content: 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
  
  January 26, 1996
  
  First Financial Bancorp
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  Commission File Number : 0-12499
  
  California                                                                      
  
  94-28222858
  (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  701 South Ham Lane, Lodi, CA
  (Address of principal executive offices)
  
  95242
  (Zip Code)
  
  (209) 367-2000
  (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
  NA
  (Former name or if changed since last report.)
  
  ITEM 5.      OTHER EVENTS
  Cash Dividend
  
  Please refer to Exhibit 99 which contains the First
  Financial Bancorp press release regarding a cash dividend
  and earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 1995.
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
  
  
  
  EXHIBITS
  
  (99) Press release dated January 26, 1996
  
  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
  
  Date January 26, 1996
  
  /s/ David M. Philipp
  David M. Philipp
  Senior Vice-President & CFO
  Corporate Secretary
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /CA/", "cik": "0000729502", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "942822858", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-12499", "film-number": "96507358"}, "business-address": {"street1": "701 S HAM LN", "city": "LODI", "state": "CA", "zip": "95242", "phone": "2093672000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "701 S HAM LANE", "city": "LODI", "state": "CA", "zip": "95242"}}
text: 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
  
  January 26, 1996
  
  First Financial Bancorp
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  Commission File Number : 0-12499
  
  California                                                                      
  
  94-28222858
  (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  701 South Ham Lane, Lodi, CA
  (Address of principal executive offices)
  
  95242
  (Zip Code)
  
  (209) 367-2000
  (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
  NA
  (Former name or if changed since last report.)
  
  ITEM 5.      OTHER EVENTS
  Cash Dividend
  
  Please refer to Exhibit 99 which contains the First
  Financial Bancorp press release regarding a cash dividend
  and earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 1995.
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
  
  EXHIBITS
  
  (99) Press release dated January 26, 1996
  
  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
  
  Date January 26, 1996
  
  /s/ David M. Philipp
  David M. Philipp
  Senior Vice-President & CFO
  Corporate Secretary