8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 23, 2008

First Commonwealth Financial Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Pennsylvania	001-11138	25-1428528
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification Number)

22 N. Sixth Street, Indiana, PA	15701
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (724) 349-7220

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On December 23, 2008, First Commonwealth Financial Corporation announced that its Executive Vice President and Chief Audit Executive, William R. Jarrett, will retire from that position at the end of 2008 and that it will appoint Leonard V. Lombardi as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Audit Executive. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Mr. Jarrett will continue as a part-time advisor to First Commonwealth and non-officer employee as of January 1, 2009 with an annual base salary of $92,000. This employment arrangement is terminable at will by Mr. Jarrett or First Commonwealth.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

99.1 Press release dated December 23, 2008

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: December 23, 2008	FIRST COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL CORPORATION
	(Registrant)
	By:	/s/ Edward J. Lipkus, III
		Edward J. Lipkus, III
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

First Commonwealth’s Executive Vice President and Chief Audit Executive

William R. Jarrett to Retire at Year-End

INDIANA, PA., December 23, 2008 – First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (NYSE:FCF) announced that William R. Jarrett, its Executive Vice President and Chief Audit Executive, will retire at the end of 2008 to spend more time with his family. Mr. Jarrett joined First Commonwealth in 1994 and has led First Commonwealth’s internal audit department throughout his tenure with the company. Mr. Jarrett will become a part-time advisor to the company.

First Commonwealth also announced that Leonard V. Lombardi will assume Mr. Jarrett’s executive responsibilities when he retires. Since joining First Commonwealth in 1993, Mr. Lombardi has served in various capacities with First Commonwealth’s internal audit department. Mr. Lombardi is currently Senior Vice President / Loan Review and Audit Manager for First Commonwealth Financial Corporation, a position he has held since 2000. Mr. Lombardi earned a bachelors degree in accounting from Pennsylvania State University in 1981, a masters of business administration degree in finance from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1985 and a graduate degree in financial management and control from the University of Wisconsin in 1988.

John J. Dolan, First Commonwealth President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We have been very fortunate that Bill was on our team over the last 14 years. Bill has championed many of the risk management practices that we now rely upon to weather the current financial storm and has been a tremendous resource in the areas of accounting, auditing and internal controls. Bill oversaw the evolution of our internal audit department through the acquisition of six financial institutions, the implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the ever-growing complex of laws, regulations and accounting standards that govern financial institutions. We are grateful to Bill for his many contributions to our company and wish him all the best in his retirement.”

First Commonwealth Financial Corporation is a $6.2 billion bank holding company headquartered in Indiana, Pennsylvania. It operates 114 retail branch offices in 15 counties in western and central Pennsylvania through First Commonwealth Bank, a Pennsylvania chartered bank and trust company. Financial services and insurance products are also provided through First Commonwealth Insurance Agency and First Commonwealth Financial Advisors, Inc.