Exhibit 10.2


 


AGREEMENT FOR RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD


 


This Agreement for Restricted Stock Award (the "Agreement")
is between FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP., an Ohio corporation (the "Corporation"), and        (the
"Grantee") who, as of      , 2012 which is the date of this Agreement, is an employee
of      :


 


WHEREAS, the Corporation established the 2012 Stock Plan (the
"Plan") and a Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation designated in the Plan (the "Committee")
approved the execution of this Agreement containing the Restricted Stock Award to the Grantee upon the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth:


 


NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual obligations contained
herein, it is hereby agreed:


 


		1.	Award of Restricted Stock. The Corporation hereby awards to Grantee as of the date of this Agreement     
shares of restricted Common Stock of the Corporation ("Common Stock"), without par value, in consideration of services
to be rendered.



 


		2.	Restrictions on Transfer. The shares of restricted Common Stock so received by the Grantee and any additional
shares attributable thereto received by the Grantee as a result of any stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, reorganization
or similar event are subject to the restrictions set forth herein and may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise
encumbered during the Restriction Period, except as permitted hereby.



 


		3.	Restriction Period. The Restriction Period as used in this Agreement shall mean the period that begins as of
the date of this Agreement and ends with respect to the restricted Common Stock granted under this Agreement as of the applicable
anniversary date(s) of the date of this Agreement (the "Anniversary Dates") as set forth in Schedule 3. The ending of
the Restriction Period also may be referred to in this Agreement as the vesting of the restricted Common Stock or as when the Common
Stock vests.



 


Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, if the Committee determines that there has been a Change in Control (as such term is defined in the
Plan), the Restriction Period ends with respect to such shares of restricted Common Stock, effective as of the date of such Change
in Control (as determined by the Committee).


 


The Committee may, at the time of the granting to
the Grantee of the restricted Common Stock or at any time thereafter, reduce or terminate the Restriction Period otherwise applicable
to all or any portion of the restricted Common Stock.


 


Vesting Schedule


 


	 	 	 	 	Shares of Common Stock	 
	 	 	Anniversary Date	 	First Eligible to Vest on	 
	Group	 	of this Agreement	 	Indicated Anniversary Date	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	A	 	1st anniversary date	 	 	33.33	%
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	B	 	2nd anniversary date	 	 	33.33	%
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	C	 	3rd anniversary date	 	 	33.34	%



 




    	 



    	 



    

 


		4.	Forfeiture and Clawback Provision. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Grantee hereby agrees
that if his or her employment with the Corporation or a Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, voluntarily or involuntarily,
whether by retirement, death, disability, resignation or dismissal for cause or otherwise, and such termination is prior to the
ending of the Restriction Period applicable to any shares of the restricted Common Stock, the Grantee's ownership and all related
rights with respect to all shares of Common Stock for which the Restriction Period has not ended as of the date that the termination
of employment occurs will be forfeited automatically as of the date that such termination of employment occurs, and the Corporation
automatically will become the sole owner of such shares as of such date.



 


			A transfer of the Grantee's employment between Subsidiaries or between any Subsidiary and the Corporation will not be considered
a termination of employment for purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Grantee's employment will be considered
terminated for purposes of this Agreement as of the date that the Grantee's employing Subsidiary ceases to be a Subsidiary for
any reason, unless prior to or as of such date the Grantee's employment is transferred to the Corporation or to a remaining Subsidiary.



 


Any award or issuance of shares under the 2012 Stock
Plan is subject to Corporation clawback policy as may be amended from time to time.


 


		5.	Issuance of Stock Awards.



 


		(a)	Upon award of the restricted Common Stock to the Grantee shares of restricted Common Stock shall be evidenced by a book entry
registration by the Corporation for the benefit of the Grantee. Each such registration will be held by the Corporation or its agent.
Any restricted Common Stock of the Corporation resulting from any stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, reorganization or similar
event will also be held by the Corporation or its agent. All such Common Stock evidenced thereby will be subject to the forfeiture
provisions, limitations on transferability and all other restrictions herein contained.



 




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		(b)	Subject to Section 5(c) below, with regard to any shares of restricted Common Stock which cease to be subject to restrictions
pursuant to Section 3, the Corporation will, within sixty (60) days of the date such shares cease to be subject to restrictions,
transfer Common Stock for such shares free of all restrictions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement to the Grantee or the Grantee's
designee, or in the event of such Grantee's death subsequent to expiration of the Restriction Period, to the Grantee's legal representative,
heir or legatee.



 


		(c)	By accepting shares of restricted Common Stock, the Grantee agrees not to sell shares at a time when applicable laws or the
Corporation’s rules prohibit a sale. This restriction shall apply as long as the Grantee is an employee, consultant or director
of the Corporation or a Subsidiary. Upon receipt of nonforfeitable shares subject to this Agreement, the Grantee agrees, if requested
by the Corporation, to hold such shares for investment and not with a view of resale or distribution to the public, and if requested
by the Corporation, the Grantee must deliver to the Corporation a written statement satisfactory to the Corporation to that effect.
The Committee may refuse to deliver (via certificate or such other method as the Committee determines) any shares to Grantee for
which Grantee refused to provide an appropriate statement.



 


		6.	Shareholder's Rights.  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, during the Restriction Period:



 


		(a)	The Grantee will have, with respect to the restricted Common Stock, the right to vote all shares of the restricted Common Stock
received under or as a result of this Agreement, including shares which are subject to the restrictions on transfer in Section
2 and to the forfeiture provisions in Section 4 of this Agreement.



 


		(b)	The Grantee shall not be paid any dividends with respect to the restricted Common Stock until each Restricted Period ends.
At the time of vesting, the Grantee shall receive a cash payment equal to the aggregate dividends (without interest) that the Grantee
would have received if the Grantee had owned all the shares in which the Grantee had vested for the period beginning on the date
of grant of those shares, and ending on the date of vesting. By way of example, when the Restricted Period ends for Group B awards,
Grantee will be entitled to two years of accumulated dividends from the date of grant to the 2nd anniversary date. No
dividends shall be paid to the Grantee with respect to any shares of restricted Common Stock that are forfeited by the Grantee.



 


		(c)	Dividends payable in Common Stock with respect to the restricted Common Stock during the Restriction Period will be held subject
to the vesting of the underlying restricted Common Stock and then automatically paid in the form of Common Stock to the Grantee.



 


		7.	Regulatory Compliance. The issue of shares of restricted Common Stock and Common Stock will be subject to full
compliance with all then-applicable requirements of law and the requirements of the exchange upon which Common Stock may be traded,
as set forth in the Plan. Furthermore, the Corporation shall have the right to refuse to issue or transfer any shares under this
Agreement if the Corporation, acting in its absolute discretion determines that the issuance or transfer of such Common Stock might
violate any applicable law or regulation.



 


		8.	Withholding Tax.  The Grantee agrees that, in the event that the award and receipt of the restricted Common Stock
or the expiration of restrictions thereon results in the Grantee's realization of income which for federal, state or local income
tax purposes is, in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation, subject to withholding of tax at source by the Grantee's employer,
the Grantee will pay to such Grantee's employer an amount equal to such withholding tax or make arrangements satisfactory to the
Corporation regarding the payment of such tax (or such employer on behalf of the Corporation may withhold such amount from Grantee's
salary or from dividends paid by the Corporation on shares of the restricted Common Stock or any other compensation payable to
the Grantee). Alternatively, if the Grantee makes a proper Code Section 83(b) election, the Grantee must notify the Corporation
in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 83(b) and promptly pay the Corporation the applicable federal, state and local
withholding taxes due with respect to the shares of restricted Common Stock subject to the election.



 




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		9.	Investment Representation. The Grantee represents and agrees that if he or she is awarded and receives the restricted
Common Stock at a time when there is not in effect under the Securities Act of 1933 a registration statement pertaining to the
shares and there is not available for delivery a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10(A)(3) of said Act, (i) he or
she will accept and receive such shares for the purpose of investment and not with a view to their resale or distribution, (ii)
that upon such award and receipt, he or she will furnish to the Corporation an investment letter in form and substance satisfactory
to the Corporation, (iii) prior to selling or offering for sale any such shares, he or she will furnish the Corporation with an
opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Corporation to the effect that such sale may lawfully be made and will furnish the Corporation
with such certificates as to factual matters as the Corporation may reasonably request, and (iv) that certificates representing
such shares may be marked with an appropriate legend describing such conditions precedent to sale or transfer.



 


		10.	Federal Income Tax Election. The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of advice that, pursuant to current federal
income tax laws, (i) he or she has thirty (30) days in which to elect to be taxed in the current taxable year on the fair market
value of the restricted Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 83(b), and (ii) if no such
election is made, the taxable event will occur upon expiration of restrictions on transfer at termination of the Restriction Period
and the tax will be measured by the fair market value of the restricted Common Stock on the date of the taxable event.



 


		11.	Adjustments. If, after the date of this Agreement, the Common Stock of the Corporation is, as a result of a merger,
reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, split-up, spin-off, separation, liquidation, stock dividend,
stock split, reverse stock split, property dividend, share repurchase, share combination, share exchange, issuance of warrants,
rights or debentures or other change in corporate structure of the Corporation, increased or decreased or changed into or exchanged
for a different number or kind of shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation or of another corporation, then:



 


		(a)	there automatically will be substituted for each share of restricted Common Stock for which the Restriction Period has not
ended granted under the Agreement the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities into which each outstanding share
is changed or for which each such share is exchanged; and



 


		(b)	the Corporation will make such other adjustments to the securities subject to provisions of the Plan and this Agreement as
may be appropriate and equitable; provided, however, that the number of shares of restricted Common Stock will always be a whole
number.



 


		12.	Non-solicitation. This Section 12 shall apply to all Grantee’s not subject
to an employment agreement with the Corporation or any Affiliated Companies.



 


		(a)	Non-solicitation of Clients. During the Grantee’s employment with the Corporation or any Affiliated Companies (as defined
below) and for a period of one year after Grantee is no longer employed by any Affiliated Companies, Grantee shall not, directly
or indirectly, whether individually or as a shareholder or other owner, partner, member, director, officer, employee, independent
contractor, creditor or agent of any person (other than for the Corporation or any Affiliated Companies):



 


		(1)	Solicit (as defined below) any person or entity located in the Restricted Territory for the provision of any Restricted Services;



 




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		(2)	Solicit or attempt in any manner to persuade any client or customer of any Affiliated Companies to cease to do business, to
refrain from doing business or to reduce the amount of business which any client or customer has customarily done or contemplates
doing with any of the Affiliated Companies; or



 


		(3)	Interfere with or damage (or attempt to interfere with or damage) any relationship between any Affiliated Company and any client
or customer.



 


		(b)	Non-solicitation of Employees; No Hire. During the Grantee’s employment with the Corporation or any Affiliated
Companies and for a period of one year after Grantee is no longer employed by the Corporation or any Affiliated Companies, Grantee
shall not, directly or indirectly, whether individually or as a shareholder or other owner, partner, member, director, officer,
employee, independent contractor, creditor or agent of any person (other than for any Affiliated Company):



 


		(1)	Solicit any employee, officer, director, agent or independent contractor of any Affiliated Company to terminate his or her
relationship with, or otherwise refrain from rendering services to, any Affiliated Company, or otherwise interfere or attempt to
interfere in any way with any Affiliated Company’s relationship with any of its employees, officers, directors, agents or
independent contractors; or



 


		(2)	Employ or engage any person who, at any time within the two-year period immediately preceding such employment or engagement,
was an employee, officer or director of any Affiliated Company.



 


		(c)	Defined Terms. Unless otherwise defined in this Agreement, capitalized terms shall have the same meaning as that in
the Plan. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth below:



 


		(1)	“Affiliated Companies” shall mean the Corporation, all of its subsidiaries, and any other entities controlled
by, controlling, or under common control with the Corporation, including any successors thereof, except that, following the consummation
of a Change in Control, for purposes of §§ 12(a) and 12(b), Affiliated Companies shall be limited to the Corporation
and it subsidiaries as of immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control.



 


		(2)	“Change in Control” has the meaning given such term in the Corporation’s 2012 Stock Plan, as in effect
on the Effective Date.



 


		(3)	“Confidential Information” shall mean all trade secrets, proprietary data, and other confidential information
of or relating to any Affiliated Company, including without limitation financial information, information relating to business
operations, services, promotional practices, and relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, independent contractors, or
other parties, and any information which any Affiliated Company is obligated to treat as confidential pursuant to any course of
dealing or any agreement to which it is a party or otherwise bound, provided that Confidential Information shall not include
information that is or becomes available to the general public and did not become so available through any breach of this Agreement
by Grantee or Grantee’s breach of a duty owed to the Corporation.



 




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		(4)	“Solicit” shall mean any direct or indirect communication of any kind whatsoever, regardless of by whom
initiated, inviting, advising, persuading, encouraging or requesting any person or entity, in any manner, to take or refrain from
taking any action; provided, however, that the term “Solicit” shall not include general advertisements
by an entity with which Grantee is associated or other communications in any media not targeted specifically at any specific individual
described in § 12(b) or 12(c).



 


		(5)	“Restricted Services” shall mean any commercial banking, savings banking, mortgage
lending, or any similar lending or banking services.



 


		(6)	“Restricted Territory” shall mean anywhere in the geographic area consisting of
the states of the United States in which any of the Affiliated Companies operate banking offices at any time during the Grantee’s
employment with the Corporation or any Affiliated Companies.



 


		(d)	Enforcement; Remedies; Blue Pencil. Grantee acknowledges that: (1) the various covenants, restrictions, and obligations
set forth in this § 12 are separate and independent obligations, and may be enforced separately or in any combination;
(2) the provisions of this § 12 are fundamental and essential for the protection of the Corporation’s and
the Affiliated Companies’ legitimate business and proprietary interests, and the Affiliated Companies (other than the Corporation)
are intended third-party beneficiaries of such provisions; (3) such provisions are reasonable and appropriate in all respects
and impose no undue hardship on Grantee; and (4) in the event of any violation by Grantee of any of such provisions, the Corporation
and, if applicable, the Affiliated Companies, will suffer irreparable harm and their remedies at law may be inadequate. In the
event of any violation or attempted violation of any provision of this § 12 by Grantee, the Corporation and the Affiliated
Companies, or any of them, as the case may be, shall be entitled to a temporary restraining order, temporary and permanent injunctions,
specific performance, and other equitable relief, without any showing of irreparable harm or damage or the posting of any bond,
in addition to any other rights or remedies that may then be available to them, including, without limitation, money damages and
the cessation of the. If any of the covenants set forth in this § 12 is finally held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable
(whether in whole or in part), such covenant shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability, and the remaining such covenants shall not be affected thereby.



 


		13.	Notices. Each notice relating to this Agreement must be in writing and delivered in person or by registered mail
to the Corporation at its office, 255 East Fifth Street, Suite 700, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, attention of the Secretary, or at such
other place as the Corporation has designated by notice. All notices to the Grantee or other person or persons succeeding to his
or her interest will be delivered to the Grantee or such other person or persons at the Grantee's address below specified or such
other address as specified in a notice filed with the Corporation.



 


		14.	Determinations of the Corporation Final. Any dispute or disagreement which arises under, as a result of, or in
any way relates to the interpretation or construction of this Agreement will be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation
or by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (or any successor corporation). The Grantee hereby agrees
to accept any such determination as final, binding and conclusive for all purposes.



 


		15.	Successors. All rights under this Agreement are personal to the Grantee and are not transferable except that
in the event of the Grantee's death, such rights are transferable to the Grantee's legal representatives, heirs or legatees. This
Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Corporation and its successors and assigns.



 




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		16.	Obligations of the Corporation. The liability of the Corporation under the Plan and this Agreement is limited
to the obligations set forth therein. No term or provision of the Plan or this Agreement will be construed to impose any liability
on the Corporation in favor of the Grantee with respect to any loss, cost or expense which the Grantee may incur in connection
with or arising out of any transaction in connection therewith.



 


		17.	No Employment Rights. Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement or any related material shall give the Grantee the
right to continue in the employment of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation or adversely affect the right of the
Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to terminate the Grantee’s employment with or without cause at any time.



 


		18.	Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
Ohio.



 


		19.	Plan. The Plan will control if there is any conflict between the Plan and this Agreement and on any matters that
are not contained in this Agreement. A copy of the Plan has been provided to the Grantee and is incorporated by reference and made
a part of this Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not specifically defined in this Agreement will have the definitions given
to them in the Plan.



 


		20.	Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Plan supersede any other agreement, whether written or oral, that may
have been made or entered into by the Corporation and/or any of its subsidiaries and the Grantee relating to the shares of restricted
Common Stock that are granted under this Agreement. This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement by the parties
with respect to such matters, and there are no agreements or commitments except as set forth herein and in the Plan.



 


		21.	Captions; Counterparts. The captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and will not be considered a
part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which will constitute one and the same instrument.



 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement for Restricted
Stock Award has been executed and dated by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.


 





		FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
	 	 
	By:	 
	 	Claude E. Davis
	Title:	President & CEO
	 	 
	 	 
	 	Signature of Grantee
	 	 	 




 




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I hereby direct that all cash dividends
to which I am entitled on my shares of restricted Common Stock under the foregoing Agreement as well as all notices and other written
communications in connection with such shares be mailed to me at the following address:


 


	 	 	 
	 	Name of Grantee	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	Street Address	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	City, State, and Zip Code	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	Social Security Number	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	Signature of Grantee	 


  


RSA2012-ESP (2012 Awards post-annual meeting)


 




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