EXHIBIT 23 - CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Board of Directors
First Financial Bancorp:


We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statements (Nos.
33-40954 and 333-29201) on Form S-8 of First Financial Bancorp of our report
dated February 21, 2004, except for Note 25 which is as of March 25, 2004,
relating to the consolidated balance sheets of First Financial Bancorp and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated
statements of income, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income and cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2003,
which report appears in the December 31, 2003 annual report on Form 10-K of
First Financial Bancorp. Such report reflects the adoption of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,
under the prospective method of adoption as of January 1, 2003.


                                            /s/ KPMG LLP


Sacramento, California
April 12, 2004




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