<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 1997
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           7,813                   4,748
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                       0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 4,900                   1,100
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     60,201                  35,124
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                           1,716                   1,789
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                             1,785                   1,888
<LOANS>                                         63,541                  53,879
<ALLOWANCE>                                      1,313                   1,207
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 147,850                 104,913
<DEPOSITS>                                     133,891                  92,207
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0                       0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              1,098                     817
<LONG-TERM>                                          0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                         7,455                   7,324
<OTHER-SE>                                       5,406                   4,565
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 147,850                 104,913
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  6,612                   5,613
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                3,519                   2,233
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   461                     199
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                10,592                   8,045
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               3,785                   2,992
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,785                   3,254
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            6,807                   4,791
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      (60)                    310
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  6,796                   4,654
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,494                     894
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       1,494                     894
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,015                     640
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .77                     .49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .73                     .48
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.65                    5.15
<LOANS-NON>                                        340                     898
<LOANS-PAST>                                        65                      52
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0                       0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 1,207                     959
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      290                     334
<RECOVERIES>                                       456                     272
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                1,313                   1,207
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             1,313                   1,207
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            806                     671
        

</TABLE>