<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001667712</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000708955</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-34762</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>255 EAST FIFTH STREET</com:street1>
        <com:street2>SUITE 800</com:street2>
        <com:city>CINCINNATI</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>OH</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>45202</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>8773229530</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Berta Vince</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Charles Schwab Corp.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3000 Schwab Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Westlake</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>76262</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>10000</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>294800.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>95481794</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>11/06/2024</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/31/2018</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open market purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1500</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/31/2018</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>12/31/2019</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>8659</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>12/31/2019</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <remarks>Client received 8659.104 shares total between May 3, 2016 and December 31, 2019 through compensation and 1500 shares from an open market purchase on July 31, 2018. The SEC website would not allow the fractional shares to be entered.
Shares being sold from acct titled: Vince Berta Revocable Trust Vince A Berta TTEE</remarks>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>11/06/2024</noticeDate>
      <signature>VINCE BERTA</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
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144
0001667712
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000708955
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/
001-34762
255 EAST FIFTH STREET
SUITE 800
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
8773229530
Berta Vince
Director
Common
Charles Schwab Corp.
3000 Schwab Way
Westlake
TX
76262
10000
294800.00
95481794
11/06/2024
NASDAQ
Common
07/31/2018
Open market purchase
Issuer
N
1500
07/31/2018
Cash
Common
12/31/2019
Compensation
Issuer
N
8659
12/31/2019
N/A
Y
Client received 8659.104 shares total between May 3, 2016 and December 31, 2019 through compensation and 1500 shares from an open market purchase on July 31, 2018. The SEC website would not allow the fractional shares to be entered.
Shares being sold from acct titled: Vince Berta Revocable Trust Vince A Berta TTEE
11/06/2024
VINCE BERTA