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________________________________________________________________________________
               UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             ______________________

                                 FORM 10-KSB/A
(Mark One)
[ X ]     ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
          SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]
          FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996

[   ]     TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
          SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
          FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _______________________ to ___________


COMMISSION FILE NUMBER     0-26730
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
 
                         FIRST SAVINGS FINANCIAL CORP.
                 (Name of small business issuer in its charter)


             NORTH CAROLINA                              56-1928110
      ------------------------------                     ----------
      (State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
      incorporation or organization)

501 SOUTH MAIN STREET, POST OFFICE BOX 1885
      REIDSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA                                 27323-1885
---------------------------------------------                    ----------
 (Address of principal executive offices)                        (Zip Code)


                                (910) 342-4251
                        ------------------------------
                          (Issuer's telephone number)

          SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:

                          COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE
                   ------------------------------------------               
                               (Title of class)

Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section
13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 12 months (or
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports),
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes    X    No  _____
     -----           

Check if there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of
Regulation S-B is not contained in this form, and no disclosure will be
contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or
information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-KSB
or any amendment to this Form 10-KSB.            [X]

State issuer's revenues for its most recent fiscal year   $3,842,910
                                                         ------------

State the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates
computed by reference to the price at which the stock was sold, or the average
bid and asked prices of such stock, as of a specified date within the past 60
days.

Common Stock, no par value -- $7,182,208 (based on the price at which the stock
was sold on February 21, 1997 of $11.00 per share).

State the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common
equity, as of the latest practicable date.


      COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE                           986,321
      ----------------------------              ------------------------------
              (Class)                           (Outstanding at March 1, 1997)


                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31,
1996 (the "1996 Annual Report"), are incorporated by reference into Part I and
Part II.
Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April
16, 1997 (the "Proxy Statement"), are incorporated by reference into Part III.

TRANSITIONAL SMALL BUSINESS DISCLOSURE FORMAT (CHECK ONE):  Yes  _____  No  X
                                                                           ---
________________________________________________________________________________
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                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                   FIRST SAVINGS FINANCIAL CORP.

Date: May 8, 1997                  By:  /s/ David S. Kemp
      -------------------               ----------------------------------------
                                        David S. Kemp
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer


                                       2
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                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT NO.                              DESCRIPTION
-----------                              -----------

   (3)(i)      Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated herein by reference to
               Exhibit (3)(i) to the Registration Statement on Form S-1,
               Registration No. 33-93096, dated June 5, 1995 and amended on July
               31, 1995 and August 9, 1995

   (3)(ii)     Bylaws, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (3)(ii) to
               the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-
               93096, dated June 5, 1995 and amended on July 31, 1995 and August
               9, 1995

   (4)         Specimen Stock Certificate, incorporated herein by reference to
               Exhibit (2) to the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year
               ended December 31, 1996

   (11)        Statement Regarding Computation of Per Share Earnings*

   (13)        Portions of 1996 Annual Report to Security Holders*

   (21)        Subsidiary of The Company*

   (23)        Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP*

   (27)        Financial Data Schedule

 ----------------
 * Previously filed.