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
EXHIBIT 99 -- PRESS RELEASE
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP AND BANK OF LODI, NA
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 26, 1996
Contact Person: Leon Zimmerman, Bank of Lodi, NA, President and CEO
First Financial Bancorp Declares Cash Dividend
The First Financial Bancorp Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend
of $.05 per share, payable February 28, 1996 to shareholders of record of
February 15, 1996. This is the fourth consecutive quarterly dividend declarded
by First Financial Bancorp, marking the first full year in the company's
history that quarterly dividends have been paid.
Although earnings for the year ended 1995 will not be released until late
February, 1995 earnings are expected to be approximately $840 thousand and
represent a significant increase over 1994. First Financial Bancorp's wholly-
owned subsidiary, Bank of Lodi, experienced significant improvments in financial
performance during 1995, including growth in net interest income, a reduced
provision for loan losses, and lower noninterest expenses.
END
