Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
munafo samuel j
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/ [FFBC] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP-Banking
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
4000 SMITH RD., SUITE 400		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
04/24/2008
(Street)

CINCINNATI, OH 45209		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 04/24/2008   J(1)   464 A $ 13.68 6,498.0851 D  
Common Stock               30,158.413 I 401-K
Common Stock               21,536 I Brokerage Account
Common Stock               2,909 I IRA/Brokerage Account
Common Stock               494.7899 I Joint w/Spouse
Common Stock               505 I Jt With Son/Brokerage Account
Common Stock 04/24/2008   J(2)   750 D $ 0 16,514.9518 I Restricted
Common Stock               116.9582 I Spouse/Son Custodial Account

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
1998 (ISO) Stock Option $ 19.097             01/27/1999 01/27/2008 Common Stock 5,238   5,238 D  
1998 (NQ) Stock Option $ 19.087             01/27/1999 01/27/2008 Common Stock 2,386   2,386 D  
1999 (ISO) Stock Option $ 22.565             01/25/2000 01/25/2009 Common Stock 4,201   4,201 D  
1999 (NQ) Stock Option $ 22.565             01/25/2000 01/25/2009 Common Stock 4,461   4,461 D  
2000 (ISO) Stock Option $ 17.56             01/24/2001 01/24/2010 Common Stock 5,694   5,694 D  
2000 (NQ) Stock Option $ 17.56             01/24/2001 01/24/2010 Common Stock 9,426   9,426 D  
2001 (ISO) Stock Option $ 16.0124             01/22/2002 01/22/2011 Common Stock 6,244   6,244 D  
2001 (NQ) Stock Option $ 16.0124             01/22/2002 01/22/2011 Common Stock 1,631   1,631 D  
2002 (ISO) Stock Option $ 17.2             01/17/2003 01/17/2012 Common Stock 5,000   5,000 D  
2003 (ISO) Stock Option $ 16.58             01/22/2004 01/22/2013 Common Stock 5,000   5,000 D  
2004 (ISO) Stock Option $ 17.09             01/21/2005 01/21/2014 Common Stock 2,500   2,500 D  
2005 (ISO) Stock Option $ 17.51             04/18/2006 04/18/2015 Common Stock 5,711   5,711 D  
2005 (NQ) Sock Option $ 17.51             04/18/2006 04/18/2015 Common Stock 6,289   6,289 D  
2006 (ISO) Stock Option $ 16.02             04/24/2007 04/24/2016 Common Stock 6,242   6,242 D  
2006 (NQ) Stock Option $ 16.02             04/24/2007 04/24/2016 Common Stock 10,658   11,458 D  
2007 (ISO) Stock Option $ 14.9             04/30/2008 04/30/2017 Common Stock 6,711   6,711 D  
2007 (NQ) Stock Option $ 14.9             04/30/2008 04/30/2017 Common Stock 12,889   12,889 D  
2008 (ISO) Stock Option $ 11.64             02/14/2009 02/14/2018 Common Stock 8,591   8,591 D  
2008 (NQ) Stock Option $ 11.64             02/14/2009 02/14/2018 Common Stock 41,909   41,909 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
munafo samuel j
4000 SMITH RD.
SUITE 400
CINCINNATI, OH 45209		       EVP-Banking  

Signatures

 terri j ziepfel   04/05/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Vesting of Restricted Stock Award (less shares sold to cover taxes)
(2) Vesting of Restricted Stock Award

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