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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FTwZexyi7LMV94Rmoy6TS1P50288ewXgS36JbH3vBM5CdpdkNGWOgQN78i6I+gvC
 phecKm/mmj2GzPlbNEewaQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000708955-04-000005.txt : 20040112
<SEC-HEADER>0000708955-04-000005.hdr.sgml : 20040112
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040112154256
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000708955-04-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040109
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040112

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:			MURPH KNAPKE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001167403

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-12379
		FILM NUMBER:		04520752

	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 504
		CITY:			CELINA
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45822
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001167403d20040112f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-09</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000708955</issuerCik><issuerName>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>FFBC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001167403</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MURPH KNAPKE</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 504</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>CELINA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>45822</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDeri
vativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2021</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>FFBC (Directors Fee Stock Plan)</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-09</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>194</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>16.45</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></tra
nsactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2984</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>2000 (NQ) Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.9048</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-04-25</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-04-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8663</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8663</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipN
ature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>2003 (NQ) Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>15.68</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-04-22</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-04-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8663</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8663</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Te
rri J. Ziepfel</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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