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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: MARCH 8, 1996
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER : 0-12499
CALIFORNIA 94-28222858
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
701 SOUTH HAM LANE, LODI, CALIFORNIA 95242
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)
(209)-367-2000
(REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)
NA
(FORMER NAME OR IF CHANGED SINCE LAST REPORT.)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
CASH DIVIDEND
Please refer to Exhibit 99 which contains the First Financial Bancorp press
release regarding earnings for the year ended December 31, 1995.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
Exhibits
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(99) Press release dated March 8, 1996
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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
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Date March 8, 1996 /s/ David M. Philipp
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David M. Philipp
Senior Vice-President & CFO
Corporate Secretary
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EXHIBIT 99 - PRESS RELEASE
Friday, March 8, 1996
For Immediate Release
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Contact: Leon Zimmerman, 209.367.2054
President and Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Lodi
BANK OF LODI REPORTS 1995 EARNINGS
First Financial Bancorp and its sole subsidiary, Bank of Lodi, N.A.,
report consolidated net income of $843,000, or $0.64 per share, for the year
ended December 31, 1995, compared to $338,000, or $0.26 per share, for the year
ended December 31, 1994. Return on assets and equity totaled .83% and 7.45%,
respectively, compared to .33% and 3.09%, respectively, for the comparable prior
year period.
The improved financial performance is attributable to growth in net
interest income, a lower provision for loan losses and reduced non-interest
expenses.
Additionally, consolidated assets at December 31, 1995, were
$103,972,000, compared to $105,167,000 at December 31, 1994.
Although past performance is not necessarily indicative of future
results, the company reports that 1995 marked the first year in which dividends
were declared for each quarter, three of which were paid in 1995. Based upon the
approximate trading price of $6.75 and $8.57 per share at December 31, 1994 and
1995, respectively, together with the dividends paid, the total return on First
Financial Bancorp stock for 1995 was 29%.
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