FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/ — Capital/Financing Update 2011

Sep 29, 2011

UNITED STATES

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): September 23, 2011

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio	31-1042001
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. employer identification number)

Commission file number: 000-12379

201 East Fourth Street, Suite 1900, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (877) 322-9530

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Form 8-K First Financial Bancorp.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On September 23, 2011, First Financial Bank, N.A. (the “Bank”), the wholly owned subsidiary of First Financial Bancorp., completed its acquisition of 16 Ohio branches of Liberty Savings Bank, F.S.B. (“Liberty”) pursuant to a Purchase and Assumption Agreement dated June 2, 2011 by and between the Bank and Liberty (the “Branch Acquisition”). At closing, the Bank assumed approximately $341 million of total deposits associated with the branches. Additionally, the Bank purchased approximately $124 million of in-market performing loans.

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.

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

By: /s/ J. Franklin Hall

J. Franklin Hall

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

and Chief Operating Officer

Date: September 29, 2011