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                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                    EMPLOYMENT AND NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT


     This agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made September 21, 2004, between First
Financial Bancorp., an Ohio corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Claude E. Davis
("EMPLOYEE"). The Company and Employee (the "PARTIES") hereby agree as follows:

     ss.1. Employment. The Company hereby employs Employee, and Employee hereby
accepts employment with the Company, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions described in this Agreement.

     ss.2. Term. Employee's employment with the Company pursuant to this
Agreement shall begin on October 1, 2004 (the "COMMENCEMENT DATE") and shall end
on the first anniversary of the Commencement Date (the "INITIAL TERM"), unless
sooner terminated pursuant to ss.6 of this Agreement. The term of this Agreement
shall renew automatically for successive one-year periods after the Initial Term
(the "RENEWAL TERMS"), unless and until terminated pursuant to ss.6 of this
Agreement. When permitted by the context, any reference in this Agreement to the
"term of this Agreement" shall include the Initial Term and all Renewal Terms,
if any.

     ss.3. Services. Employee shall be employed as the President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company and shall perform such services and be
responsible for such activities as may be reasonably assigned to him from time
to time by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "BOARD"), or a duly
authorized Board committee, subject to the business policies and operating
programs, budgets, procedures, and directions established from time to time by
the Company (the "SERVICES"). Employee shall devote his best efforts and full
business and professional time, attention, energy, loyalty, and skill to the
rendering of the Services, to the business affairs of the Company, and to the
advancement of the Company's interests.

     ss.4. Compensation.

          (a) Base Compensation. As compensation for his Services under this
     Agreement, the Company shall pay Employee a base salary at the annual rate
     of $400,000 (the "BASE SALARY"), payable in accordance with the Company's
     general policies and procedures for payment of salaries to its executive
     personnel. Payment of the Base Salary and any other compensation to
     Employee hereunder shall be subject to all applicable tax and other
     withholding requirements. Employee's performance shall be reviewed not less
     often than annually by the Board or a Board committee for the purpose of
     considering potential increases in the Base Salary, but the Company shall
     not be obligated to make any such increases. The initial such review shall
     occur during the Company's normal review process for its executive
     personnel in 2005. The amount of the increase in Employee's Base Salary, if
     any, as a result of such initial review shall not exceed 5% of Employee's
     Base Salary.

          (b) Bonuses. Employee shall participate in the Company's Performance
     Incentive Compensation Plan (the "PIC PLAN") for 2004 with a target award
     of 50 points; provided that any bonus pursuant to the PIC Plan for 2004
     shall be pro-rated based on Employee's actual term of employment during
     2004. Except as provided in the following paragraph, annual bonuses for
     subsequent years shall be based on Employee's


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     participation in an annual PIC Plan or such other bonus compensation plans
     established by the Board or a Board committee from time to time.

          In addition, so long as Employee is employed by the Company on the
     applicable anniversary, the Company shall pay Employee a bonus of $33,000
     not later than 30 days after each of the first three anniversaries of the
     Commencement Date (the "Additional Bonuses"). The Additional Bonuses may be
     deferred by Employee under the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan dated
     June 1, 2003, subject to the terms and conditions of such plan.

          (c) Stock Options. On the Commencement Date or as soon thereafter as
     may be reasonably practicable, the Company shall grant Employee an option
     to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, as defined in the
     company's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees (the "STOCK
     PLAN"), at a price equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Stock
     Plan) on the date of grant (the "OPTION"), with all of the shares of Common
     Stock subject to the Option to vest on the first anniversary of the date of
     grant, and with accelerated vesting upon a Change in Control, as defined in
     the Stock Plan (a "CHANGE IN CONTROL"); provided that the Option shall be
     subject to the terms and conditions of the Stock Plan and the execution by
     Employee of a stock option agreement approved by the Board or the Committee
     (as defined in the Stock Plan) pursuant to the Stock Plan. Future grants of
     stock options, if any, and the related terms shall be at the discretion of
     the Board or the Committee.

          (d) Restricted Stock. On the Commencement Date or as soon thereafter
     as may be reasonably practicable, the Company shall award to Employee
     35,000 shares of Common Stock as Restricted Stock, as defined in the Stock
     Plan (the "RESTRICTED STOCK"), of which 17,500 shares shall vest on the
     first anniversary of the date of the award and 8,750 shall vest on each of
     the second and third anniversaries of the date of the award, and with
     accelerated vesting upon a Change in Control; provided that the Restricted
     Stock shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Stock Plan and
     the execution by Employee of a restricted stock agreement approved by the
     Board or the Committee pursuant to the Stock Plan. Future grants of
     restricted stock, if any, and the related terms shall be at the discretion
     of the Board or the Committee.

          (e) Fringe Benefits and Perquisites. During the term of this
     Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to the following fringe benefits and
     perquisites:

               (i) Employee shall be eligible to participate in all of the
          incentive plans and programs of the Company, including retirement
          plans, which are generally applicable to its executive personnel,
          subject in each case to the terms and conditions of the applicable
          incentive plan or program.

               (ii) Employee shall be provided employee pension and welfare
          benefits and group employee benefits such as sick leave, vacation,
          group disability and health, life, and accident insurance and similar
          indirect compensation which may from time to time be offered generally
          to the Company's executive personnel, subject in each case to the
          terms and conditions of the applicable benefit plan or program.


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               (iii) The Company shall pay Employee's reasonable dues and
          expenses for membership in one country club in accordance with the
          Company's customary practices for its executive personnel.

               (iv) The Company shall furnish Employee with an automobile in
          accordance with the Company's policy regarding Company-owned vehicles
          for its executive personnel.

               (v) The Company shall reimburse Employee for his expenses
          incurred in relocating from Carmel, Indiana to the Hamilton, Ohio area
          in accordance with and subject to the Company's current relocation
          policy. Employee shall relocate to the Hamilton, Ohio area on or
          before the Commencement Date and shall relocate his family as soon as
          reasonably practicable thereafter (and within 18 months in any event).

     ss.5. Confidentiality; Non-competition. Employee shall not, directly or
indirectly, at any time (whether during the term of this Agreement or
thereafter), disclose any Confidential Information (as defined below) to any
person, association or other entity (other than the Affiliated Companies, as
defined below), or use, or authorize or assist any person, association or other
entity (other than the Affiliated Companies) to use, any Confidential
Information, excepting only disclosures required by applicable law; provided,
that if Employee believes that disclosure of Confidential Information is
required by applicable law, Employee shall promptly (and in any event prior to
such disclosure) give the Company notice of such proposed disclosure and
cooperate with the Company in all ways reasonably requested by it in its efforts
to obtain a protective order or otherwise limit the scope of such disclosure to
the extent the Company deems necessary or appropriate.

     Upon termination of his employment with the Company (for any reason)
Employee shall promptly deliver to the Company all documents and other materials
containing any Confidential Information which are in his possession or under his
control.

     During the term of Employee's employment with the Company or any Affiliated
Company (whether pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise) and during the
Restricted Period (as defined below), Employee shall not, directly or
indirectly, whether individually or as a shareholder (except as a shareholder
owning 1% or less of the outstanding capital stock of a publicly traded
corporation) or other owner, partner, member, director, officer, employee,
independent contractor, creditor or agent of any person, other than for the
Company:

          (a) Enter into, engage in, or promote or assist (financially or
     otherwise), directly or indirectly, any business which provides any
     commercial banking, savings banking, mortgage lending, or any similar
     lending or banking services (the "RESTRICTED SERVICES") anywhere in the
     geographic area consisting of the states in which the Company operates at
     any time during the term of this Agreement (the "RESTRICTED TERRITORY");

          (b) Solicit any person or entity located in the Restricted Territory
     for the provision of any Restricted Services;

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          (c) Induce or encourage any employee, officer, director, agent,
     customer, depositor, supplier, or independent contractor of any Affiliated
     Company to terminate its relationship with 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, customers, depositors, suppliers, independent contractors, or
     others;

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

          (e) Make any statement (oral or written), or take any other action,
     which is in any way disparaging to any Affiliated Company or tends to
     diminish the reputation of any Affiliated Company.

     For purposes of this Agreement: (i) "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 which is or becomes available to the
general public and did not become so available through any breach of any
provision of this or any other agreement by Employee; (ii) "AFFILIATED
COMPANIES" shall include the Company, all of its subsidiaries, and any other
entities controlled by, controlling, or under common control with the Company;
and (iii) the "RESTRICTED PERIOD" shall mean the period beginning on the
Commencement Date and ending on the later of the first anniversary of the date
of termination of Employee's employment with the Company (for any reason) or the
conclusion of the Applicable Severance Period (as defined below).

     Employee acknowledges that: (A) the various covenants, restrictions, and
obligations set forth in this section are separate and independent obligations,
and may be enforced separately or in any combination; (B) the provisions of this
section are fundamental and essential for the protection of the Company's and
the Affiliated Companies' legitimate business and proprietary interests, and the
Affiliated Companies are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions
(to the extent such provisions relate to the Affiliated Companies); (C) such
provisions are reasonable and appropriate in all respects; and (D) in the event
of any violation by Employee of any of such provisions, the Company and, if
applicable, the Affiliated Companies, would suffer irreparable harm and their
remedies at law would be inadequate. In the event of any violation or attempted
violation of such provisions by Employee, the Company 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 which may
then be available to them.

     ss.6. Termination. Employee's employment with the Company: (a) shall
terminate automatically upon the death of Employee; (b) may be terminated by
either the Company or Employee at the end of the Initial Term or any Renewal
Term upon not less than 90 days prior written notice given by either of them to
the other; (c) may be terminated by Employee at any

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time for Good Reason (as defined below) upon not less than 30 days prior written
notice to the Company; or (d) may be terminated by the Company immediately upon
notice to Employee at any time (i) for Cause (as defined below) or (ii) if
Employee is then under a Long-Term Disability (defined below).

     For purposes of this Agreement:

          (A) "CAUSE" shall mean any one or more of the following:

               (1) any act constituting (i) a felony under the federal laws of
          the United States, the laws of any state, or any other applicable law,
          (ii) fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation of assets, willful
          misfeasance, or dishonesty, or (iii) other actions or criminal conduct
          which in any way materially and adversely affects the reputation,
          goodwill, or business position of the Company;

               (2) the failure of Employee to perform and observe all material
          obligations and conditions to be performed and observed by Employee
          under this Agreement, or to perform his duties in accordance, in all
          material respects, with the policies, procedures, and directions
          established from time to time by the Board or a duly authorized Board
          committee (any such failure, a "PERFORMANCE FAILURE"), and to correct
          such Performance Failure promptly following notice from the Board to
          do so; or

               (3) having corrected (or the Company having waived the correction
          of) a Performance Failure, the occurrence of any subsequent
          Performance Failure (whether of the same or different type or nature).

          (B) "LONG-TERM DISABILITY" shall mean that, because of physical or
     mental incapacity, it is more likely than not that Employee will be unable,
     within 180 days after such incapacity commenced, to perform the essential
     functions of his position with the Company, with or without reasonable
     accommodation. In the event of any disagreement about whether or when
     Employee is under a Long-Term Disability, the question shall be determined:
     (1) by a physician selected by agreement between the Parties if such a
     physician is selected within the 10 days after either Party requests the
     other to so agree; or, if not, (2) by two physicians, the first of whom
     shall be selected by Employee and the second of whom shall be selected by
     the Company or, if Employee fails to make a selection within 10 days after
     being requested to do so by the Company, the second physician shall be
     selected by the first physician; and (3) if the two physicians fail to
     agree, by a third physician selected by the first two physicians. Employee
     shall submit to all reasonable examinations requested by any such
     physicians.

          (C) "GOOD REASON" shall mean the occurrence, without Employee's
     consent, of a significant reduction in Employee's Base Salary or his
     authority or responsibilities as set forth in ss.3 of this Agreement.

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     ss.7. Severance.

          (a) In the event the Company terminates Employee's employment pursuant
     to ss.6(b) or ss.6(d)(ii) or Employee terminates his employment pursuant to
     ss.6(c), and Employee provides the Company with a separate, written release
     and covenant not to sue (in a form provided by the Company and reasonably
     satisfactory to Employee and which shall comply with the requirements of
     the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act and applicable state and federal
     laws and regulations) which releases the Company from all claims arising
     from Employee's employment with the Company and the termination thereof,
     Employee shall receive (i) Termination Compensation (as defined below)
     payable ratably over the Applicable Severance Period in accordance with the
     Company's general policies and procedures for payment of salaries to its
     executive personnel and subject to all applicable tax withholding
     requirements to which the Company is subject, and (ii) continued health
     care coverage as and to the extent provided under the Company's
     then-current group medical benefit plan or as may be required by law;
     provided that, in the event of a termination by the Company pursuant to
     ss.6(d)(ii), any such Termination Compensation shall be reduced by the
     aggregate amount payable to Employee under any applicable disability policy
     or program.

          For purposes of this Agreement:

          (A) "TERMINATION COMPENSATION" shall mean an aggregate amount based on
     the multiple of Employee's Base Salary as of the date of termination as set
     forth below if termination occurs during the corresponding period
     indicated.

          Termination Date                              Termination Compensation
          ----------------                              ------------------------
          On or before the third anniversary of the     1 x Base Salary
          Commencement Date (other than a termination
          within one year following a Change in Control)

          After the third anniversary of the            2 x Base Salary
          Commencement Date or within one year
          following a Change in Control

          (B) "APPLICABLE SEVERANCE PERIOD" shall mean the period of time set
     forth below if termination occurs during the corresponding period
     indicated:

          Termination Date                              Severance Period
          ----------------                              ----------------
          On or before the third anniversary of the     1 year
          Commencement Date (other than a termination
          within one year following a Change in Control)

          After the third anniversary of the            2 years
          Commencement Date or within one year
          following a Change in Control

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          In addition, and notwithstanding the provisions of the second
     paragraph of ss.4(b) of this Agreement to the contrary, if (i) Employee's
     employment with the Company terminates for any of the reasons specified in
     this ss.7(a), (ii) Employee provides the written release and covenant not
     to sue described in this ss.7(a), and (iii) any Additional Bonuses remain
     unpaid at the time of such termination, then the Company shall pay such
     Additional Bonuses, as additional severance compensation, at the time such
     Additional Bonuses would have been payable under this Agreement had
     Employee's employment continued.

          (b) Except as expressly provided in ss.7(a), above, Employee shall
     have no right to receive any compensation or other benefits under this
     Agreement as a result of or in connection with the termination of his
     employment with the Company or for any period after such termination.

          (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the
     contrary, the obligation of the Company to pay Termination Compensation and
     any Additional Bonuses otherwise payable following termination of
     Employee's employment with the Company shall automatically and immediately
     terminate upon the breach by Employee of any of Employee's duties or
     obligations under this Agreement, including without limitation those under
     ss.5.

     ss.8. Capacity. Employee represents and warrants to the Company that he has
the capacity and right to enter into this Agreement and perform all of his
obligations under this Agreement without any restriction.

     ss.9. Remedies. Subject to the right of the Company and the Affiliated
Companies to exercise the remedies described in the second paragraph of ss.5 of
this Agreement in any court having jurisdiction, all disagreements and
controversies arising with respect to this Agreement, or with respect to its
application to circumstances not clearly set forth in this Agreement, shall be
settled by binding arbitration to be held, and the award made, in Hamilton,
Ohio, pursuant to the then-applicable Commercial Arbitration Rules of the
American Arbitration Association. In any such arbitration, the arbitrators shall
consist of a panel of three arbitrators, which shall act by majority vote and
which shall consist of one arbitrator selected by the Party on one side of the
issue subject to the arbitration, one arbitrator selected by the Party on the
other side of the issue, and a third arbitrator selected by the two arbitrators
so selected, who shall be either a certified public accountant or an attorney at
law licensed to practice in the State of Ohio and who shall act as chairman of
the arbitration panel; provided that if the Party on one side of the issue
selects its arbitrator for the panel and the other Party fails so to select its
arbitrator within 10 business days after being requested by the first Party to
do so, then the sole arbitrator shall be the arbitrator selected by the first
Party. A decision in any such arbitration shall apply both to the particular
question submitted and to all similar questions arising thereafter and shall be
binding and conclusive upon both Parties and shall be enforceable in any court
having jurisdiction over the Party to be charged.

     All costs and expenses of arbitration shall be borne by the Parties as
determined by the arbitrator or arbitration panel, except that the fees and
expenses of any arbitrator on an arbitration panel who is selected individually
by a Party shall be borne separately by the Party appointing the arbitrator;
provided that if one Party fails to select an arbitrator for a panel, and the
sole

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arbitrator is the arbitrator selected by the other Party, then the fees of that
arbitrator shall be borne by the Parties as determined by that arbitrator.

     All rights and remedies of each Party under this Agreement are cumulative
and in addition to all other rights and remedies which may be available to that
Party from time to time, whether under any other agreement, at law, or in
equity.

     ss.10. Survival. The termination of Employee's employment by the Company
(for any reason) shall not relieve Employee of any of his obligations to the
Company existing at, arising as a result of, or relating to acts or omissions
occurring prior to, such termination. Without limiting the generality of the
preceding sentence, in no event shall the termination of such employment modify
or affect any obligations of Employee or rights of the Company or the Affiliated
Companies under ss.5 of this Agreement, all of which shall survive the
termination of such employment.

     ss.11. Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement
to either Party shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when (a) delivered
personally to that Party, (b) telecopied (which is confirmed) to that Party at
the telecopy number for that Party set forth in this Agreement, (c) mailed by
certified mail (return receipt requested) to that Party at the address for that
Party set forth in this Agreement, or (d) delivered to Federal Express, UPS, or
any similar express delivery service for delivery the next business day to that
Party at that address.

                  (a)      If to the Company:

                           First Financial Bancorp.
                           300 High Street
                           P.O. Box 476
                           Hamilton, Ohio 45012-0476
                           Attention:  Chairman of the Board
                           Telecopy No.:  513-785-3434

                           with a copy to:

                           Baker & Hostetler LLP
                           65 East State Street, Suite 2100
                           Columbus, Ohio 43215
                           Attention:  Gary A. Wadman, Esq.
                           Telecopy No.: 614-462-2616

                  (b)      If to Employee:

                           2506 Londonberry Blvd.
                           Carmel, Indiana 46032
                           Telecopy No.: 317-334-0197

                  Either Party may change its address or telecopy number for
         notices under this Agreement by giving the other Party notice of such
         change.
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     ss.12. Severability. The intention of the Parties is to comply fully with
all rules, laws, and public policies to the extent possible. If and to the
extent that any court of competent jurisdiction is unable to so construe any
provision of this Agreement and holds that provision to be invalid, such
invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of this Agreement, which
shall remain in full force and effect. With respect to any provision in this
Agreement finally determined by such a court to be invalid or unenforceable,
such court shall have jurisdiction to reform this Agreement to the extent
necessary to make such provision valid and enforceable, and, as reformed, such
provision shall be binding on the Parties.

     ss.13. Non-Waiver. No failure by either Party to insist upon strict
compliance with any term of this Agreement, to exercise any option, to enforce
any right, or to seek any remedy upon any default of the other Party shall
affect, or constitute a waiver of, the other Party's right to insist upon such
strict compliance, exercise that option, enforce that right, or seek that remedy
with respect to that default or any prior, contemporaneous, or subsequent
default. No custom or practice of the Parties at variance with any provision of
this Agreement shall affect or constitute a waiver of, either Party's right to
demand strict compliance with all provisions of this Agreement.

     ss.14. Complete Agreement. This Agreement and all documents referred to in
this agreement, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference,
contain the entire agreement between the Parties and supersede all other
agreements and understandings between the Parties with respect to the subject
matter of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be of no force or effect unless
and until executed and delivered by both Employee and a duly authorized
representative of the Company. No alterations, additions, or other changes to
this Agreement shall be made or be binding unless made in writing and signed by
both Parties.

     ss.15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

     ss.16. Captions. The captions of the various sections of this Agreement are
not part of the context of this Agreement, are only guides to assist in locating
those sections, and shall be ignored in construing this Agreement.

     ss.17. Genders and Numbers. Where permitted by the context, each pronoun
used in this Agreement includes the same pronoun in other genders and numbers,
and each noun used in this Agreement includes the same noun in other numbers.

     ss.18. Successors. This Agreement shall be personal to Employee and no
rights or obligations of Employee under this Agreement may be assigned or
delegated by Employee to any person. Any assignment or attempted assignment by
Employee in violation of the preceding sentence shall be null and void. Subject
to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of,
and be enforceable by and against the heirs, personal representatives,
successors, and assigns of each Party.

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<PAGE>

     ss.19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

                                        FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.


   /s/ Claude E. Davis                  By:   /s/ Bruce E. Leep
-------------------------------            -------------------------------------
CLAUDE E. DAVIS                             Bruce E. Leep, Chairman of the Board




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