SEC FORM 4

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

gehlmann gregory a

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

201 E. FOURTH STREET

SUITE 2000

(Street)

CINCINNATI

45202

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/ [ FFBC ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	SVP/Corporate General Counsel

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
04/24/2010

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	04/24/2010		D		700⁽¹⁾	D	$20.42	26,366	I	Restricted
Common Stock	04/26/2010		A		8,500	A	$20.42	34,866	I	Restricted
Common Stock	04/24/2010		A		433⁽²⁾	A	$20.42	8,683	D
Common Stock								3,575.65	I	401k

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
2005 (ISO) Stock Option	$18.63							06/21/2006	06/21/2016	Common Stock	5,367		5,367	D
2005 (NQ) Sock Option	$18.63							06/21/2006	06/21/2016	Common Stock	6,033		6,033	D
2006 (ISO) Stock Option	$16.02							04/24/2007	04/24/2016	Common Stock	6,242		6,242	D
2006 (NQ) Stock Option	$16.02							04/24/2007	04/24/2016	Common Stock	10,258		10,258	D
2007 (ISO) Stock Option	$14.9							04/30/2008	04/30/2017	Common Stock	6,711		6,711	D
2007 (NQ) Stock Option	$14.9							04/30/2008	04/30/2017	Common Stock	12,889		12,889	D
2008 (ISO) Stock Option	$11.64							02/14/2009	02/14/2018	Common Stock	8,591		8,591	D
2008 (NQ) Stock Option	$11.64							02/14/2009	02/14/2018	Common Stock	43,909		43,909	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Vesting of Restricted Stock Award

2. Vesting of restricted stock award less shares withheld for taxes

	/s/Terri J Ziepfel, POA	04/28/2010
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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