80 million, the number of common shares issuable under the Warrant was reduced in accordance with its terms, such that effective as of June 8, 2009 the Warrant represented an interest to purchase 465,117 of our common shares.

Following the successful completion of this offering, we intend to submit an application and supporting materials to our primary Federal banking regulators, the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, along with the required notice to the U.S. Treasury, for approval to redeem all 80,000 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock. We do not intend to exercise our right to repurchase the related Warrant at the time we redeem the Series A Preferred Stock. As such, the Warrant will remain outstanding and may be sold in whole or in part by the U.S. Treasury in a secondary offering.

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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON SHARES AND DIVIDENDS

Our common shares trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “FFBC”. As of January 25, 2010, there were 51,433,727 common shares issued and outstanding. As of January 25, 2010, there were approximately 8,500 shareholders of record. The following table provides the high and low closing sales price per share during the periods indicated, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, and cash dividends paid per common share during such periods.

		Low Sale Price				High Sale Price				Common Share Dividend
2010:
First Quarter (through January 25, 2010)		$	13.79			$	15.98			$	0.10
2009:
Fourth Quarter		$	11.83			$	15.48			$	0.10
Third Quarter			7.52				12.07				0.10
Second Quarter			7.35				11.92				0.10
First Quarter			5.58				12.10				0.17
2008:
Fourth Quarter		$	10.81			$	14.30			$	0.17
Third Quarter			8.10				14.80				0.17
Second Quarter			9.20				13.88				0.17
First Quarter			10.19				13.81				0.17

The last reported sales price per common share on January 25, 2010, as reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market, was $15.58. Our most recent dividend of $0.10 per share, which was declared on November 24, 2009 for the fourth quarter of 2009, was paid on January 4, 2010 to the shareholders of record on December 4, 2009.

DIVIDEND POLICY

While we intend to seek the approval of our regulators to repurchase the Series A Preferred Stock with the proceeds of this offering, as described above in “Use of Proceeds”, currently, our ability to declare or pay dividends on, or purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire, common shares is subject to certain restrictions in the event that we fail to pay or set aside full dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, prior to the earliest of December 23, 2011, the redemption of all of the Series A Preferred Stock or the transfer by the U.S. Treasury of all of its shares of Series A Preferred Stock to third parties, we must obtain regulatory approval to pay dividends on our common shares in excess of $0.17 per share.

In addition, as a bank holding company, our ability to declare and pay dividends is subject to the guidelines of the Federal Reserve regarding capital adequacy and dividends. The Federal Reserve guidelines generally require us to review the effects of the cash payment of dividends on common shares and other Tier 1 capital instruments (i.e., perpetual preferred stock and trust preferred debt) on our financial condition. The guidelines also require that we review our net income for the current and past four quarters, and the level of dividends on common shares and other Tier 1 capital instruments for those periods, as well as our projected rate of earnings retention.

The amount of future dividends will depend upon earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors, and will be determined by our board of directors on a quarterly basis.

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our unaudited consolidated capitalization as of December 31, 2009.

The following data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, and Exhibit 99.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 26, 2010, as well as financial information in the other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)		At December 31, 2009
		(unaudited)
Long-term debt
Trust preferred securities		$	20,620
Federal Home Loan Bank long-term debt			339,716
National Market Repurchase Agreement			65,000
Total long-term debt			425,336
Shareholders' equity
Preferred stock – $1,000 liquidation value
Authorized – 80,000 shares
Issued and Outstanding – 80,000 shares			79,195
Common shares – no par value(1)
Authorized – 160,000,000 shares
Issued – 62,358,614 shares			490,532
Retained earnings			301,328
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			(10,487	)
Treasury stock, at cost, 10,924,793 shares			(185,401	)
Total shareholders' equity			675,167
Total capitalization(1)		$	1,100,503
Per Common Share
Common book value per share		$	11.59
Tangible common book value per share		$	10.43
Capital ratios
Tier 1 leverage ratio			9.57	%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio			16.74	%
Total risk-based capital ratio			18.00	%
Tangible equity to tangible assets (period end)			9.30	%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (period end)			8.10	%

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL SHARES AND THE WARRANT

For the purposes of this section, the terms “we”, “our” and “us” refer only to First Financial Bancorp. and not its subsidiaries.

The following description of our common shares and the Series A Preferred Stock is a summary only, is not complete and is subject to applicable provisions of the Ohio General Corporation law, as amended (the “OGCL”), and to our articles of incorporation, as amended (“Articles”) and our amended and restated regulations (“Regulations”). You should refer to, and read this summary together with, our Articles and Regulations to review all of the terms of our common shares and the Series A Preferred Stock.

General

Our Articles provide that we may issue up to 160 million common shares, without par value. As of January 25, 2010, 51,433,727 of our common shares were issued and outstanding. All outstanding common shares are fully paid and nonassessable. Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “FFBC”.

Our Articles also provide that we may issue up to 80,000 preferred shares, without par value, as our board of directors may so authorize pursuant to the terms of any capital purchase program(s) authorized by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and implemented by the U.S. Treasury, and to fix the designations, powers, preferences and rights thereof.

Common Shares

Voting Rights

Each holder of common shares is entitled to cast one vote for each common share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of directors. Our board of directors is divided into three classes as nearly equal in size as the total number of directors constituting the Board permits. The number of directors may be fixed or changed from time to time by the shareholders or the directors as discussed below, but, in any event, can be no less than nine and no more than twenty-five. Our directors are elected to three-year terms, with the term of office of one class expiring each year. Our shareholders annually elect only one of the three classes. This method of election could be considered an impediment for a takeover of control of us by third parties.

The size of our board of directors can be increased or decreased at any time by: (1) the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the whole authorized number of directors or (2) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of our outstanding voting power, voting as a single class, at a meeting of shareholders, at which a quorum is present, called for the purposes of electing directors. Our board of directors may not, under provisions of the Regulations, increase the authorized number of directors by more than three positions during any period between annual meetings.

As permitted by law, the Articles provide that the holders of common shares do not have preemptive rights or the right to exercise cumulative voting in the election of directors.

Dividends, Liquidation and Other Rights

Holders of common shares are entitled to participate equally in dividends or other distributions when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. Subject to certain regulatory restrictions, dividends may be paid in cash, property or common shares, unless we are insolvent or the dividend payment would render us insolvent.

Holders of our common shares have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund or redemption rights and have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities. Our board of directors may be issued additional common shares or rights to purchase common shares without the approval of our shareholders.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, our common shares may be transferred without any restrictions or limitations. The transfer agent and registrar for our common shares is Registrar and Transfer Company.

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Series A Preferred Stock

Our Articles provide that we may issue up to 80,000 preferred shares, without par value, as our board of directors may so authorize pursuant to the terms of any capital purchase program(s) authorized by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and implemented by the U.S. Treasury, and to fix the designations, powers, preferences and rights thereof. On December 23, 2008, pursuant to the TARP CPP, we issued to the U.S. Treasury 80,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, having a liquidation amount per share equal to $1,000 for a total price of $80 million. The Series A Preferred Stock pays cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per year for the first five years and thereafter at a rate of 9% per year. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”), we may repurchase the Series A Preferred Stock without a “qualified equity offering” (as defined in our Articles), subject to the approval of our primary federal regulator. After three years, we may, at our option, repurchase the Series A Preferred Stock at par value plus accrued and unpaid dividends. The Series A Preferred Stock is generally non-voting, but does have the right to vote as a class on the issuance of any preferred stock ranking senior, any change in its terms or any merger, exchange or similar transaction that would materially and adversely affect its rights. The holder(s) of Series A Preferred Stock also have the right to elect two directors if dividends have not been paid for six dividend periods, whether or not consecutive. Such right to elect directors will end when all accrued and unpaid dividends on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods have been paid in full. Prior to December 23, 2011, unless we have redeemed all of the Series A Preferred Stock or the U.S. Treasury has transferred all of the Series A Preferred Stock to third parties, the consent of the U.S. Treasury will be required for us to, among other things, repurchase or redeem common shares or any other capital stock except in limited circumstances. We may not redeem the Series A Preferred Stock without necessary bank regulatory approval.

As described above under “Use of Proceeds”, subject to obtaining regulatory approval, we intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for the funding of the repurchase of the Series A Preferred Stock. We do not intend to repurchase the related Warrant.

Warrant

As part of its purchase of the Series A Preferred Stock, on December 23, 2008 the U.S. Treasury was issued the Warrant, which grants the U.S. Treasury the right to purchase 930,233 common shares at an initial exercise price of $12.90 per share. The Warrant provides for the adjustment of the exercise price and the number of common shares issuable upon exercise pursuant to customary anti-dilution provisions, such as upon stock splits or distributions of securities or other assets to holders of our common shares, and upon certain issuances of our common shares (except in certain permitted transactions, including registered offerings such as this one) at or below a specified price relative to the initial exercise price. The Warrant expires ten years from the issuance date. If, on or prior to December 31, 2009, we receive aggregate gross cash proceeds of not less than $80 million from “qualified equity offerings” announced after October 13, 2008, the number of common shares issuable pursuant to the U.S. Treasury’s exercise of the Warrant will be reduced by one-half of the original number of shares, taking into account all adjustments, underlying the Warrant. On June 8, 2009, we completed a qualified equity offering through the sale of 13.8 million common shares in a public offering with total gross proceeds to us of $103.5 million. As a result of the successful completion of the qualified equity offering with aggregate gross proceeds in excess of $80 million, the number of common shares issuable under the Warrant was reduced by one-half in accordance with its terms, such that as of June 8, 2009, the Warrant represented an interest to purchase 465,117 of our common shares. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the U.S. Treasury has agreed not to exercise voting power with respect to any common shares issued upon exercise of the Warrant. Under the ARRA, the Warrant may be liquidated upon our repurchase of the Series A Preferred Stock unless we elect to repurchase the Warrant from the U.S. Treasury.

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BENEFIT PLAN INVESTOR CONSIDERATIONS

A fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan subject to the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) (each, a “Plan”), should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the context of the Plan’s particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in our common shares. Among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the Plan, and whether the investment would involve a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit Plans, as well as individual retirement accounts, Keogh plans or any other plans that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code (also “Plans”), from engaging in certain transactions involving “plan assets” with persons who are “parties in interest” under ERISA or “disqualified persons” under the Code with respect to the Plan. A violation of these prohibited transaction rules may result in excise tax or other liabilities under ERISA or the Code for those persons, unless exemptive relief is available under an applicable statutory, regulatory or administrative exemption. Employee benefit plans that are governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA) and non-U.S. plans (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) (“Non-ERISA Arrangements”) are not subject to the requirements of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code but may be subject to similar provisions under applicable federal, state, local, non-U.S or other laws (“Similar Laws”).

The acquisition of our common shares by a Plan or any entity whose underlying assets include “plan assets” by reason of any Plan’s investment in the entity (a “Plan Asset Entity”) with respect to which we or certain of our affiliates are or become a party in interest or disqualified person may result in a prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, unless the common shares are acquired pursuant to an applicable exemption. The U.S. Department of Labor has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions, or “PTCEs”, that may provide exemptive relief if required for direct or indirect prohibited transactions that may arise from the purchase or holding of our common shares. These exemptions are PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTCE 90-1 (for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds), PTCE 95-60 (for transactions involving certain insurance company general accounts), and PTCE 96-23 (for transactions managed by in-house asset managers). In addition, ERISA Section 408(b)(17) and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code provide an exemption for the purchase and sale of securities offered hereby, provided that neither the issuer of securities offered hereby nor any of its affiliates have or exercise any discretionary authority or control or render any investment advice with respect to the assets of any Plan involved in the transaction, and provided further that the Plan pays no more and receives no less than “adequate consideration” in connection with the transaction (the “service provider exemption”). There can be no assurance that all of the conditions of any such exemptions will be satisfied.

Any purchaser or holder of our common shares or any interest therein will be deemed to have represented by its purchase and holding of our common shares offered hereby that it either (1) is not a Plan, a Plan Asset Entity or a Non-ERISA Arrangement and is not purchasing the common shares on behalf of or with the assets of any Plan, a Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement or (2) the purchase and holding of the common shares will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction or a similar or other violation under any applicable Similar Laws.

Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing our common shares on behalf of or with the assets of any Plan, a Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement consult with their counsel regarding the availability of exemptive relief under any of the PTCEs listed above, the service provider exemption or the potential consequences of any purchase or holding under Similar Laws, as applicable. Purchasers of our common shares have exclusive responsibility for ensuring that their purchase and holding of our common shares do not violate the fiduciary or prohibited transaction rules of ERISA or the Code or any similar provisions of Similar Laws. The sale of any common share to a Plan, Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement is in no respect a representation by us or any of our affiliates or representatives that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by any such Plans, Plan Asset Entities or Non-ERISA Arrangements generally or any particular Plan, Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement or that such investment is appropriate for such Plans, Plan Asset Entities or Non-ERISA Arrangements generally or any particular Plan, Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement.

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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS

The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common shares as of the date hereof. Except where noted, this summary deals only with common shares that are held as a capital asset by a non-U.S. holder who purchases common shares in this offering.

A “non-U.S. holder” means a person (other than an entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not for U.S. federal income tax purposes any of the following:

This summary is based upon provisions of the Code and regulations, rulings and judicial decisions as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences different from those summarized below. This summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income and estate taxes and does not deal with any other U.S. federal, state, local, non-U.S., or other tax considerations that may be relevant to non-U.S. holders in light of their personal circumstances. In addition, it does not represent a detailed description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to you if you are subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws (including if you are a U.S. expatriate, “controlled foreign corporation”, “passive foreign investment company” or a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes). We cannot assure you that a change in law will not alter significantly the tax considerations that we describe in this summary.

If a partnership holds our common shares, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding common shares, you should consult your tax advisors.

If you are considering the purchase of our common shares, you should consult your own tax advisors concerning the particular U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences to you of the ownership of our common shares, as well as the consequences to you arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

Distributions

Distributions paid to a non-U.S. holder of our common shares will constitute a “dividend” for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits as of the end of our taxable year of the distribution, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any distributions that exceed both our current and accumulated earnings and profits would first constitute a non-taxable return of capital, which would reduce the basis in your shares, but not below zero, and thereafter would be treated as gain from the sale of stock (see “— Gain on Disposition of Common Shares” below). Subject to the following paragraph, dividends on our common shares generally will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% gross rate, subject to any exemption or lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. Dividends that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the non-U.S. holder within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or, in the case of an individual non-U.S. holder, a fixed base) are not subject to the withholding tax, provided certain certification and disclosure requirements are satisfied. Instead, such dividends are subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis in the same manner as if the non-U.S. holder were a United States person as defined under the Code. Any effectively connected dividends received by a non-U.S. individual holder may be subject to a U.S. federal income tax at lower rates

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applicable to capital gain, provided that certain conditions are satisfied. Any effectively connected dividends received by a foreign corporation may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% gross rate, subject to exemption or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

A non-U.S. holder of our common shares who wishes to claim the benefit of an applicable treaty rate for dividends will be required (a) to complete Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form) and certify under penalty of perjury that such holder is not a United States person as defined under the Code and is eligible for treaty benefits or (b) if our common shares are held through certain foreign intermediaries, to satisfy the relevant certification requirements of applicable United States Treasury regulations. Special certification and other requirements apply to certain non-U.S. holders that are pass-through entities rather than corporations or individuals.

A non-U.S. holder of our common shares eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for refund with the Internal Revenue Service.

Gain on Disposition of Common Shares

Any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our common shares generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless:

An individual non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet point immediately above will be subject to tax on the net gain derived from the sale under regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates. An individual non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point immediately above will be subject to a tax at a 30% gross rate, subject to any reduction or reduced rate under an applicable income tax treaty, on the net gain derived from the sale, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses, even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States. If a non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation falls under the first bullet point immediately above, it will be subject to tax on its net gain in the same manner as if it were a United States person as defined under the Code and, in addition, may be subject to the branch profits tax equal to 30% of its effectively connected earnings and profits, subject to any exemption or lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

We believe we are not and have not been and do not anticipate becoming a “United States real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Federal Estate Tax

Our common shares held by an individual non-U.S. holder at the time of death generally will be included in such holder’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise.

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Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

We must report annually to the Internal Revenue Service and to each non-U.S. holder the amount of dividends paid to such holder and the tax withheld with respect to such dividends, regardless of whether withholding was required. Copies of the information returns reporting such dividends and withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.

A non-U.S. holder will be subject to backup withholding, currently at a 28% rate, for dividends paid to such holder unless such holder certifies under penalty of perjury that it is a non-U.S. holder (and neither we nor the paying agent has actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a United States person as defined under the Code), or such holder otherwise establishes an exemption.

Information reporting and, depending on the circumstances, backup withholding will apply to the proceeds of a sale of our common shares within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries, unless the beneficial owner certifies under penalty of perjury that it is a non-U.S. holder (and neither the broker nor intermediary has actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner is a United States person as defined under the Code), or such owner otherwise establishes an exemption.

ANY AMOUNTS WITHHELD UNDER THE BACKUP WITHHOLDING RULES MAY BE ALLOWED AS A REFUND OR A CREDIT AGAINST A NON-U.S. HOLDER’S U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LIABILITY PROVIDED THE REQUIRED INFORMATION IS TIMELY FURNISHED TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.

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UNDERWRITING

Barclays Capital Inc. is acting as the representative of the underwriters and the sole book-running manager of this offering. We have entered into an underwriting agreement with the representative of the underwriters named below, with respect to the common shares being offered. Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the respective number of common shares set forth opposite its name below.

Name		Number of Common Shares
Barclays Capital Inc.
RBC Capital Markets Corporation
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
Total

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase our common shares depends on the satisfaction of the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, including:

Subject to these conditions, the underwriters are committed to purchase and pay for all of our common shares offered by this prospectus supplement, if any such shares are taken. However, the underwriters are not obligated to take or pay for our common shares covered by the underwriters’ over-allotment option described below, unless and until such option is exercised.

Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “FFBC”.

Over-Allotment Option

We have granted an option to the underwriters to purchase, exercisable no later than 30 days after the date of the underwriting agreement, up to $11,475,000 of additional common shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. We will be obligated to sell these common shares to the underwriters to the extent the over-allotment option is exercised. The underwriters may exercise this option solely to cover any over-allotments made in connection with the sale of our common shares offered by this prospectus supplement.

Commissions and Expenses

The underwriters propose to offer our common shares directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to dealers at the public offering price less a concession not in excess of $     per share. After the public offering of our common shares, the underwriters may change the offering price, concessions and other selling terms.

The following table shows the per share and total public offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions that we will pay to the underwriters and the proceeds we will receive before expenses. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common shares.

Per Share

Total Without Over-Allotment Exercise

Total With Over-Allotment Exercise

Public offering price

$

$

$

Underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us

$

$

$

Proceeds to us, before expenses

$

$

$

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We estimate that our total expenses for this offering, exclusive of underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $450,000, and are payable by us.

Indemnity

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters, and persons who control the underwriters, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of these liabilities.

Lock-Up Agreement

We, all of our directors and executive officers have agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc., we and they will not directly or indirectly (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any common shares (including, without limitation, common shares that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by us or them in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and common shares that may be issued upon exercise of any options or warrants) or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common shares, (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common shares, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right or file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any common shares or securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for common shares or any of our other securities, or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus supplement.

The 90-day restricted period described in the preceding paragraph will be extended if:

in which case the restrictions described in the preceding paragraph will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or material event, unless such extension is waived in writing by Barclays Capital Inc.

Barclays Capital Inc., in its sole discretion, may release the common shares and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time with or without notice. When determining whether or not to release common shares and other securities from lock-up agreements, Barclays Capital Inc. will consider, among other factors, the holder’s reasons for requesting the release, the number of common shares and other securities for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time.

Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids

The representative may engage in stabilizing transactions, short sales and purchases to cover positions created by short sales, and penalty bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the common shares, in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

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These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common shares or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common shares. As a result, the price of our common shares may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the common shares. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representative will engage in these stabilizing transactions or that any transaction, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Passive Market Making

In connection with the offering, underwriters and selling group members may engage in passive market making transactions in the common shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act during the period before the commencement of offers or sales of common shares and extending through the completion of distribution. A passive market maker must display its bids at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of the security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid that bid must be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.

Electronic Distribution

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites or through other online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters and/or selling group members participating in this offering, or by their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and, depending upon the particular underwriter or selling group member, prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a specific number of shares for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the representative on the same basis as other allocations.

Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriter’s or selling group member’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by an underwriter or selling group member is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or any underwriter or selling group member in its capacity as underwriter or selling group member and should not be relied upon by investors.

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Selling Restrictions

Public Offer Selling Restrictions Under the Prospectus Directive

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a relevant member state), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member state (the relevant implementation date), an offer of securities described in this prospectus may not be made to the public in that relevant member state other than:

provided that no such offer of securities shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of securities to the public” in any relevant member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the securities, as the expression may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each relevant member state.

We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the securities as contemplated in this prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of the securities, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the securities on behalf of us or the underwriters.

Selling Restrictions Addressing Additional United Kingdom Securities Laws

This prospectus is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive (“Qualified Investors”) that are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This prospectus and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

Switzerland

This document, as well as any other material relating to the shares which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus, do not constitute an issue prospectus pursuant to Article 652a and/or 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations. The shares will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and, therefore, the documents relating to the shares, including, but not limited to, this document, do not claim to comply with the disclosure standards of the listing rules of SIX Swiss Exchange and corresponding prospectus schemes annexed to the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. The shares are being offered in Switzerland by way of a private placement, i.e., to a small number of selected investors only, without any public offer and only to investors who do not purchase the shares with the intention to distribute them to the public. The investors will be individually approached by the issuer from time to time. This document, as well as any other material relating to the shares, is personal and confidential and does not constitute an offer to any other person. This

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document may only be used by those investors to whom it has been handed out in connection with the offering described herein and may neither directly nor indirectly be distributed or made available to other persons without express consent of the issuer. It may not be used in connection with any other offer and shall in particular not be copied and/or distributed to the public in (or from) Switzerland.

Australia

No prospectus or other disclosure document (as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) of Australia (“Corporations Act”)) in relation to the common shares has been or will be lodged with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (“ASIC”). This document has not been lodged with ASIC and is only directed to certain categories of exempt persons. Accordingly, if you receive this document in Australia:

and to the extent that you are unable to confirm or warrant that you are an exempt sophisticated investor, associated person or professional investor under the Corporations Act any offer made to you under this document is void and incapable of acceptance; and

Brunei

This prospectus has been provided at your request strictly for your information purposes only and does not constitute and shall not be construed as an offer to sell the securities described here or an invitation to make an offer to buy or to apply to subscribe for such securities. We and the underwriters do not provide any investment advice or recommendations on the securities described here. This prospectus is not a prospectus for purposes of the Brunei Companies Act, Cap 39 and has not been registered as such. Neither our company, the underwriters, nor any of our or their affiliates are licensed as dealers or an investment adviser under the Brunei Securities Order, 2001, nor are they or any of their affiliates registered or incorporated under the Brunei Companies Act, Cap 39. This prospectus has been provided to you solely for your own purposes and must not be copied, redistributed or circulated to any other person without the prior consent of our company or the underwriters.

China

The common shares may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) (which, for such purposes, does not include the Hong Kong or Macau Special Administrative Regions or Taiwan). Neither this prospectus nor any material or information contained or incorporated by reference herein relating to the common shares, which have not been and will not be submitted to or approved/verified by or registered with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) or other relevant governmental authorities in the PRC pursuant to relevant laws and regulations, may be supplied to the public in the PRC or used in connection with any offer for the subscription or sale of the common shares in the PRC. The material or information contained or incorporated by reference herein relating to the common shares does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the PRC. The common shares may only be offered or sold to the PRC investors that are authorized to engage in the purchase of common shares of the type being offered or sold. PRC investors are responsible for obtaining all

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relevant government regulatory approvals/licenses, verification and/or registrations themselves, including, but not limited to, any which may be required from the CSRC, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange and/or the China Banking Regulatory Commission, and complying with all relevant PRC regulations, including, but not limited to, all relevant foreign exchange regulations and/or foreign investment regulations.

Dubai International Financial Center

This statement relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority. This statement is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in those rules. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The Dubai Financial Services Authority has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The Dubai Financial Services Authority has not approved this document nor taken steps to verify the information set out in it, and has no responsibility for it. The common shares to which this document relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the common shares offered should conduct their own due diligence on the common shares. If you do not understand the contents of this document you should consult an authorised financial adviser. For the avoidance of doubt, the Offering Shares are not interests in a Fund or Collective Investment Scheme within the meaning of either the Collective Investment Law (DIFC Law No.1 of 2006) or the Collective Investment Rules Module of the Dubai Financial Services Authority Rulebook.

The Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates

This prospectus is strictly private and confidential and is being distributed to a limited number of investors and must not be provided to any person other than the original recipient, and may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose.

By receiving this prospectus, the person or entity to whom it has been issued understands, acknowledges and agrees that this prospectus has not been approved by the UAE Central Bank, the Emirates Securities or Commodities Authority (“ESCA”) or any other authorities in the UAE, nor has the placement agent, if any, received authorisation or licensing from the UAE Central Bank, ESCA or any other authorities in the United Arab Emirates to market or sell securities or other investments within the United Arab Emirates. No marketing of any financial products or services has been or will be made from within the United Arab Emirates and no subscription to any securities or other investments may or will be consummated within the United Arab Emirates. It should not be assumed that the placement agent, if any, is a licensed broker, dealer or investment advisor under the laws applicable in the United Arab Emirates, or that it advises individuals resident in the United Arab Emirates as to the appropriateness of investing in or purchasing or selling securities or other financial products. The common shares may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly to the public in the United Arab Emirates. This does not constitute a public offer of securities in the United Arab Emirates in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law, Federal Law No. 8 of 1984 (as amended) or otherwise.

By receiving this prospectus, the person or entity to whom it has been issued understands, acknowledges and agrees that the common shares have not been and will not be offered, sold or publicly promoted or advertised in the Dubai International Financial Centre other than in compliance with laws applicable in the Dubai International Financial Centre, governing the issue, offering or sale of securities. The Dubai Financial Services Authority has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set out in it, and has no responsibility for it.

Hong Kong

The common shares may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made under that Ordinance or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the common shares may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of the issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the common shares which are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside

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Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) or any rules made under that Ordinance.

India

This prospectus has not been and will not be registered as a prospectus with the Registrar of Companies in India or with the Securities and Exchange Board of India. This prospectus or any other material relating to these securities is for information purposes only and may not be circulated or distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public or any members of the public in India and in any event to not more than 50 persons in India. Further, persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. Each prospective investor is advised to consult its advisors about the particular consequences to it of an investment in these securities. Each prospective investor is also advised that any investment in these securities by it is subject to the regulations prescribed by the Reserve Bank of India and the Foreign Exchange Management Act and any regulations framed thereunder.

Japan

No securities registration statement (“SRS”) has been filed under Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) (“FIEL”) in relation to the common shares. The common shares are being offered in a private placement to “qualified institutional investors” (tekikaku-kikan-toshika) under Article 10 of the Cabinet Office Ordinance concerning Definitions provided in Article 2 of the FIEL (the Ministry of Finance Ordinance No. 14, as amended) (“QIIs”), under Article 2, Paragraph 3, Item 2 i of the FIEL. Any QII acquiring the common shares in this offer may not transfer or resell those shares except to other QIIs.

Korea

The common shares may not be offered, sold and delivered directly or indirectly, or offered or sold to any person for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Korea or to any resident of Korea except pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations of Korea, including the Korea Securities and Exchange Act and the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and the decrees and regulations thereunder. The common shares have not been registered with the Financial Services Commission of Korea for public offering in Korea. Furthermore, the common shares may not be resold to Korean residents unless the purchaser of the common shares complies with all applicable regulatory requirements (including but not limited to government approval requirements under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and its subordinate decrees and regulations) in connection with the purchase of the common shares.

Malaysia

The common shares may not be offered or purchased and no invitation to purchase the common shares may be made, directly or indirectly, to persons in Malaysia other than to corporations (including offshore companies under the Offshore Companies Act 1990 in the Federal Territory of Labuan) with total net assets exceeding RM10 million or its equivalent in foreign currencies, high net worth individuals with total net personal assets exceeding RM3 million or its equivalent in foreign currencies and principals that enter into transactions of a minimum value of RM250,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies for each transaction.

Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the common shares may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the common shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Future Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a “relevant person” as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275 (1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

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Where the common shares are subscribed and purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the common shares under Section 275 of the SFA except:

By accepting this prospectus, the recipient hereof represents and warrants that he is entitled to receive it in accordance with the restrictions set forth above and agrees to be bound by limitations contained herein. Any failure to comply with these limitations may constitute a violation of law.

Taiwan

The common shares have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan, the Republic of China pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be offered or sold in Taiwan, the Republic of China through a public offering or in circumstances which constitute an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of Taiwan, the Republic of China that requires a registration or approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan, the Republic of China. No person or entity in Taiwan, the Republic of China has been authorized to offer or sell the common shares in Taiwan, the Republic of China.

Stamp Taxes

If you purchase common shares offered in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you may be required to pay stamp taxes and other charges under the laws and practices of the country of purchase, in addition to the offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Relationships

Certain of the underwriters and their related entities have engaged, and may in the future engage, in investment banking transactions with us in the ordinary course of their business. They have received, and expect to receive, customary compensation and expense reimbursement for these investment banking transactions. Barclays Capital Inc. acted as the sole financial advisor to us in connection with our acquisition of certain assets and assumption of substantially all of the deposits and certain liabilities of Irwin in September 2009. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. was a co-manager for our public offering of our common shares in June 2009. An affiliate of Raymond James & Associates, Inc. provides us with certain securities brokerage services on a networking basis for certain of our customers.

Our common shares are being offered by the underwriters, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of certain legal matters by counsel for the underwriters and other conditions.

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VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

The validity of the common shares offered hereby will be passed upon for First Financial Bancorp. by Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., Cincinnati, Ohio, and for the underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP will rely upon the opinion of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. as to matters of Ohio law. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP occasionally performs legal services for us and our subsidiaries.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, and the statement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed by First Financial Bank, N.A. (a wholly owned subsidiary of First Financial Bancorp.) pursuant to the Purchase and Assumption Agreements dated September 18, 2009, as amended, included in our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on December 4, 2009, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

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PROSPECTUS

$200,000,000

First Financial Bancorp.

Senior Debt Securities
Subordinated Debt Securities
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
Common Shares
Purchase Contracts
Warrants
Guarantees

 

FFBC Capital Trust I
FFBC Capital Trust II
FFBC Capital Trust III
FFBC Capital Trust IV

Trust Preferred Capital Securities

Fully and unconditionally guaranteed by First Financial Bancorp. as
described in the applicable prospectus supplement

 

We and/or the Trusts may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of debt and equity securities that we describe in this prospectus having a total initial offering price not exceeding $200,000,000. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in the securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

First Financial Bancorp.’s common shares are traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “FFBC”.

You should read this prospectus and any supplements carefully before you invest. Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the section entitled “Risk Factors,” on page 6 of this prospectus and in the documents we file with the SEC that are incorporated in this prospectus by reference for certain risks and uncertainties you should consider.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense in the United States.

These securities are unsecured and are not deposits and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

 

This prospectus is dated May 1, 2009.

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Prospectus

		Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			1
SPECIAL CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			2
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY			3
RISK FACTORS			6
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES			6
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.			6
THE TRUSTS			6
USE OF PROCEEDS			7
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			7
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES			10
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES			14
ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF CERTAIN ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION PROVISIONS			15
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS			17
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS			17
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS			18
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS			19
DESCRIPTION OF TRUST PREFERRED CAPITAL SECURITIES			20
DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES			26
EFFECT OF OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEES			28
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES			28
EXPERTS			28

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we and the Trusts filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration statement, we may sell, either separately or together, senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, common shares, purchase contracts, units and warrants, in one or more offerings. In addition, we may offer to our existing shareholders subscription rights, which may or may not be transferable, to purchase additional shares of our common. The Trusts may sell trust preferred capital securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the Trusts, which may be guaranteed by us, to the public. We and the Trusts may use the shelf registration statement to sell, in one or more offerings, up to $200,000,000 of any securities registered, in any combination in an offering amount. This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities we and the Trusts may offer. Each time we or the Trusts sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the terms of the securities and the offering. A prospectus supplement may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations applicable to those securities or to us or the Trusts. The supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should carefully read both this prospectus and any supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” below.

The registration statement containing this prospectus, including exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. That registration statement can be read at the SEC website or at the SEC office mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” below.

We and the Trusts may sell securities to underwriters who will sell the securities to the public on terms fixed at the time of sale. In addition, the securities may be sold by us or the Trusts directly or through dealers or agents designated from time to time. If we or the Trusts, directly or through agents, solicit offers to purchase the securities, we and the Trusts reserve the sole right to accept and, together with any agents, to reject, in whole or in part, any of those offers.

Any prospectus supplement will contain the names of the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, together with the terms of offering, the compensation of those underwriters and the net proceeds to us and the Trusts. Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the offering may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

Unless the context requires otherwise, references to (1) “First Financial Bancorp.”, “First Financial”, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, “ours” and “us” are to First Financial Bancorp. and its subsidiaries, and (2) the “Trusts” are to FFBC Capital Trust I, FFBC Capital Trust II, FFBC Capital Trust III and FFBC Capital Trust IV, each of which is a Delaware statutory trust.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document that we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the following documents listed below and any future filings (other than current reports or portions thereof furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K) made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), until we or any underwriters sell all of the securities:

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You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

First Financial Bancorp.
4000 Smith Rd., Suite 400
Cincinnati, OH 45209
Telephone: (877) 322-9530
Attention: Investor Relations

The Trusts have no separate financial statements. The Trusts’ financial statements would not be material to holders of the trust preferred capital securities because the Trusts have no independent operations.

Unless otherwise indicated, currency amounts in this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement are stated in United States dollars.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with additional or different information. We may only use this prospectus to sell securities if it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement. We are only offering these securities in jurisdictions where the offer is permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the dates of the applicable documents.

SPECIAL CAUTIONARY NOTICE
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this prospectus which are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (the “Act”). In addition, certain statements in future filings by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by or with our approval which are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, projections of revenues, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or non-payment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; statements of plans and objectives of us or our management or Board of Directors; and statements of future economic performance and statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,

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Such forward-looking statements are meaningful only on the date when such statements are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such a statement is made to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

Under this shelf registration statement to which this prospectus is a part, we and the Trusts may sell up to $200,000,000 of securities, consisting of one or any combination or combinations of securities, described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. This prospectus describes the securities and the Trusts’ trust preferred capital securities that may be offered.

We may offer any of the following securities or any combination of these securities from time to time:

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From time to time, each Trust may:

This prospectus, including the following summary, describes the general terms that may apply to the securities; the specific terms of any particular securities that we may offer will be described in a separate supplement to this prospectus.

Debt Securities

We may offer several different types of debt securities. For any particular debt securities we offer, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the debt securities, and will include for each series of debt securities, the initial public offering price, designation, priority, aggregate principal amount (including whether determined by reference to an index), currency, denomination, premium, maturity, interest rate (including whether fixed, floating or otherwise), time of payment of any interest, any terms for mandatory or optional redemption and other terms. We will issue senior and subordinated debt, including subordinated and junior subordinated debt securities, under separate indentures to be entered into by and between us and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee. Debt securities may be convertible into our common shares, as described in a prospectus supplement.

Common Shares

We may also offer our common shares and the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such offer.

Purchase Contracts

We also may issue purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to holders, a fixed or varying number of our common shares at a future date or dates. The consideration per common share may be fixed at the time that purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the purchase contracts. Any purchase contract may include anti-dilution provisions to adjust the number of shares issuable pursuant to such purchase contract upon the occurrence of certain events.

The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units consisting of a purchase contract, debt securities and preferred securities. These contracts, and the holders’ obligations to purchase our common shares under the purchase contracts may be secured by cash, certificates of deposit, U.S. government securities that will mature prior to or simultaneously with, the maturity of the purchase contract, standby letters of credit from an affiliated U.S. bank that is FDIC-insured or other collateral satisfactory to the Federal Reserve. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to holders of the purchase units, or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis.

Any one or more of the above securities, common shares or the purchase contracts or other collateral may be pledged as security for the holders’ obligations to purchase or sell, as the case may be, the common shares or the purchase contracts.

We also may offer two or more of the securities described in this prospectus in the form of a “unit,” including pursuant to a unit agreement. The unit may be transferable only as a whole, or the securities comprising a unit may, as described in the prospectus supplement, be separated and transferred by the holder separately. There may or may not be an active market for units or the underlying securities, and not all the securities comprising a unit may be listed or traded on a securities exchange or market.

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Warrants

We may offer warrants to purchase our senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, common shares or any combination of these securities, either independently or together with any other securities. For any particular warrants we offer, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe: the underlying securities; the expiration date; the exercise price or the manner of determining the exercise price; the amount and kind, or the manner of determining the amount and kind, of securities to be delivered upon exercise; the date after which the warrants are separately transferable; any provisions for adjustments in the exercise price or the number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and any other specific terms.

We may issue the warrants under one or more warrant agreements between us and one or more warrant agents. The warrant agents will act solely as our agents in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or on behalf of holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

We may offer rights to our existing shareholders to purchase additional common shares of ours. For any particular subscription rights, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of such rights, including the period during which such rights may be exercised, the manner of exercising such rights, the transferability of such rights and the number of common shares that may be purchased in connection with each right and the subscription price for the purchase of such common shares. In connection with a rights offering, we may enter into a separate agreement with one or more underwriters or standby purchasers to purchase any of our common shares not subscribed for in the rights offering by existing shareholders, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Guarantees

We, as the guarantor, will fully and unconditionally guarantee each Trust’s payment obligations under the trust preferred capital securities issued by such Trust. In the event of a default in payment by a Trust, holders may institute legal proceedings directly against us to enforce the Trust’s obligations without first proceeding against such Trust. The guarantees will constitute unsecured obligations of us ranking junior and subordinate in right of payment to all of our outstanding senior debt and subordinated debt securities.

Trust Preferred Capital Securities

Each Trust may issue trust preferred capital securities under an amended and restated trust agreement to be entered into by and between us and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of such trust preferred capital securities and the offering, including designation of the securities; liquidation amount; distribution terms and conditions; whether such securities are to be issued in book-entry form; rights or obligations with respect to junior subordinated debt securities issued by us to the Trust; and other rights, limitations, restrictions of such securities.

If any securities are to be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system, the applicable prospectus supplement will so indicate. Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and trades under the symbol “FFBC”.

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RISK FACTORS

Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in our updates to those Risk Factors in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, in light of your particular investment objectives and financial circumstances. In addition to those risk factors, there may be additional risks and uncertainties of which management is not aware or focused on or that management deems immaterial. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows:

Three Months Ended March 31,

Years Ended December 31,

2009

2008

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges:

Excluding interest on deposits

5.28x

7.76x

4.66x

7.13x

3.94x

3.75x

4.10x

Including interest on deposits

1.74x

1.56x

1.50x

1.61x

1.38x

1.77x

2.07x

For the purpose of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of consolidated income from continuing operations before income tax expense and fixed charges. Fixed charges exclude interest on uncertain tax positions which is classified with income tax expense in the consolidated financial statements.

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

We are a Cincinnati, Ohio based bank holding company with $3.8 billion in assets. Our banking subsidiary, First Financial Bank, N.A., founded in 1863, provides retail and commercial banking products and services, and investment and insurance products through its 82 retail banking locations in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The bank’s wealth management division, First Financial Wealth Resource Group, provides investment management, traditional trust, brokerage, private banking, and insurance services, and has approximately $1.6 billion in assets under management.

Our principal executive offices are located at 4000 Smith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45209 and our telephone number at that address is (513) 979-5782. We maintain an Internet website at www.bankatfirst.com. We are not incorporating the information on our website into this prospectus, and neither this website nor the information on this website is included or incorporated in, or is a part of, this prospectus.

THE TRUSTS

Each of the Trusts is a Delaware statutory trust created by a certificate of trust that we filed with the Delaware Secretary of State with respect to such Trust. A statutory trust is a separate legal entity that can be formed for the purpose of holding property. For tax purposes, the Trusts are grantor trusts. A grantor trust is a trust that does not pay federal income tax if it is formed solely to facilitate direct investment in the assets of the trust and the trustee cannot change the investment. We created each of the Trusts for the limited purpose of: issuing trust preferred capital securities and common securities, which we refer to collectively as the “trust securities,” and which represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust; investing the gross proceeds that each trust receives from the issuance of its trust securities in our junior subordinated debt securities. The aggregate liquidation amount of the trust securities issued by each Trust will equal to the aggregate principal amount of junior subordinated debt securities issued by us to such Trust; distributing the interest received by each Trust on our junior subordinated debt securities owned by the Trust to the holders of the trust securities; and carrying out such limited activities that are necessary for or incidental to issuing the trust securities and investing in our junior subordinated debt securities.

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The purchasers of the trust preferred capital securities that the Trusts may issue will collectively own all of the Trusts’ trust preferred capital securities, and we will own all of the Trusts’ common securities. Each Trust is subject to the terms of its trust agreement that we have executed as the depositor of the Trust and which has also been executed by trustees of the Trust. At the time a Trust issues any trust preferred capital securities, the applicable trust agreement will be amended and restated to set the terms of the trust preferred capital securities, which we call the “amended trust agreement.” The terms of the common securities will also be contained in the amended trust agreement and the common securities generally will rank equally, and payments will be made ratably, with the trust preferred capital securities. However, if there are certain continuing payment events of default under the junior subordinated indenture and any supplemental indenture which contains the terms of the junior subordinated debt securities, our rights as holder of the common securities to distributions, liquidation, redemption and other payments from the Trusts will be subordinated to the rights to those payments of the holders of the trust preferred capital securities. Each Trust will use the proceeds from the sale of the trust preferred capital securities and the common securities to invest in junior subordinated debt securities that we will issue to such Trust. The trust preferred capital securities will be guaranteed by us in the manner described later in this prospectus.

The junior subordinated debt securities will be the Trusts’ only assets, and the interest we pay on our junior subordinated debt securities will be the only revenue of the Trusts. Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the amended trust agreements will not permit the Trusts to acquire any assets other than the junior subordinated debt securities or to issue any securities other than the trust securities or to incur any other indebtedness. The Trusts will not carry on any active business operations.

Each Trust may be dissolved under the terms of its amended trust agreement and will otherwise dissolve upon the expiration date set forth in each Trust’s amended and restated trust agreement. The trustees of each Trust will conduct the business and affairs of the Trust. As holder of the common securities, we will be entitled to appoint, remove, replace or increase or reduce the number of trustees, subject to certain conditions set forth in the amended trust agreements. The amended trust agreements will govern the duties of the trustees. Each Trust will have a Delaware trustee, administrative trustees and a property trustee. The Delaware trustee and the property trustee will be unaffiliated with us while the administrative trustees will be employees, officers or affiliates of ours. The property trustee will be a financial institution that is not affiliated with us and that has a minimum of combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. The property trustee will act as indenture trustee for the purpose of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Trust Indenture Act”). The Delaware trustee will have its principal place of business in the State of Delaware.

The property trustee and Delaware trustee of each Trust is Wilmington Trust Company, and its address in the State of Delaware is Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. The principal place of business of each Trust is c/o First Financial Bancorp., 4000 Smith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45209 and the telephone number at that address is (513) 979-5782. We or any subsequent holder of the Trusts’ common securities will pay all fees and expenses related to the Trusts and the offering of the trust preferred capital securities and will pay all ongoing costs and expenses of the Trusts.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sales of the securities that may be offered under this prospectus as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We and the Trusts may sell securities offered under this prospectus: through underwriters or dealers; through agents; or directly to one or more purchasers.

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time, or at negotiated prices.

For each type and series of securities offered, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering, including, without limitation: the initial public offering price; the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents; the purchase price of the securities; the use of proceeds to us and the Trusts from

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the sale of the securities; any underwriting discounts, agency fees, or other compensation payable to underwriters or agents; any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or repaid to dealers; and the securities exchanges on which the securities will be listed, if any.

If we or the Trusts use underwriters in any sale of securities offered under this prospectus, the underwriters will buy the securities for their own account. The underwriters may then resell the securities in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale or thereafter. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities offered if they purchase any securities. The initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. In connection with an offering, underwriters and their affiliates may engage in transactions to stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities in accordance with applicable law.

Underwriters or agents may make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the existing trading market for our common shares, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

If we or the Trusts use dealers in any sale of securities offered under this prospectus, the securities will be sold to such dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale. If agents are used in any sale of securities offered under this prospectus, they will use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. If securities offered under this prospectus are sold directly, no underwriters, dealers or agents would be involved. We and the Trusts are not making an offer of securities in any state that does not permit such an offer.

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in any distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions or profit they receive when they resell the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We and the Trusts expect that any agreements we may enter into with underwriters, dealers and agents will include provisions indemnifying them against certain civil liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act, or providing for contributions with respect to payments that they may be required to make.

We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers from certain institutions whereby the institution contractually agrees to purchase the securities offered under this prospectus from us or the Trusts on a future date at a specific price. This type of contract may be made only with institutions that we specifically approve. Such institutions could include banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. The underwriters, dealers or agents will not be responsible for the validity or performance of these contracts.

Sales of securities offered under this prospectus also may be effected by us or the Trusts from time to time in one or more types of transactions (which may include block transactions, special offerings, exchange distributions, secondary distributions or purchases by a broker or dealer) on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or any other national securities exchange or automated trading and quotation system on which our common shares or other securities are listed, in the over-the-counter market, in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges and systems or the over-the-counter market, including negotiated transactions, through options transactions relating to the shares, or a combination of such methods of sale, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at negotiated prices or at fixed prices. Such transactions may or may not involve brokers or dealers. Any of our common shares offered under this prospectus will be listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, subject to notice of issuance.

Each issue of a new series of debt securities, purchase contracts, units, warrants, rights and trust preferred capital securities will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market, except as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. It has not been established whether the underwriters, if any, of the securities offered under this prospectus will make a market in these securities. If a market in any series of

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debt securities, purchase contracts, units, warrants, rights and trust preferred capital securities is made by any such underwriters, such market-making may be discontinued at any time without notice. We can give no assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market of these securities.

In order to facilitate the offering of any of the securities offered under this prospectus, the underwriters with respect to any such offering may, as described in the prospectus supplement, engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on these securities. Specifically, the underwriters may over-allot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in these securities for their own accounts. In addition, to cover over-allotments or to stabilize the price of these securities or of any other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, these securities or any other securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of the securities offered under this prospectus through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing these securities in the offering, if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of these securities above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time, all as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related borrowings of securities. The third party in such sale transactions will be underwritten, and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment).

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, one or more firms, which we refer to as “remarketing firms,” acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us, may offer and sell the securities offered under this prospectus as part of a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with their terms. We will identify any remarketing firm, the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Remarketing firms, agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements with us to indemnification by or contribution from us against some civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

Any person participating in the distribution of securities will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, including without limitation, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of transactions involving the securities offered under this prospectus. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of such securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to the particular securities being distributed. All of the above may affect the marketability of the securities offered under this prospectus and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to such securities.

Under the securities law of various states, the securities offered under this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in various states the securities offered under this prospectus may not be offered and sold unless such state securities have been registered or qualified for sale in the state or an exemption from such registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The debt securities we are offering will constitute senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities. The senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the junior subordinated debt securities will be issued under three separate indentures to be entered into between us and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee. A copy of the form of each indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

The following summaries of certain provisions of the indentures are not complete. You should read all of the provisions of the indentures, including the definitions of certain terms. These summaries set forth certain general terms and provisions of the securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The provisions will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Since we are a holding company, our right, and accordingly, the right of our creditors and shareholders, including the holders of the securities offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, to participate in any distribution of assets of any of our subsidiaries upon its liquidation, reorganization or similar proceeding is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that our claims as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized.

Terms of the Securities

The securities will be not be secured by any of our assets. Neither the indentures nor the securities will limit or otherwise restrict the amounts of other indebtedness which we may incur, or the amount of other securities that we may issue. Although the total amount of debt securities we may offer under this prospectus will be limited to $200,000,000 in aggregate principal amount, the indentures do not limit the principal amount of any particular series of securities. All of the securities issued under each of the indentures will rank equally and ratably with any additional securities issued under the same indenture. The subordinated debt securities and junior subordinated debt securities will be subordinated as described below under “Subordination.”

Each prospectus supplement will specify the particular terms of the securities offered. These terms may include: the title of the securities; any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the securities; the priority of payments on the securities; the issue price or prices (which may be expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount) of the securities; the date or dates, or the method of determining the dates, on which the securities will mature; the interest rate or rates of the securities, or the method of determining those rates; the interest payment dates, the dates on which payment of any interest will begin and the regular record dates; whether the securities will be issuable in temporary or permanent global form and, if so, the identity of the depositary for such global security, or the manner in which any interest payable on a temporary or permanent global security will be paid; any terms relating to the conversion of the securities into our common shares, including, without limitation, the time and place at which such securities may be converted, the conversion price and any adjustments to the conversion price and any other provisions that may applicable; any sinking fund or similar provisions applicable to the securities; any mandatory or optional redemption provisions applicable to the securities; the denomination or denominations in which securities are authorized to be issued; whether any of the securities will be issued in bearer form and, if so, any limitations on issuance of such bearer securities (including exchanges for registered securities of the same series); information with respect to book-entry procedures; whether any of the securities will be issued as original issue discount securities; each office or agency where securities may be presented for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion; the method of determining the amount of any payments on the securities which are linked to an index; if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which payments on the securities will be payable, and whether the holder may elect payment to be made in a different currency; if other than the trustee, the identity of the registrar and/or paying agent; any defeasance of certain obligations by us pertaining to the series of securities; and any other specific terms of the securities.

Some of our debt securities may be issued as original issue discount securities. Original issue discount securities bear no interest or bear interest at below-market rates and will be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. The prospectus supplement will also contain any special tax, accounting or other information relating to original issue discount securities or relating to certain other kinds of securities that may be offered, including securities linked to an index.

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Acceleration of Maturity

If an event of default in connection with any outstanding series of securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may declare the principal amount due and payable immediately. If the securities of that series are original issue discount securities, the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of those securities may declare the portion of the principal amount specified in the terms of that series of securities to be due and payable immediately. In either case, a written notice may be given to us, and to the trustee, if notice is given by the holders instead of the trustee. Subject to certain conditions, the declaration of acceleration may be revoked, and past defaults (except uncured payment defaults and certain other specified defaults) may be waived, by the holders of not less than a majority of the principal amount of securities of that series.

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to each series of securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of the maturity upon the occurrence and continuation of an event of default.

Registration and Transfer

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of the offered securities will be issued in registered form only, without coupons. The indentures will also allow us to issue the securities in bearer form only, or in both registered and bearer form. Any securities issued in bearer form will have interest coupons attached, unless they are issued as zero coupon securities. Securities in bearer form will not be offered, sold, resold or delivered in connection with their original issuance in the United States or to any United States person other than to offices of certain United States financial institutions located outside the United States.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities we are offering will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the securities, but we may require payment of an amount sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.

Payment and Paying Agent

We will pay principal, interest and any premium on fully registered securities in the designated currency or currency unit at the office of a designated paying agent. At our option, payment of interest on fully registered securities may also be made by check mailed to the persons in whose names the securities are registered on the days specified in the indentures or any prospectus supplement.

We will pay principal, interest and any premium on bearer securities in the designated currency or currency unit at the office of a designated paying agent or agents outside of the United States. Payments will be made at the offices of the paying agent in the United States only if the designated currency is U.S. dollars and payment outside of the United States is illegal or effectively precluded. If any amount payable on a security or coupon remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such amount became due and payable, the paying agent will release any unclaimed amounts, and the holder of the security or coupon will look only to us for payment.

The designated paying agent in the United States for the securities we are offering is provided in the indentures as deemed incorporated by references.

Global Securities

The securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates (“Global Securities”) that will be deposited with a depositary that we will identify in a prospectus supplement. Global Securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. All Global Securities in bearer form will be deposited with a depositary outside the United States. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing securities in definitive form represented thereby, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to a nominee of that depositary or by a nominee of that depositary to a depositary or another nominee of that depositary.

The specific terms of the depositary arrangements for each series of securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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Modification and Waiver

Each indenture provides that modifications and amendments may be made by us and the trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of each series affected by the amendment or modification. However, no modification or amendment may, without the consent of each holder affected: change the stated maturity date of the security; reduce the principal amount, any rate of interest, or any additional amounts in respect of any security, or reduce the amount of any premium payable upon the redemption of any security; change the time or place of payment, currency or currencies in which any security or any premium or interest thereon is payable; impair the holders’ rights to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity date of any security, or in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date; reduce the percentage in principal amount of securities required to consent to any modification, amendment or waiver under the indenture; modify, except under limited circumstances, any provision of the applicable indenture relating to modification and amendment of the indenture, waiver of compliance with conditions and defaults thereunder or the right of a majority of holders to take action under the applicable indenture; adversely affect any rights of conversion; in the case of the subordinated indenture and the junior subordinated indenture, alter the provisions regarding subordination of the subordinated debt securities and junior subordinated debt securities, respectively, in any way that would be adverse to the holders of those securities; reduce the principal amount of original issue discount securities which could be declared due and payable upon an acceleration of their maturity; or change our obligation to pay any additional amounts.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of any series may waive compliance by us and the trustee with certain provisions of the indentures. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of any series may waive any past default under the applicable indenture with respect to that series, except a default in the payment of the principal, or any premium, interest, or additional amounts payable on a security of that series or in respect of a covenant or provision which under the terms of the applicable indenture cannot be modified or amended, without the consent of each affected holder.

With the trustee, we may modify and amend any indenture without the consent of any holder for any of the following purposes: to name a successor entity to us; to add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of securities; to add to the events of default; to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of securities, as set forth in the applicable indenture; to establish the form or terms of securities of any series and any related coupons; to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee; to make provision for the conversion rights of the holders of the securities in certain events; to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the applicable indenture, provided that such action is not inconsistent with the provisions of that indenture and does not adversely affect the interests of the applicable holders; or to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of any indenture to conform our or the trustee’s obligations under the applicable indenture to the Trust Indenture Act.

Calculation of Outstanding Debt Securities

To calculate whether the holders of a sufficient principal amount of the outstanding securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under any indenture:

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Additional Provisions

Other than the duty to act with the required standard of care during an event of default, the trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the securities, unless the holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnification. Each indenture provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding securities of any series may, in certain circumstances, direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or other power conferred on the trustee.

No holder of a security of any series will have the right to institute any proceeding for any remedy under the applicable indenture, unless: the holder has provided the trustee with written notice of a continuing event of default regarding the holder’s series of securities; the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding securities of a series have made a written request, and offered indemnity satisfactory to the trustee, to the trustee to institute a proceeding for remedy; the trustee has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity; and the trustee has not received a direction during such 60 day period inconsistent with such request from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series.

However, the holder of any security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal, any premium, any interest or any additional amounts in respect of such security on or after the date expressed in such security and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment.

We are required to file annually with the trustee a certificate of no default, or specifying any default that exists.

Conversion Rights

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any convertible debt securities will describe the terms on which those securities are convertible.

Events of Default

The following will be events of default under the senior indenture with respect to the senior debt securities of a series: failure to pay any interest or any additional amounts on any senior debt security of that series when due, and continuance of such default for 30 days; failure to pay principal of, or any premium on, any senior debt security of that series when due; failure to deposit any sinking fund payment for a senior debt security of that series when due; failure to perform any of our other covenants or warranties in the senior indenture or senior debt securities (other than a covenant or warranty included in that indenture solely for the benefit of a different series of senior debt securities), which has continued for 90 days after written notice as provided in the senior indenture; acceleration of indebtedness in a principal amount specified in a supplemental indenture for money borrowed by us under this senior indenture, and the acceleration is not annulled, or the indebtedness is not discharged, within a specified period after written notice is given according to the senior indenture; certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us or First Financial Bank; and any other event of default regarding that series of senior debt securities.

Events of default under the subordinated indenture are limited to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us or First Financial Bank.

Events of default under the junior subordinated indenture are limited to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us, First Financial Bank or the Trusts, as applicable, nonpayment of interest upon the lapse of any deferral period permitted under the junior subordinated indenture, or upon certain events of termination of the Trust governing the related trust preferred capital securities.

There is no right of acceleration of the payment of principal of a series of subordinated debt securities upon a default in the payment of principal or interest, nor upon a default in the performance of any covenant or agreement in the subordinated debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities of a particular series or in the applicable indenture. In the event of a default in the payment of interest or principal, the holders of senior debt will be entitled to be paid in full before any payment can be made to holders of subordinated debt securities. However, a holder of a subordinated debt security or junior subordinated debt security (or the trustee under the applicable indenture on behalf of all of the holders of the affected series) may, subject to

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certain limitations and conditions, seek to enforce overdue payments of interest or principal on the subordinated debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, respectively.

Subordination

The senior debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally among themselves and with all of our other unsecured and non-subordinated debt, if any.

The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth below, to the prior payment in full of all of the Company’s senior debt, as more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The junior subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of the Company’s senior debt and subordinated debt, as more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If any of the following circumstances has occurred, payment in full of all principal, premium, if any, and interest must be made or provided for with respect to all outstanding senior debt before we can make any payment or distribution of principal, premium, if any, any additional amounts or interest on the subordinated debt securities; and payment in full of all principal, premium, if any, and interest must be made or provided for with respect to all outstanding senior debt and subordinated debt securities before we can make any payment or distribution of principal, premium, if any, any additional amounts or interest on the junior subordinated debt securities: any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceeding relating to us or to our property has been commenced; any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up relating to us has been commenced, whether or not such event involves our insolvency or bankruptcy; any of our subordinated debt security of any series is declared or otherwise becomes due and payable before its maturity date because of any event of default under the subordinated indenture, provided that such declaration has not been rescinded or annulled as provided in the subordinated indenture; or any default with respect to senior debt which permits its holders to accelerate the maturity of the senior debt has occurred and is continuing, and either (a) notice of such default has been given to us and to the trustee and judicial proceedings are commenced in respect of such default within 180 days after notice in the case of a default in the payment of principal or interest, or within 90 days after notice in the case of any other default, or (b) any judicial proceeding is pending with respect to any such default.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES

For purposes of this section, the terms “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to First Financial and not its subsidiaries.

The following description of our common shares, without par value, or “common shares,” is a summary only and is subject to applicable provisions of the Ohio General Corporation Law, as amended (the “OGCL”), and to our amended and restated articles of incorporation (“Articles”) and our amended and restated regulations (“Regulations”). You should refer to, and read this summary together with, our Articles and Regulations to review all of the terms of our common shares.

Our Articles provide that we may issue up to 160 million common shares, without par value. As of March 31, 2009, 37,474,422 of our common shares were issued and outstanding. All outstanding common shares are fully paid and nonassessable. Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “FFBC”.

Voting Rights

Each holder of common shares is entitled to cast one vote for each common share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of directors. The Board of Directors is divided into three classes as nearly equal in size as the total number of directors constituting the Board permits. The number of directors may be fixed or changed from time to time by the shareholders or the directors as discussed below, but, in any event, can be no less than nine and no more than twenty-five. Our directors are elected to three-year terms, with the term of office of one class expiring each year. Our shareholders annually elect only one of the three classes. This method of election could be considered an impediment for a takeover of control of the Company by third parties.

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The size of the Board can be increased or decreased at any time by: (a) the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the whole authorized number of directors, or (b) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting power of the Company at a meeting of shareholders, at which a quorum is present, called for the purpose of electing directors. The Company’s Board of Directors may not, under provisions of the Regulations, increase the authorized number of directors by more than three positions during any period between annual meetings.

As permitted by law, the Articles provide that the holders of common shares do not have preemptive rights or the right to exercise cumulative voting in the election of directors.

Dividends, Liquidation and Other Rights

Holders of common shares are entitled to participate equally in dividends or other distributions when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. Subject to certain regulatory restrictions, dividends may be paid in cash, property or common shares, unless the Company is insolvent or the dividend payment would render it insolvent.

Holders of our common shares have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund or redemption rights and have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities. Our board of directors may issue additional common shares or rights to purchase common shares without the approval of our shareholders.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, our common shares may be transferred without any restrictions or limitations. The transfer agent and registrar for our common shares is Registrar and Transfer Company.

ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF CERTAIN ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION PROVISIONS

Our Articles contain certain provisions that make it more difficult to acquire control of us by means of a tender offer, open market purchase, a proxy fight or otherwise. These provisions are designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate with our directors. We believe that, as a general rule, the interests of our shareholders would be best served if any change in control results from negotiations with our directors.

Classification of Board of Directors

Our Articles provide for a classified board, to which approximately one-third of our board of directors is elected each year at our annual meeting of shareholders. Accordingly, our directors serve three-year terms rather than one-year terms. The classification of our board of directors has the effect of making it more difficult for shareholders to change the composition of our board of directors. At least two annual meetings of shareholders, instead of one, will generally be required to effect a change in a majority of our board of directors. Such a delay may help ensure that our directors, if confronted by a holder attempting to force a proxy contest, a tender or exchange offer, or an extraordinary corporate transaction, would have sufficient time to review the proposal as well as any available alternatives to the proposal and to act in what they believe to be the best interests of our shareholders. The classification provisions apply to every election of directors, however, regardless of whether a change in the composition of our board of directors would be beneficial to us and our shareholders and whether or not a majority of our shareholders believe that such a change would be desirable.

The classification of our board of directors could also have the effect of discouraging a third party from initiating a proxy contest, making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, even though such an attempt might be beneficial to us and our shareholders. The classification of our board of directors could thus increase the likelihood that incumbent directors will retain their positions. In addition, because the classification of our board of directors may discourage accumulations of large blocks of our shares by purchasers whose objective is to take control of us and remove a majority of our board of directors, the classification of our board of directors could tend to reduce the likelihood of fluctuations in the market price of our common shares that might result from accumulations of large blocks of our common shares for such a purpose. Accordingly, our shareholders could be deprived of certain opportunities to sell their shares at a higher market price than might otherwise be the case.

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We believe that the power of our board of directors to issue additional authorized but unissued common shares of ours without further action by our shareholders, unless required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded, will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that might arise. Our board of directors could authorize and issue a class or series of shares that could, depending upon the terms of such class or series, delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control of us that might involve a premium price for holders of our common shares or that our shareholders otherwise consider to be in their best interest.

Other Limitations on Change in Control

In addition to the classification of the Board of Directors as discussed above, the following provisions of the Articles and Ohio law might have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us and would operate only with respect to an extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization, tender offer, sale or transfer of assets or liquidation involving the Company and certain persons described below.

The OGCL provides that the approval of two-thirds of the voting power of a corporation is required to effect mergers and similar transactions, to adopt amendments to the articles of incorporation of a corporation and to take certain other significant actions. Although under Ohio law the articles of incorporation of a corporation may permit such actions to be taken by a vote that is less than two-thirds (but not less than a majority), the Articles do not contain such a provision. The two-thirds voting requirement tends to make approval of such matters, including further amendments to the Articles, relatively difficult, and a vote of the holders of in excess of one-third of our outstanding common shares would be sufficient to prevent implementation of any of the corporate actions mentioned above.

Ohio, the state of our incorporation, has enacted OGCL Section 1701.831, a “control share acquisition” statute. The control share acquisition statute basically provides that any person acquiring shares of an “issuing public corporation” (which definition we meet) in any of the following three ownership ranges must seek and obtain shareholder approval of the acquisition transaction that first puts such ownership within each such range: (i) more than 20% but less than 33 1/3%; (ii) 33 1/3% but not more than 50%; and (iii) more than 50%.

The purpose of the control share acquisition statute is to give shareholders of Ohio corporations a reasonable opportunity to express their views on a proposed shift in control, thereby reducing the coercion inherent in an unfriendly takeover. The provisions of the control share acquisition statute grant to our shareholders the assurance that they will have adequate time to evaluate the proposal of the acquiring person, that they will be permitted to vote on the issue of authorizing the acquiring person’s purchase program to go forward in the same manner and with the same proxy information that would be available to them if a proposed merger of the Company were before them and, most importantly, that the interests of all shareholders will be taken into account in connection with such vote and the probability will be increased that they will be treated equally regarding the price to be offered for their common shares if the implementation of the proposal is approved.

The control share acquisition statute applies not only to traditional offers but also to open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions and original issuances by an Ohio corporation, whether friendly or unfriendly. The procedural requirements of the control share acquisition statute could render approval of any control share acquisition difficult in that the transaction must be authorized at a special meeting of shareholders, at which a quorum is present, by the affirmative vote of the majority of the voting power represented and by a majority of the portion of such voting power excluding interested shares. Any corporate defense against persons seeking to acquire control may have the effect of discouraging or preventing offers which some shareholders might find financially attractive. On the other hand, the need on the part of the acquiring person to convince our shareholders of the value and validity of the offer may cause such offer to be more financially attractive in order to gain shareholder approval.

Ohio has also enacted Chapter 1704, a “merger moratorium” statute. The merger moratorium statute provides that, unless a corporation’s articles of incorporation or regulations otherwise provide, an “issuing public corporation” (which definition we meet) may not engage in a “Chapter 1704 transaction” for three years following the date on which a person acquires more than 10% of the voting power in the election of

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directors of the issuing corporation, unless the Chapter 1704 transaction is approved by the corporation’s board of directors prior to such voting power acquisition. A person who acquires such voting power is an “interested shareholder”, and “Chapter 1704 transactions” involve a broad range of transactions, including mergers, consolidations, combinations, liquidations, recapitalizations and other transactions between an issuing public corporation and an interested shareholder if such transactions involve 5% of the assets or shares of the issuing public corporation or 10% of its earning power. After the initial three year moratorium, Chapter 1704 prohibits such transactions absent approval by disinterested shareholders or the transaction meeting certain statutorily defined fair price provisions. One significant effect of Chapter 1704 is to encourage a person to negotiate with the board of directors of a corporation prior to becoming an interested shareholder.

Ohio also has enacted a “greenmailer disgorgement” statute which provides that a person who announces a control bid must disgorge profits realized by that person upon the sale of any equity securities within 18 months of the announcement.

In addition, Section 1701.59 of the OGCL provides that, in determining what a director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation, such director may consider, in addition to the interests of the corporation’s shareholders, any of the interests of the corporation’s employees, suppliers, creditors and customers, the economy of the State of Ohio and the United States, community and societal considerations and the long-term as well as the short-term interests in the corporation and its shareholders, including the possibility that these interests may be best served by the continued independence of the corporation.

The overall effect of these statutes may be to render more difficult or discourage the removal of incumbent management or the assumption of effective control by other persons.

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

We also may issue purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to holders, a fixed or varying number of our common shares at a future date or dates. The consideration per share of common shares may be fixed at the time that the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the purchase contracts. Any purchase contract may include anti-dilution provisions to adjust the number of shares issuable pursuant to such purchase contract upon the occurrence of certain events.

The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units consisting of a purchase contract, debt securities and preferred securities. These contracts, and the holders’ obligations to purchase our common shares under the purchase contracts may be secured by cash, certificates of deposit, U.S. government securities that will mature prior to or simultaneously with, the maturity of the purchase contract, standby letters of credit from an affiliated U.S. bank that is FDIC-insured or other collateral satisfactory to the Federal Reserve. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to holders of the purchase units, or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis.

Any one or more of the above securities, common shares or the purchase contracts or other collateral may be pledged as security for the holders’ obligations to purchase or sell, as the case may be, the common shares under the purchase contracts.

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We also may offer two or more of the securities described in this prospectus in the form of a “unit”, including pursuant to a unit agreement. The unit may be transferable only as a whole, or the securities comprising a unit may, as described in the prospectus supplement, be separated and transferred by the holder separately. There may or may not be an active market for units or the underlying securities, and not all the securities comprising a unit may be listed or traded on a securities exchange or market.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

For purposes of this section, the terms “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to First Financial and not to its subsidiaries.

We may issue warrants in one or more series to purchase senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, common shares or any combination of these securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any underlying securities and may be attached to or separate from the underlying securities. We will issue each series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or on behalf of holders or beneficial owners of warrants. The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions of the warrants. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description and any description of the warrants in a prospectus supplement are not complete and are subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the warrant agreement, which we will file with the SEC in connection with an issuance of any warrants.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any warrants, including the following, as may be applicable: the title of the warrants; the total number of warrants to be issued; the consideration for which we will issue the warrants, including the applicable currency or currencies; anti-dilution provisions to adjust the number of our common shares or other securities to be delivered upon exercise of the warrants; the designation and terms of the underlying securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants; the price at which and the currency or currencies in which investors may purchase the underlying securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants; the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire; the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants; whether the warrants will be in registered or bearer form; information with respect to book-entry registration and transfer procedures, if any; the minimum or maximum amount of warrants which may be exercised at any one time; the designation and terms of the underlying securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each underlying security; the date on and after which the warrants and securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable; a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations; the identity of the warrant agent; and any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange, transfer and exercise of the warrants.

Warrant certificates may be exchanged for new warrant certificates of different denominations, and warrants may be exercised at the warrant agent’s corporate trust office or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for debt securities will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise. Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for our common shares, will not have any rights of holders of common shares, purchasable upon such exercise, including any rights to vote such shares or to receive any distributions or dividends thereon.

Exercise of Warrants

A warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash an amount of securities at an exercise price that will be stated in, or that will be determinable as described in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Warrants may be exercised at any time prior to the close of business on the expiration date and in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon and after the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will be void and have no further force, effect or value.

Enforceability of Rights; Governing Law

The holders of warrants, without the consent of the warrant agent, may, on their own behalf and for their own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against us to enforce their rights to exercise and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of their warrants. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each issue of warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio.

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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

For purpose of this section, the terms “we”, “our” and “us” refer only to First Financial and not to its subsidiaries.

The following briefly summarizes the general provisions of rights to purchase additional common shares of ours, which we may issue. The specific terms of any rights, including the period during which the rights may be exercised, the manner of exercising such rights, and the transferability of rights, will be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement. Although we may issue rights, in our sole discretion, we have no obligation to do so.

We may distribute rights, which may or not be transferable, to the holders of our common shares as of a record date set by our board of directors, at no cost to such holders. Each holder will be given the right to purchase a specified number of whole shares of our common shares for every common share that the holder thereof owned on such record date, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. No fractional rights or rights to purchase fractional shares will be distributed in any rights offering. The rights will be evidenced by rights certificates, which may be in definitive or book-entry form. Each right will entitle the holder to purchase common shares at a rate and price per share to be established by our board of directors, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. If holders of rights wish to exercise their rights, they must do so before the expiration date of the rights offering, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon the expiration date, the rights will expire and will no longer be exercisable, unless, in our sole discretion prior to the expiration date, we extend the rights offering.

Exercise Price

Our board of directors will determine the exercise price or prices for the rights based upon a number of factors, including, without limitation, our business prospects; our capital requirements; the price or prices at which an underwriter or standby purchasers may be willing to purchase shares that remain unsold in the rights offering; and general conditions in the securities markets, especially for securities of financial institutions.

The subscription price may or may not reflect the actual or long-term fair value of the common shares offered in the rights offering. We provide no assurances as to the market values or liquidity of any rights issued, or as to whether or not the market prices of the common shares subject to the rights will be more or less than the rights’ exercise price during the term of the rights or after the rights expire.

Exercising Rights; Fees and Expenses

The manner of exercising rights will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any subscription agent or escrow agent will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will pay all fees charged by any subscription agent and escrow agent in connection with the distribution and exercise of rights. Rights holders will be responsible for paying all other commissions, fees, taxes or other expenses incurred in connection with their transfer of rights that are transferable. Neither we nor the subscription agent will pay such expenses.

Expiration of Rights

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the expiration date and time (“Expiration Date”) for exercising rights. If holders of rights do not exercise their rights prior to such time, their rights will expire and will no longer be exercisable and will have no value.

We will extend the Expiration Date as required by applicable law and may, in our sole discretion, extend the Expiration Date. If we elect to extend the Expiration Date, we will issue a press release announcing such extension prior to the scheduled Expiration Date.

Withdrawal and Termination

We may withdraw the rights offering at any time prior to the Expiration Date for any reason. We may terminate the rights offering, in whole or in part, at any time before completion of the rights offering if there is any judgment, order, decree, injunction, statute, law or regulation entered, enacted, amended or held to be applicable to the rights offering that in the sole judgment of our board of directors would or might make the

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rights offering or its completion, whether in whole or in part, illegal or otherwise restrict or prohibit completion of the rights offering. We may waive any of these conditions and choose to proceed with the rights offering even if one or more of these events occur. If we terminate the rights offering, in whole or in part, all affected rights will expire without value, and all subscription payments received by the subscription agent will be returned promptly without interest.

Rights of Subscribers

Holders of rights will have no rights as shareholders with respect to the common shares for which the rights may be exercised until they have exercised their rights by payment in full of the exercise price and in the manner provided in the prospectus supplement, and such common shares have been issued to such persons. Holders of rights will have no right to revoke their subscriptions or receive their monies back after they have completed and delivered the materials required to exercise their rights and have paid the exercise price to the subscription agent. All exercises of rights are final and cannot be revoked by the holder of rights.

Regulatory Limitations

We will not be required to issue any person or group of persons our common shares pursuant to the rights offering if, in our sole opinion, such person would be required to give prior notice to or obtain prior approval from, any state or federal governmental authority to own or control such shares if, at the time the rights offering is scheduled to expire, such person has not obtained such clearance or approval in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to us.

Standby Agreements

We may enter into one or more separate agreements with one or more standby underwriters or other persons to purchase, for their own account or on our behalf, any common shares of ours not subscribed for in the rights offering. The terms of any such agreements will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF TRUST PREFERRED CAPITAL SECURITIES

Each Trust will issue trust preferred capital securities under an amended trust agreement, which we will enter into with the trustees. The amended trust agreement for each Trust will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act, and Wilmington Trust Company will act as indenture, property and guarantee trustee under each amended trust agreement for the purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The terms of the trust preferred capital securities will be those contained in the applicable amended trust agreement and those made part of the amended trust agreement by the Trust Indenture Act.

The following summary outlines the material terms and provisions of the trust preferred capital securities that the Trusts may offer. The particular terms of any trust preferred capital securities the Trusts offer and the extent, if any, to which these general terms and provisions may or may not apply to the trust preferred capital securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of amended trust agreement, the related junior subordinated indenture, as supplemented, the guarantee, and the Trust Indenture Act.

Each amended trust agreement will provide that the related Trust may issue, from time to time, only one series of trust preferred capital securities and one series of common securities. The trust preferred capital securities will be offered to investors and the common securities will be held by us. The terms of the trust preferred capital securities generally will reflect the terms of the junior subordinated debt securities we will issue to the related Trust in consideration of the proceeds of the sales of the Trust’s trust securities. If we fail to make a payment on our junior subordinated debt securities, the Trust holding those securities will not have sufficient funds to make related payments, including the payment of periodic cash distributions, or “distributions,” on its trust preferred capital securities.

You should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the trust preferred capital securities for the specific terms of the trust preferred capital securities offered, including, but not limited to: the distinctive designation of the trust preferred capital securities; the total and per-security liquidation amount of the trust preferred capital securities; the annual distribution and periodic rates, or the method of determining the

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rates at which the Trust issuing the securities will pay distributions on the trust preferred capital securities and the date or dates from which distributions will accrue; whether distributions are at a fixed rate or a floating rate, and if floating, any applicable index upon which the distributions are based; any provisions for changing the rate payable from fixed to floating or vice versa; the date or dates on which the distributions will be payable and any corresponding record dates; the right to defer distributions on the trust preferred capital securities upon deferral of the interest payment period of the related junior subordinated debt securities, and any additional amounts, if any, that will be paid upon the deferred distributions; whether the trust preferred capital securities are to be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global certificates and, if so, the depositary for the global certificates; the amount or amounts which will be paid out of the assets of the Trust issuing the securities to the holders of trust preferred capital securities upon voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust issuing the securities, and whether such amounts are payable in cash or the junior subordinated debt securities issued by us to the Trust; any rights or obligation of us to purchase or redeem the junior subordinated debt securities; any rights or obligation of the Trust issuing the securities to purchase or redeem trust preferred capital securities and the terms and conditions relating to any redemption obligation; any voting rights of the trust preferred capital securities; any terms and conditions upon which the junior subordinated debt securities held by the Trust issuing the securities may be distributed to holders of trust preferred capital securities in exchange for the trust preferred capital securities; any securities exchange or market on which the trust preferred capital securities will be listed; and any other relevant rights, preferences, privileges, limitations or restrictions of the trust preferred capital securities.

We will guarantee payment of distributions on the trust preferred capital securities to the extent described below under “Description of Guarantees.”

Generally, any redemption of trust securities prior to maturity will be subject to prior Federal Reserve approval.

Certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to any offering of trust preferred capital securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Distributions Upon Dissolution of the Trusts

Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, each amended trust agreement will state that each Trust will be dissolved: on the expiration of the term of that Trust; upon our bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation; upon our written direction to the property trustee to dissolve the Trust and distribute the related junior subordinated debt securities directly to the holders of the trust securities; upon the redemption of all of the trust preferred capital securities in connection with the redemption of all of the related junior subordinated debt securities; or upon entry of a court order for the dissolution of the Trust.

Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, in the event of a dissolution as described above other than in connection with redemption, after a Trust satisfies all liabilities to its creditors as provided by applicable law, each holder of the trust securities issued by that Trust will be entitled to receive: the related junior subordinated debt securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the trust securities held by the holder; or if any distribution of the related junior subordinated debt securities is determined by the property trustee not to be practical, cash equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the trust securities held by the holder, plus accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of payment.

If a Trust cannot pay the full amount due on its trust securities because it has insufficient assets available for payment, then the amounts payable by that Trust on its trust securities will be paid on a pro rata basis. However, if certain events of default under the junior subordinated indenture have occurred and are continuing with respect to any series of related junior subordinated debt securities, the total amounts due on the trust preferred capital securities will be paid before any distribution on the common securities.

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Events of Default

The following will be events of default under each amended trust agreement: an event of default under the junior subordinated indenture occurs with respect to any related series of junior subordinated debt securities; or any other event of default specified in the applicable prospectus supplement occurs.

Except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings affecting us and except as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if an event of default with respect to a related series of junior subordinated debt securities occurs and is continuing under the junior subordinated indenture, and the junior subordinated indenture trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the related junior subordinated debt securities outstanding fail to declare the principal amount of all of such junior subordinated debt securities to be immediately due and payable, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding trust preferred capital securities of the Trust holding the junior subordinated debt securities, will have the right to declare such principal amount immediately due and payable by providing written notice to us, the applicable property trustee and the junior subordinated indenture trustee.

At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made with respect to a related series of junior subordinated debt securities and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the affected trust preferred capital securities may rescind any declaration of acceleration with respect to the related junior subordinated debt securities and its consequences: if we deposit with the junior subordinated indenture trustee funds sufficient to pay all overdue interest on the related junior subordinated debt securities and other amounts due to the junior subordinated indenture trustee and the property trustee; and if all existing events of default with respect to the related junior subordinated debt securities have been cured or waived, except non-payment of principal on the related junior subordinated debt securities that has become due solely because of the acceleration.

The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the affected trust preferred capital securities may waive any past default under the junior subordinated indenture with respect to related junior subordinated debt securities, other than a default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any related junior subordinated debt securities or a default with respect to a covenant or provision that cannot be amended or modified without the consent of the holder of each affected outstanding related junior subordinated debt security. In addition, the holders of at least a majority in liquidation amount of the affected trust preferred capital securities may waive any past default under the amended trust agreement.

The property trustee shall not have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the property trustee or to direct the exercise of the Trusts or power conferred on the property trustee under the amended trust agreement without the consent of the holders of a majority in liquidation amount.

A holder of trust preferred capital securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against us without first instituting a legal proceeding against the property trustee or anyone else, for enforcement of payment to the holder of principal and any premium or interest on the related series of junior subordinated debt securities having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the trust preferred capital securities of the holder, if we fail to pay principal and any premium or interest on the related series of junior subordinated debt securities when payable.

We are required to furnish annually to the property trustee for each Trust, officers’ certificates to the effect that, to the best knowledge of the individuals providing the certificates, we and each Trust are not in default under the applicable amended trust agreement or, if there has been a default, specifying the default and its status.

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Consolidation, Merger or Amalgamation of the Trusts

No Trust may merge with or into, amalgamate, consolidate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any entity, except as described below or as described in “—Distributions Upon Dissolution of the Trusts.” The Trusts may, with the consent of the holders of the outstanding trust preferred capital securities (but without the consent of the other trustees of that Trust), merge with or into, amalgamate, consolidate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, trusts organized under the laws of any state if: the successor entity either: expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust relating to its trust preferred capital securities; or substitutes for the Trust’s trust preferred capital securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the trust preferred capital securities, so long as the successor entity’s substituted securities have the same priority as the trust preferred capital securities with respect to distributions, generally, including payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise;

In addition, unless all of the holders of the trust preferred capital securities approve otherwise, no Trust may consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any other entity, or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into or replace it if the transaction would cause that Trust or the successor entity to be taxable as other than as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.

Voting Rights

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holders of the trust preferred capital securities will have no voting rights except as discussed below and under “—Amendment to an Amended Trust Agreement” and “Description of Guarantees—Modification of the Guarantee; Assignment” and as otherwise required by law.

If any proposed amendment to an amended trust agreement provides for, or the trustees of a Trust otherwise propose to effect: any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or rights of the trust preferred capital securities in any material respect, whether by way of amendment to the amended trust agreement or otherwise; or the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust other than pursuant to the terms of the amended trust agreement; then the holders of the affected trust preferred capital securities as a class will be entitled to vote on the amendment or proposal. In that case, the amendment or proposal will be effective only if approved by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the trust preferred capital securities.

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Without obtaining the prior approval of the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the trust preferred capital securities issued by the Trust, the trustees of that Trust may not: direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the junior subordinated indenture trustee for any related junior subordinated debt securities or direct the exercise of any Trust or power conferred on the property trustee with respect to the related junior subordinated debt securities; waive any default that is waivable under the junior subordinated indenture with respect to any related junior subordinated debt securities; cancel an acceleration of the maturity of the principal of the related junior subordinated debt securities; or consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the junior subordinated indenture or any related junior subordinated debt securities where consent is required.

However, if a consent under the junior subordinated indenture requires the consent of each affected holder of the related junior subordinated debt securities, then the property trustee must obtain the prior consent of each holder of the trust preferred capital securities of the Trust that holds the related junior subordinated debt securities. In addition, before taking any of the foregoing actions, we will provide to the property trustee an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of such actions, the Trust will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.

The property trustee will notify all trust preferred capital securities holders of a Trust of any notice of default received from the junior subordinated indenture trustee with respect to the junior subordinated debt securities held by that Trust.

Any required approval of the holders of trust preferred capital securities may be given at a meeting of the holders of the trust preferred capital securities convened for the purpose or pursuant to written consent. The applicable property trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which holders of securities are entitled to vote to be given to each holder of record of the trust preferred capital securities at the holder’s registered address at least 15 days and not more than 90 days before the meeting.

No vote or consent of the holders of the trust securities will be required for any Trust to redeem and cancel its trust securities in accordance with its amended trust agreement.

Notwithstanding that holders of the trust preferred capital securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the trust preferred capital securities that are owned us, any trustee or any affiliate of a trustee or us, will, for purposes of any vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding. Trust preferred capital securities held by us or any of our affiliates may be exchanged for related junior subordinated debt securities at the election of the holder.

Amendment to an Amended Trust Agreement

An amended trust agreement may be further amended from time to time by us and the property trustee and the administrative trustees of each Trust without the consent of the holders of the trust preferred capital securities of that Trust to: cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision which may be inconsistent with any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the amended trust agreement, in each case to the extent that the amendment does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of the trust preferred capital securities in any material respect; or modify, eliminate or add to any provisions to the extent necessary to ensure that the Trust will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, to ensure that the junior subordinated debt securities held by the Trust are treated as indebtedness for United States federal income tax purposes or to ensure that the Trust will not be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

Other amendments to an amended trust agreement may be made by us and the trustees of that Trust upon approval of the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding trust preferred capital securities of that Trust and receipt by the trustees of an opinion of counsel to the effect that the amendment will not cause the Trust to be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, affect the treatment of the junior subordinated debt securities held by the Trust as indebtedness for United States federal income tax purposes or affect the Trust’s exemption from registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each affected holder of trust securities of each Trust, an amended trust agreement may not be amended to: change the amount or timing of any distribution on the trust securities of the Trusts or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any distribution required to be made in respect of the trust securities as of a specified date; or restrict the right of a holder of any trust securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the distribution date.

In addition, no amendment may be made to an amended trust agreement if the amendment would: cause a Trust to be taxable as a corporation or characterized as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes; cause the junior subordinated debt securities held by the Trust to not be treated as indebtedness for United States federal income tax purposes; cause the Trust to be deemed to be an investment company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act; or impose any additional obligation on us without our consent.

Removal and Replacement of Trustees

The holder of the Trust’s common securities may, upon prior written notice, remove or replace any of the administrative trustees and, unless an event of default has occurred and is continuing under the junior subordinated indenture, the property trustee and the Delaware trustee of the Trust. If an event of default has occurred and is continuing under the junior subordinated indenture, only the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Trust’s trust preferred capital securities may remove or replace the property trustee or the Delaware trustee. The resignation or removal of any trustee will be effective only upon the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the applicable amended trust agreement. We may replace any administrative trustee at any time.

Merger or Consolidation of Trustees

Any entity into which the property trustee or the Delaware trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the trustee shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the trustee, shall be the successor of the trustee under the applicable amended trust agreement; provided that the resulting entity shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under the amended trust agreement.

Information Concerning the Property and Guarantee Trustee

For matters relating to compliance with the Trust Indenture Act, the property trustee for each Trust will have all of the duties and responsibilities of an indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. The property trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of a default under an amended trust agreement, undertakes to perform only the duties as are specifically set forth in the amended trust agreement and, after a default, must use the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. The property trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by an amended trust agreement at the request of any holder of the trust preferred capital securities unless it is offered security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur. If the property trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action, construe ambiguous provisions in an amended trust agreement or is unsure of the application of any provision of the amended trust agreement, and the matter is not one on which the holders of the trust preferred capital securities are entitled to vote, then the property trustee will deliver a notice to us requesting written instructions as to the course of action to be taken and the property trustee will take or refrain from taking that action as instructed. If we do not provide these instructions within 10 business days, then the property trustee will take such action as it deems advisable and in the best interests of the holders of the trust securities. In this event, the property trustee will have no liability except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct.

Wilmington Trust Company, which is the property trustee for each Trust, also serves as the guarantee trustee under each guarantee, as described below. Wilmington Trust Company’s principal office is located at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890.

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Miscellaneous

The administrative trustees of each Trust are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of and to operate each Trust in such a way so that: each Trust will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes; the junior subordinated debt securities held by each Trust will be treated as indebtedness of ours for United States federal income tax purposes; and each Trust will not be deemed to be an investment company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act.

We and the trustees of each Trust are authorized to take any action, so long as it is consistent with applicable law, the certificate of trust or amended trust agreement, that we and the trustees determine to be necessary or desirable for the above purposes.

Registered holders of the trust preferred capital securities have no preemptive or similar rights. The Trusts may not incur indebtedness or place a lien on any of their assets. We have agreed to pay the fees and charges of the property trustee, the guarantee trustee and the Delaware trustee.

Governing Law

Each amended trust agreement and the trust preferred capital securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES

For purpose of this section, the terms “we”, “our” and “us” refer only to First Financial and not to its subsidiaries.

The following describes certain general terms and provisions of the guarantees which we will execute and deliver for the benefit of the holders from time to time of trust preferred capital securities. Each guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, and Wilmington Trust Company will act as indenture trustee under each guarantee for the purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The terms of each guarantee will be those contained in each guarantee and those made part of each guarantee by the Trust Indenture Act. The following summary may not be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of guarantee, which is an exhibit to the registration statement which contains this prospectus, and the Trust Indenture Act. Each guarantee will be held by the guarantee trustee of each Trust for the benefit of the holders of the trust preferred capital securities.

We will irrevocably and unconditionally agree to pay the following payments or distributions with respect to trust preferred capital securities, in full, to the holders of the trust preferred capital securities, as and when they become due regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the Trusts may have except for the defense of payment: any accrued and unpaid distributions which are required to be paid on the trust preferred capital securities, to the extent the Trust that issued the trust preferred capital securities does not make such payments or distributions, but has sufficient funds available to do so; the redemption price and all accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption with respect to any trust preferred capital securities called for redemption, to the extent the Trust that issued the trust preferred capital securities does not make such payments or distributions, but has sufficient funds available to do so; and upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust that issued the trust preferred capital securities (other than in connection with the distribution of junior subordinated debt securities to the holders of trust preferred capital securities or the redemption of all of the trust preferred capital securities), the lesser of: the total liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid distributions on the trust preferred capital securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Trust that issued the trust preferred capital securities does not make such payments or distributions, but has sufficient funds available to do so; and the amount of assets of the Trust that issued the trust preferred capital securities has remaining and available for distribution to holders of such trust preferred capital securities in liquidation of the Trust.

Our obligations to make a payment under a guarantee may be satisfied by our direct payment of the required amounts to the holders of trust preferred capital securities to which the guarantee relates or by causing the applicable Trust to pay the amounts to the holders of the trust preferred capital securities.

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Modification of the Guarantee; Assignment

Except with respect to any changes which do not adversely affect the rights of holders of trust preferred capital securities in any material respect (in which case no vote will be required), each guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the holders of not less than a majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding trust preferred capital securities to which the guarantee relates. The manner of obtaining the approval of holders of the trust preferred capital securities will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement. All guarantees and agreements contained in each guarantee will bind our successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives and will be for the benefit of the holders of the outstanding trust preferred capital securities to which the guarantee relates.

Termination

Each guarantee will terminate when any of the following has occurred: all trust preferred capital securities to which the guarantee relates have been paid in full or redeemed in full by us, the Trust that issued the trust preferred capital securities or both; the junior subordinated debt securities held by the Trust that issued the trust preferred capital securities have been distributed to the holders of the trust preferred capital securities; or the amounts payable in accordance with the applicable amended trust agreement upon liquidation of the Trust that issued the trust preferred capital securities have been paid in full.

Each guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of trust preferred capital securities to which the guarantee relates must restore payment of any amounts paid on the trust preferred capital securities or under the guarantee.

Events of Default

An event of default under a guarantee will occur if we fail to perform any of our payment obligations under a guarantee or we fail to perform any other obligation under a guarantee and the failure to perform such other obligation continues for 60 days.

Each guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection. The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the trust preferred capital securities to which the guarantee relates have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the guarantee trustee in respect of the guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the guarantee trustee under the guarantee. If the guarantee trustee fails to enforce the guarantee, any holder of trust preferred capital securities to which the guarantee relates may institute a legal proceeding directly against us to enforce the holder’s rights under the guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trust, the guarantee trustee or any one else. If we do not make a guarantee payment, a holder of trust preferred capital securities may directly institute a proceeding against us for enforcement of the guarantee for such payment.

Status of the Guarantees

Each guarantee will be our general unsecured obligation and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment, and will be subject to its prior payment in full of our senior debt and subordinated debt as described under “Description of Debt Securities — Subordination”.

The terms of the trust preferred capital securities provide that each holder of trust preferred capital securities by acceptance of the trust preferred capital securities agrees to the subordination provisions and other terms of the guarantee relating to such subordination.

Information Concerning the Guarantee Trustee

Wilmington Trust Company will serve as the guarantee trustee under each guarantee. Wilmington Trust Company’s address is Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. The guarantee trustee, prior to the occurrence of a default with respect to a guarantee, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically contained in the guarantee and, after default, shall exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. The guarantee trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the applicable guarantee at the request of any holder of trust preferred capital securities to which the guarantee relates, unless it is offered indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which it might incur by exercising these powers;

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however, the guarantee trustee will not be, upon the occurrence of an event of default under the applicable guarantee, relieved from exercising the rights and powers vested in it by such guarantee.

Governing Law

Each guarantee will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

EFFECT OF OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED
DEBT SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEES

As long as we can make payments of interest and any other payments in full when they are due on the junior subordinated debt securities held by a particular Trust, those payments will be sufficient to cover distributions and any other payments due on the trust securities issued by that Trust because: the total principal amount of the junior subordinated debt securities held by the Trust will be equal to the total stated liquidation amount of all the trust securities issued by the Trust; the interest rate and the interest payment dates and other payment dates on the junior subordinated debt securities held by the Trust will match the distribution rate and distribution payment dates and other payment dates for the trust securities issued by the Trust; and we will pay, and the Trust will not be obligated to pay, directly or indirectly, all costs, expenses, debt and obligations of the Trust (other than obligations under the trust securities).

We guarantee payments of distributions, to the extent the Trust obligated to pay those distributions has sufficient funds available to make the payments due on the trust preferred capital securities, to the extent described under “Description of Guarantees.” If we do not make interest payments on the junior subordinated debt securities held by the Trust, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to pay distributions on the trust preferred capital securities issued by the Trust.

Each guarantee covers the payment of distributions and other payments on the trust preferred capital securities issued by a Trust only if and to the extent that we have made a payment of interest or principal on the junior subordinated debt securities held by the Trust as its sole asset. However, we believe that the guarantees, when taken together with our obligations under the junior subordinated debt securities and the junior subordinated indenture and our obligations under the amended trust agreements, including our obligations to pay the costs, expenses, debts and liabilities of the Trusts, provide a full and unconditional guarantee of payment on the trust preferred capital securities issued by the Trusts.

A holder of trust preferred capital securities may sue us to enforce its rights under the guarantee which relates to the holder’s trust preferred capital securities without first suing the guarantee trustee, the Trust or any other person or entity.

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters with respect to the securities will be passed upon for us by Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., counsel to First Financial Bancorp. Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware counsel for the Trusts, will pass on certain legal matters for the Trusts. Any underwriters will be represented by their own legal counsel.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

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$85,000,000

Common Shares
  
  
  
  
  
  

 

Prospectus Supplement

, 2010

 

Barclays Capital

 

RBC Capital Markets

 

Raymond James