First Financial Bancorp


                             P R E S S  R E L E A S E


For Immediate Release                                             August 9, 2000


Contact Person:
Leon Zimmerman
President and CEO
(209) 367-2000




                         First Financial Bancorp Reports
              10% Increase in Second Quarter 2000 Operating Results


         Lodi, Calif. (August 9, 2000) - First Financial Bancorp (Symbol: FLLC),
parent  company of Bank of Lodi,  N.A.,  today reported  income from  continuing
operations of $196,000,  or $0.13 per diluted share for its second quarter ended
June 30, 2000. This compares with income from continuing operations of $178,000,
or $0.11 per diluted share for the second quarter one year ago. "This represents
an increase of 10.1% over our net income of one year ago," noted Leon Zimmerman,
President  and Chief  Executive  Officer.  "We are  pleased to see this  Company
continue  to grow and  expand  while  improving  the  quality  of service to our
customers, value to our shareholders and service to our communities."

         For  the six  months  ended  June  30,  2000,  income  from  continuing
operations was $542,000,  or $0.35 per diluted share.  This compares with income
from continuing  operations of $451,000, or 0.29 per diluted share for the first
six months of 1999 and represents a 20.2% increase in  year-to-date  income from
continuing operations.











First Financial Bancorp                2                        August 9,  2000
Earnings Release




         Based upon 2000  year-to-date  net  income,  the  annualized  return on
average assets and equity were 0.61% and 7.69%,  respectively.  Under regulatory
standards,  the  Bank is  categorized  as  "well-capitalized"  with a  ratio  of
risk-adjusted  assets to capital of 10.56% and a ratio of total capital to total
assets of 7.70%.

         First Financial  Bancorp is the parent of Bank of Lodi, N.A., a locally
owned  community  bank  formed  in 1982.  Bank of Lodi,  N.A.  offers  financial
services via the web at  www.bankoflodi.com,  by phone at 800-265-8577 or at any
one of its  eight  branches  located  in the  communities  of Lodi,  Woodbridge,
Lockeford, Galt, Plymouth, San Andreas, Elk Grove, and Folsom. Bank of Lodi also
offers  investment  services through its affiliation with Investment  Centers of
America.


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