First Financial Bancorp

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


For Immediate Release                                           November 1, 2000

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

                         First Financial Bancorp Reports
                          Third Quarter 2000 Net Income

         Lodi,  Calif.  (November 1, 2000) - First  Financial  Bancorp  (Symbol:
FLLC),  parent  company  of Bank of Lodi,  N.A.,  today  reported  net income of
$247,000,  or $0.16 per diluted share for its third quarter ended  September 30,
2000. This compares with net income of $196,000,  or $0.13 per diluted share for
the second  quarter ended June 30, 2000.  "This  represents an increase of 26.0%
over our second  quarter 2000 net income," noted Leon  Zimmerman,  President and
Chief  Executive  Officer.  "We are pleased to see the  continued  growth of the
Company and are excited about our plans for the future."

         For the nine months ended  September 30, 2000, net income was $789,000,
or $0.51 per diluted share.  This compares with net income of $786,000,  or 0.51
per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 1999.





         Based upon 2000  year-to-date  net  income,  the  annualized  return on
average assets and equity were 0.59% and 7.30%,  respectively.  Under regulatory
standards,  the  Bank is  categorized  as  "well-capitalized"  with a  ratio  of
risk-adjusted  assets to capital of 10.88% and a ratio of total capital to total
assets of 7.75%.

         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 888-265-8577 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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