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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000708955-03-000086.txt : 20031006
<SEC-HEADER>0000708955-03-000086.hdr.sgml : 20031006
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031006113025
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000708955-03-000086
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031002
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031006

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000708955
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				311042001
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 HIGH ST
		CITY:			HAMILTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45011
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5138674700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 HIGH ST
		CITY:			HAMILTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45011

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CISLE DONALD M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001167394

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-12379
		FILM NUMBER:		03929129

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP
		STREET 2:		300 HIGHSTREET PO BOX 476
		CITY:			HAMILTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45012
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5138674951

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 178
		CITY:			HAMILTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45012
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001167394d20031006f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000708955</issuerCik><issuerName>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>FFBC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001167394</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>CISLE DONALD M</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 178</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>45012</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><non
DerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>13280</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>214008</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Seward-Murphy</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>539</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><
ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Joint w/Wife</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>165</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>FFBC (Directors Fee Stock Plan)</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeline
ss><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>200</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>15.45</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2790</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>1998 (NQ) Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>21.5958</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-04-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-04-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value
>6195</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6195</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>1996 (NQ) Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.0587</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-02-27</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-02-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6195</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6195</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><
value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>2001 (NQ) Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>15.6</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-04-24</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-04-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityValue><value>8663</value></underlyingSecurityValue></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><valueOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8663</value></valueOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Terri J. Ziepfel</signatureName><signatur
eDate>2003-10-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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