8-K

                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 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) May 22, 2003

                          First Financial Corporation
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Indiana                      000-16759                35-1546989
(State or other jurisdiction           (Commission             (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                File Number)          Identification No.)

         P. O. Box 540 , Terre Haute, Indiana                    47808
       (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code     812-238-6264

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         (a)      Exhibits.
                  --------

                  Exhibit Number:
                  ---------------

                  99.1     Press Release, dated May 22, 2003 issued by First
                           Financial Corporation



ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE (INFORMATION PROVIDED UNDER ITEM 12 - RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION).

         The following information is being provided under Item 12 - Results of
         Operations and Financial Condition. It is being furnished under Item 9
         of this Form 8-K in accordance with interim guidance issued by the SEC
         in Release No. 33-8216. Such information, including the Exhibit
         attached hereto, shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18
         of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

         On May 22, 2003, First Financial Corporation issued a press release to
         report the declaration of the semi-annual dividend of $.68 per share
         payable July 1, 2003 to shareholders of record on June 11, 2003. The
         release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

                                   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.


                                           First Financial Corporation



Dated:   May 23, 2003                         (s) Norman L. Lowery
         ------------                ---------------------------------------
                                                 Norman L. Lowery
                                             Vice Chairman and Chief
                                                Executive Officer


Dated:   May 23, 2003                         (s) Michael A. Carty
         ------------                ---------------------------------------
                                                Michael A. Carty
                                     Secretary/Treasurer and Chief Financial
                                                     Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 22, 2003

For more information contact:
Michael A. Carty at (812) 238-6000


FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION DECLARES 15TH CONSECUTIVE DIVIDEND INCREASE


(Terre Haute, Ind.) -- Reflecting continued strong financial performance, the
directors of First Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:THFF) have declared a
semi-annual dividend of 68 cents per share payable on July 1, 2003, to
shareholders of record at the close of business June 11, 2003. This is the 15th
consecutive year the corporation has increased dividends paid to shareholders.
It represents an increase of 9.7% over the semi-annual dividend paid in July of
last year and an 8.3% increase in the year-to-year comparison.

The corporation's on-going financial success is recognized in financial
markets as evidenced by record first quarter earnings of $1.04 per share and by
the climb in the stock price. The current price per share of $52.06 is 10.5%
higher than it was a year ago and 7.4% higher than on December 31, 2002. Donald
E. Smith, chairman, noted that the success of the locally owned corporation is
due in part to its strong community banking focus.

First Financial Corporation is the holding company for Terre Haute First
National Bank, First State Bank, First Citizens State Bank, First Farmers State
Bank, First Parke State Bank, The Morris Plan Company of Terre Haute and Forrest
Sherer Insurance in Indiana; and First Ridge Farm State Bank, First National
Bank of Marshall, First Crawford State Bank, and First Community Bank N.A. in
Illinois.