SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

First Financial Bancorp.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)

320209109
(CUSIP Number)

December 31, 2009
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

þ      Rule 13d-1(b)

o      Rule 13d-1(c)

o      Rule 13d-1(d)

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see Notes).

 

 

SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No.		320209109

SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No.		320209109

Item 1(a) Name of Issuer:

First Financial Bancorp.

Item 1(b) Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:

300 High Street
Hamilton, Ohio 45011

Item 2(a) Name of Person(s) Filing:

First Financial Bancorp.
First Financial Bank, N.A.

Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office:

4000 Smith Road, Suite 400
Cincinnati, Ohio 45209

Item 2(c) Citizenship:

Ohio

Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities:

Common Stock

Item 2(e) CUSIP Number:

320209109

Item 3 If this statement is filed pursuant to Sections 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether filing person(s) is (are):

(a)		o		Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act.
(b)		þ		Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act.
(c)		o		Inurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act.
(d)		o		Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act.
(e)		o		Investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
(f)		o		Employee benefit plan, pension fund which is subject to provisions of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or endowment fund; see Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).
(g)		þ		Parent Holding Company in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).
(h)		o		Savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act
(i)		o		a church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
(j)		o		Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

Item 4 Ownership

(a)		Amount Beneficially Owned: 3,775,348
(b)		Percent of Class: 8.16%
(c)		Number of Shares as to which First Financial Bancorp. has:

	(i)		Sole power to vote or direct the vote: 2,140,674
	(ii)		Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 1,443,572
	(iii)		Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 1,420,905
	(iv)		Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 1,681,189

Number of Shares as to which First Financial Bank, N.A. has:

	(i)		Sole power to vote or direct the vote: 2,140,674
	(ii)		Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 1,443,572
	(iii)		Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 1,420,905
	(iv)		Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 1,681,189

Item 5 Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

N/A

Item 6 Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person

The securities covered by this Schedule are held in trust, agency or custodial capacities by First Financial Bank, N.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of First Financial Bancorp. To the knowledge of the filers, no person has the right to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, more than five percent of such securities.

Item 7 Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company

First Financial Bancorp. is a parent holding company in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G) of the Act; First Financial Bank, N.A., its wholly owned subsidiary, is a Bank, as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act.

Item 8 Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

N/A

Item 9 Dissolution of Group

N/A

Item 10 Certification

By signing below, I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

SIGNATURE

     After reasonable inquiry and to the best knowledge and belief of the undersigned, it is hereby certified that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Date: February 16, 2010		First Financial Bancorp.
		By:		/s/ J. Franklin Hall        J. Franklin Hall
				Executive Vice President and
				Chief Financial Officer
		First Financial Bank, N.A.
		By:		/s/ Claude E. Davis        Claude E. Davis
				President and Chief Executive Officer