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): April 4, 2002

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

         California                                           94-2822858
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  (State of Incorporation)                            (IRS Employer ID Number)

                                     0-12499
                             -----------------------
                              (Commission File No.)

First Financial Bancorp
701 South Ham Lane, Lodi, California                                95242
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(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)

                                 (209)-367-2000
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               Registrant's telephone number, including area code

           -----------------------------------------------------------
           Former name or former address, if changed since last report


Item 5. Other Events

Press release on the following article:

1. First Financial Bancorp Announces Stock Repurchase Program

         Lodi, Calif.  (Business Wire) - April 4, 2002 - First Financial Bancorp
   (OTCBB:  FLLC) parent company of Bank of Lodi,  N.A., today announced that it
   had  authorized  the  repurchase,  from time to time, up to $2,000,000 of its
   common stock to be  purchased  on the open market or in privately  negotiated
   transactions.  Leon Zimmerman,  President and Chief Executive Officer, stated
   "We believe  this  repurchase  program is a key part of the  Board's  overall
   program to enhance shareholder value. We also believe the Program provides an
   opportunity  for  shareholders  seeking  liquidity."  This  stock  repurchase
   program  will be  implemented  at the  Company's  discretion  and will expire
   December 31, 2002.

         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 to owner-operated businesses,  members of the professional community
   and individuals  seeking  personalized  service.  The Bank offers  innovative
   financial  solutions  and an  enhanced  product  line of  convenient  banking
   alternatives  which include on-line  banking,  telephone  banking,  debit and
   credit cards,  digital  imaging (to be released in May 2002) and a wide range
   of  credit  products.  For  more  information  contact  us  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.

         This press  release  contains  forward  looking  statements  within the
   meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
   21E of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
   and as such, may involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements,
   which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies,
   and  expectations,  are  generally  identifiable  by the use of words such as
   "believe",  "expect",  "intend",


   "anticipate",   "estimate",   "project",   or  similar   expressions.   These
   forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations of the
   business  environment  in which the Company  operates,  projections of future
   performance,   potential   future   performance,   potential   future  credit
   experience,  perceived  opportunities in the market, and statements regarding
   the Company's mission and vision. The Company's actual results,  performance,
   and achievements  may differ  materially from the results,  performance,  and
   achievements expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements due to a
   wide range of factors  which are set forth in our annual  report on Form 10-K
   on file with the SEC.

                                       END


                                   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.

Date:      04/04/02                          FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP
       ------------------                    (Registrant)


                                             /s/ Allen R. Christenson
                                             --------------------------
                                         By:
                                             Allen R. Christenson
                                             Senior Vice President
                                             Chief Financial Officer