SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                  FORM 12B-25

                                                 Commission File Number 0-27878

                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING

(Check One): [x] Form 10-K [] Form 11-K [] Form 20-F [] Form 10-Q [] Form N-SAR

     For Period Ended: December 31, 2001

[x] Transition Report on Form 10-K        [ ] Transition Report on Form 10-Q
[ ] Transition Report on Form 20-F        [ ] Transition Report on Form N-SAR
[ ] Transition Report on Form 11-K
     For the Transition Period Ended:__________________________________________

     Read attached  instruction  sheet before  preparing form.  Please print or
type.

     Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the  Commission  has
verified any information contained herein.
     If the  notification  relates to a portion of the  filing  checked  above.
identify the item(s) to which the notification relates:________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

                                    PART I
                            REGISTRANT INFORMATION

Full name of registrant  First Financial Corp.
Former name if applicable:
Address of principal executive office (Street and number): 180 Washington Street
City, state and zip code: Providence, Rhode Island   02903

                                    PART II
                            RULE 12B-25 (B) AND (C)

     If the subject  report could not be filed without  unreasonable  effort or
expense  and  the  registrant  seeks  relief  pursuant  to Rule  l2b-25(b)  the
following should be completed. (Check box if appropriate.)

          (a)  The reasons  described in reasonable  detail in Part III of this
               form  could not be  eliminated  without  unreasonable  effort or
               expense;



          (b)  The subject annual report, semi-annual report, transition report
               on Form 10-K, 20-F, 11-K or X Form N-SAR or portion thereof will
               be filed  on or  before  the 15th  calendar  day  following  the
               prescribed  due  date,  or  the  subject   quarterly  report  or
               transition report on Form 10-Q, or portion thereof will be filed
               on or before the fifth calendar day following the prescribed due
               date;  and
          (c)  The  accountant's  statement or other  exhibit  required by Rule
               12b-25 (c) has been attached if applicable.


                                   PART III
                                   NARRATIVE

      State below in reasonable detail the reasons why Form 10-K, 11-K, 20-F,
10-Q, N-SAR or the transition report portion thereof could not be filed within
the prescribed time period. (Attach extra sheets if needed.)

          First  Financial  Corp.  requires additional  time to  prepare  First
          Financial's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year  ended
          December  31,  2001.  The unusual effort and expense is the result of
          limited  personnel and other resources of First Financial as a result
          of First  Financial's pending merger with  Washington  Trust Bancorp,
          Inc., which is expected to be completed in April 2002.


                                    PART IV
                               OTHER INFORMATION

     (1) Name and  telephone  number  of person  to  contact  in regard to this
notification

       Donna Dupuis                 (401)                       421-3600
         (Name)                  (Area Code)                (Telephone Number)

     (2) Have all other periodic  reports required under Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company Act
of 1940  during the  preceding  12 months or for such  shorter  period that the
registrant was required to file such report(s) been filed? If the answer is no,
identify report(s).
                                                                [X] Yes [ ] No

     (3) Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations
from the corresponding period for the last fiscal year will be reflected by the
earnings statements to be included in the subject report or portion thereof?
                                                                [ ] Yes [X] No




     If so: attach an explanation of the anticipated  change,  both narratively
and  quantitatively,  and. if  appropriate,  state the reasons why a reasonable
estimate of the results cannot be made.


                             First Financial Corp.
                  (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.

Date March 29, 2002                 By  /s/ Donna Dupuis
                                        Donna Dupuis, Treasurer

          Instruction.  The form may be signed by an  executive  officer of the
     registrant or by any other duly  authorized  representative.  The name and
     title of the person signing the form shall be typed or printed beneath the
     signature.  If the  statement is signed on behalf of the  registrant by an
     authorized  representative (other than an executive officer),  evidence of
     the  representative's  authority to sign on behalf of the registrant shall
     be filed with the form.

                                   ATTENTION

     Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal criminal
violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001).

                             GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

     1.  This  form is  required  by  Rule  12b-25  of the  General  Rules  and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

     2.  One  signed  original  and  four  conformed  copies  of this  form and
amendments thereto must be completed and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  Washington,  DC 20549.  in accordance with Rule 0-3 of the General
Rules and Regulations under the Act. The information contained in or filed with
the form will be made a matter of the public record in the Commission files.

     3. A manually  signed  copy of the form and  amendments  thereto  shall be
filed with each national  securities  exchange on which any class of securities
of the registrant is registered.

     4. Amendments to the  notifications  must also be filed on Form 12b-25 but
need not restate information that has been correctly furnished.  The form shall
be clearly identified as an amended notification.




     5.  Electronic  Filers.  This form shall not be used by electronic  filers
unable to timely file a report  solely due to electronic  difficulties.  Filers
unable to submit a report  within the time period 'bed due to  difficulties  in
electronic  filing should comply with either Rule 201 or Rule 202 of Regulation
S-T or apply  for an  adjustment  in  filing  date  pursuant  to Rule  13(b) of
Regulation S-T.