Document:

EXHIBIT
10.7

    

    FIRST
FINANCIAL BANCORP

    EXECUTIVE
SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN

     

    First Financial Bancorp, an Ohio
corporation (the "Company") establishes this First Financial Bancorp Executive
Supplemental Retirement Plan (the "Plan") for the purpose of attracting and
retaining high quality executives by providing benefits in excess of one or more
of the limitations applicable to the Company's qualified pension plan under the
Internal Revenue Code.

     

    ARTICLE
I

    DEFINITIONS

     

    1.1           "Affiliate" means each
entity with whom the Company would be considered a single employer under
Sections 414(b) and 414(c) of the Code, provided that in applying Section
1563(a)(1), (2), and (3) for purposes of determining a controlled group of
corporations under Section 414(b) of the Code, the language "at least 50
percent" is used instead of "at least 80 percent" each place it appears in
Section 1563(a)(1), (2), and (3), and in applying Treasury Regulation Section
1.414(c)-2 for purposes of determining trades or businesses (whether or not
incorporated) that are under common control for purposes of Section 414(c), "at
least 50 percent" is used instead of "at least 80 percent" each place it appears
in that regulation.  Such term shall be interpreted in a manner
consistent with the definition of "service recipient" contained in Section 409A
of the Code.

     

    1.2           "Affiliated Group"
means (i) the Company and (ii) all Affiliates.

     

    1.3           "Beneficiary" means
the person(s) designated as such pursuant to Article VI of this
Plan.

     

    1.4           "Board" means the
Board of Directors of the Company.

     

    1.5           "Code" shall mean the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     

    1.6           "Committee" shall mean
the Compensation Committee of the Board.

     

    1.7           "Company" means First
Financial Bancorp, an Ohio corporation, or its successor.

     

    1.8           "Eligible Executive"
means an employee of the Company or another member of the Affiliated Group who
(a) participates in the Pension Plan, and (b) is a member of a "select group of
management or highly compensated employees," within the meaning of Sections 201,
301 and 401 of ERISA.

     

    1.9           "ERISA" means the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

     

    1.10         "Normal Retirement
Age" means the Participant's 65th birthday.

    
      
         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    1.11         "Participant" means
each Eligible Executive who has become a Participant in the Plan pursuant to
Article II.

     

    1.12         "Pension Plan" means
the First Financial Bancorp Employees' Pension Plan and Trust, as amended from
time to time.

     

    1.13         "Plan" means this
First Financial Bancorp Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan.

     

    1.14         "Separation from
Service" means a termination of employment or service with the Affiliated
Group for any reason, including death, in such a manner as to constitute a
"separation from service" as defined under Section 409A of the
Code.  Upon a sale or other disposition of the assets of the Company
or any member of the Affiliated Group to an unrelated purchaser, the Committee
reserves the right, to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code, to
determine whether Participants providing services to the purchaser after and in
connection with the purchase transaction have experienced a Separation from
Service.

     

    1.15         "Statutory Limits"
means the compensations and benefit accrual limits provided under Section
401(a)(17) and Section 415 of the Code, which are imposed on the benefits
accrued under the Pension Plan.

     

    ARTICLE
II

    PARTICIPATION

     

    An Eligible Executive shall become a
Participant in the Plan only upon designation as a Participant by the
Committee.  A Participant's active participation in the Plan shall be
suspended upon his employment status change as determined by the Committee or
Separation from Service.  Further, a Participant shall cease to be a
Participant upon his non-vested Separation from Service under the
Plan.  .

     

    ARTICLE
III

    SUPPLEMENTAL
BENEFITS

     

    3.1  Eligibility.  A Participant (or
Beneficiary) who is entitled to a vested benefit under the Pension Plan shall be
eligible for a supplemental benefit under this Article as hereinafter
provided..

     

    3.2  Amount of
Supplemental Benefit.  The benefit
payable under the Plan to a Participant (or Beneficiary) who is eligible
therefor shall be determined as follows:.

     

    (a)           the
vested Accrued Benefit the Participant would receive under the Pension Plan,
calculated without regard to the Statutory Limits.

     

    reduced
(but not below zero) by -

     

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (b)

            	
              the
      vested Accrued Benefit the Participant will receive under the Pension
      Plan,

            

    

     

    
      	
               
      

            	
              and,
      if applicable, further reduced (but not below zero) for
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    (c)           commencement
of the Plan benefit prior to Normal Retirement Age, to the same extent (if any)
that the Participant's benefit under the Pension Plan would have been reduced
for commencement prior to Normal Retirement Age if the Participant's Pension
Plan benefit had commenced as of the date of the Participant's Separation from
Service under the Plan.

     

    For
purposes of this Section 3.2, Accrued Benefit shall have the meaning provided in
the Pension Plan.  The Plan benefit shall be determined by an actuary
selected by the Company in its sole discretion, which actuary shall calculate
the Plan benefit in accordance with the actuarial assumptions provided under the
Pension Plan.  To the extent the Pension Plan is amended after January
1, 2010, such amendment to the Pension Plan may not modify any assumption or
benefit provision used in calculating the Participant's benefit under the Plan
to the extent such change in assumption or benefit provision would cause any
portion of the Participant's benefit provided under the Plan to become taxable
under Section 409A.

     

    3.3  Vesting.  The benefits
under this Article shall vest at the same time(s), in the same manner, and to
the same extent as the Participant's benefit under the Pension
Plan.  No supplemental benefit shall be payable to a Participant under
this Plan if the Participant is not eligible to receive a vested benefit under
the Pension Plan.

     

    3.4  Form of
Payment.  The Plan benefit
calculated in accordance with Section 3.2 shall be paid to the Participant in
the form of a single lump-sum payment.  No other form of payment may
be elected by the Participant under the Plan. 

     

    3.5  Time of
Commencement.  A Participant's
benefit under the Plan shall be paid as of the first business day of the seventh
month following the Participant's Separation from Service (or if earlier, the
first business day of the month following the Participant's death).

     

    3.6  Termination
for Cause.  In the event a
Participant is terminated for “Cause”, he/she shall have not rights, and shall
not be entitled to any benefits, under this Agreement.  For purposes
of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean any one or more of the
following:

     

    (a)           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;

    

    (b)           the
failure of the Participant to perform and observe all material obligations and
conditions to be performed and observed by the Participant under his employment
agreement, or to perform the duties in accordance, in all material respects,
with the policies, procedures, and directions established from time to time by
the Committee or the Board (any such failure, a “Performance Failure”), and to
correct such Performance Failure promptly following notice from the Board to do
so; or

    

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

    
      
         

      

      
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    ARTICLE
IV

    SECTION 409A OF THE CODE;
TARP COMPENSATION STANDARDS

     

    4.1 Discretionary
Acceleration of Payments.  To the extent
permitted by Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may, in its sole
discretion, accelerate the time or schedule of a payment under the Plan as
provided in this Section.  The provisions of this Section are intended
to comply with the exception to accelerated payments under Treasury Regulation §
1.409A-3(j) and shall be interpreted and administered
accordingly.    

     

    (a)           Domestic Relations
Orders.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate
the time or schedule of a payment under the Plan to an individual other than the
Participant as may be necessary to fulfill a domestic relations order (as
defined in Section 414(p)(1)(B) of the Code).

     

    (b)           Conflicts of
Interest.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide
for the acceleration of the time or schedule of a payment under the Plan to the
extent necessary for any Federal officer or employee in the executive branch to
comply with an ethics agreement with the Federal
government.  Additionally, the Committee may, in its sole discretion,
provide for the acceleration of the time or schedule of a payment under the Plan
to the extent reasonably necessary to avoid the violation of an applicable
Federal, state, local, or foreign ethics law or conflicts of interest law
(including where such payment is reasonably necessary to permit the Participant
to participate in activities in the normal course of his position in which the
Participant would otherwise not be able to participate under an applicable
rule).

     

    (c)           Employment
Taxes.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for
the acceleration of the time or schedule of a payment under the Plan to pay the
Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax imposed under Sections 3101,
3121(a), and 3121(v)(2) of the Code, or the Railroad Retirement Act (RRTA) tax
imposed under Sections 3201, 3211, 3231(e)(1), and 3231(e)(8) of the Code, where
applicable, on compensation deferred under the Plan (the FICA or RRTA
amount).  Additionally, the Committee may, in its sole discretion,
provide for the acceleration of the time or schedule of a payment, to pay the
income tax at source on wages imposed under Section 3401 of the Code or the
corresponding withholding provisions of applicable state, local, or foreign tax
laws as a result of the payment of the FICA or RRTA amount, and to pay the
additional income tax at source on wages attributable to the pyramiding Section
3401 of the Code wages and taxes.  However, the total payment under
this acceleration provision must not exceed the aggregate of the FICA or RRTA
amount, and the income tax withholding related to such FICA or RRTA
amount.

     

    (d)           Limited
Cash-Outs.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, require
a mandatory lump sum payment of amounts deferred under the Plan that do not
exceed the applicable dollar amount under Section 402(g)(1)(B) of the Code,
provided that the payment results in the termination and liquidation of the
entirety of the Participant's interest under the Plan, including all agreements,
methods, programs, or other arrangements with respect to which deferrals of
compensation are treated as having been deferred under a single nonqualified
deferred compensation plan under Section 409A of the Code.

    
      
         

      

      
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    (e)           Payment Upon Income
Inclusion Under Section 409A.  The Committee may, in its sole
discretion, provide for the acceleration of the time or schedule of a payment
under the Plan at any time the Plan fails to meet the requirements of Section
409A of the Code.  The payment may not exceed the amount required to
be included in income as a result of the failure to comply with the requirements
of Section 409A of the Code.

     

    (f)           Certain Payments to Avoid a
Nonallocation Year Under Section 409(p).  The Committee may, in
its sole discretion, provide for the acceleration of the time or schedule of a
payment under the Plan to prevent the occurrence of a nonallocation year (within
the meaning of Section 409(p)(3) of the Code) in the plan year of an employee
stock ownership plan next following the plan year in which such payment is made,
provided that the amount paid may not exceed 125 percent of the minimum amount
of payment necessary to avoid the occurrence of a nonallocation
year.

     

    (g)           Payment of State, Local, or
Foreign Taxes.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion,
provide for the acceleration of the time or schedule of a payment under the Plan
to reflect payment of state, local, or foreign tax obligations arising from
participation in the Plan that apply to an amount deferred under the Plan before
the amount is paid or made available to the participant (the state, local, or
foreign tax amount).  Such payment may not exceed the amount of such
taxes due as a result of participation in the Plan.  The payment may
be made in the form of withholding pursuant to provisions of applicable state,
local, or foreign law or by payment directly to the
Participant.  Additionally, the Committee may, in its sole discretion,
provide for the acceleration of the time or schedule of a payment under the Plan
to pay the income tax at source on wages imposed under Section 3401 of the Code
as a result of such payment and to pay the additional income tax at source on
wages imposed under Section 3401 of the Code attributable to such additional
wages and taxes.  However, the total payment under this acceleration
provision must not exceed the aggregate of the state, local, and foreign tax
amount, and the income tax withholding related to such state, local, and foreign
tax amount.

     

    (h)           Certain
Offsets.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide
for the acceleration of the time or schedule of a payment under the Plan as
satisfaction of a debt of the Participant to the Company (or any entity which
would be considered to be a single employer with the Company under Section
414(b) or Section 414(c) of the Code), where such debt is incurred in the
ordinary course of the service relationship between the Company (or any entity
which would be considered to be a single employer with the Company under Section
414(b) or Section 414(c) of the Code) and the Participant, the entire amount of
reduction in any of the service recipient's (as defined in Section 409A of the
Code) taxable years does not exceed $5,000, and the reduction is made at the
same time and in the same amount as the debt otherwise would have been due and
collected from the Participant.

     

    (i)         
   Bona
Fide Disputes As To A Right To A Payment.  The Committee may,
in its sole discretion, provide for the acceleration of the time or schedule of
a payment under the Plan where such payments occur as part of a settlement
between the Participant and the Company (or any entity which would be considered
to be a single employer with the Company under Section 414(b) or Section 414(c)
of the Code) of an arm’s length, bona fide dispute as to the Participant's right
to the deferred amount.

    
      
         

      

      
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    (j)   
        Plan Terminations and
Liquidations.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion,
provide for the acceleration of the time or schedule of a payment under the Plan
as provided in Section 7.2.

     

    (k)           Other Events and
Conditions.  The Committee may accelerate payment of a
Participant's benefit under the Plan upon such other events and conditions as
the Internal Revenue Service may prescribe in generally applicable guidance
published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.

     

    Except as
otherwise specifically provided in the Plan, the Committee may not accelerate
the time or schedule of any payment or amount scheduled to be paid under the
Plan within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.  Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Section 4.1 to the contrary, in no event may a
payment be accelerated pursuant to paragraphs (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j)
or (k) of this Section 4.1 following a Participant's Separation from Service to
a date that is prior to the first business day of the seventh month following
the Participant's Separation from Service (or if earlier, the first business day
of the month following the Participant's death).  The provisions of
this Section 4.1 are intended to comply with the exceptions to accelerated
payments under Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(j)(4) and shall be interpreted and
administered accordingly.

    

    4.2 Delay of
Payments.  To the extent
permitted under Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may, in its sole
discretion, delay payment under any of the following circumstances, provided
that the Committee treats all payments to similarly situated Participants on a
reasonably consistent basis:  

     

    (a)           Federal Securities Laws or
Other Applicable Law.  A Payment may be delayed where the
Committee reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will violate
federal securities laws or other applicable law; provided that the delayed
payment is made at the earliest date at which the Committee reasonably
anticipates that the making of the payment will not cause such
violation.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, the making of a
payment that would cause inclusion in gross income or the application of any
penalty provision or other provision of the Code is not treated as a violation
of applicable law.

     

    (b)           Other Events and
Conditions.  A payment may be delayed upon such other events
and conditions as the Internal Revenue Service may prescribe in generally
applicable guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.

    
      
         

      

      
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    4.3 Compliance
With Code Section 409A.  It is intended
that the Plan comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so as to
prevent the inclusion in gross income of any amounts deferred hereunder in a
taxable year that is prior to the taxable year or years in which such amounts
would otherwise actually be paid or made available to Participants or
Beneficiaries.  The Plan shall be construed, administered, and
governed in a manner that effects such intent, and the Committee shall not take
any action that would be inconsistent with such intent.  However, the
tax treatment of deferrals under this Plan is not warranted or
guaranteed.  Neither the Company, the other members of the Affiliated
Group, directors, officers, employees, advisers nor the Committee shall be held
liable for any taxes, interest, penalties or other monetary amounts owed by any
Participant or Beneficiary (or any other individual claiming a benefit through
the Participant or Beneficiary) as a result of the Plan.  Any
reference in the Plan to Section 409A of the Code will also include any
proposed, temporary or final regulations, or any other guidance, promulgated
with respect to such Section 409A by the U.S. Department of Treasury or the
Internal Revenue Service.  For purposes of the Plan, the phrase
"permitted by Section 409A of the Code," or words or phrases of similar import,
shall mean that the event or circumstance shall only be permitted to the extent
it would not cause an amount deferred or payable under the Plan to be includible
in the gross income of a Participant or Beneficiary under Section 409A(a)(1) of
the Code.

     

    4.4 Compliance
With TARP, EESA and ARRA.  It is intended
that the Plan comply with, and be administered in accordance with, the executive
compensation and corporate governance restrictions imposed under the Emergency
Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 ("EESA"), the Troubled Asset Relief Program
("TARP"), American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("ARRA"), together with
all regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (the "TARP Compensation
Standards"), for the period in which the Company participates in TARP and for
such additional period thereafter as may be required by TARP, EESA or ARRA (the
"TARP Period"). To
ensure compliance with the TARP Compensation Standards, the following additional
provisions shall apply.

     

    (a)           TARP Policy.  The Plan and the
benefits provide under the Plan shall be subject to the First Financial Bancorp
TARP Policy, but only to the extent, and only for such period, as may be
necessary to ensure the Plan and the benefits provided under the Plan comply
with the applicable requirements of the TARP Compensation
Standards.  In the event that any provision of the Plan is found to be
in conflict with the TARP Compensation Standards and/or TARP Policy, the Plan
shall be deemed amended automatically, and to the extent necessary
retroactively, to reflect the requirements of the TARP Compensation Standards,
and the Plan shall be interpreted and administered accordingly.

     

    (b)           Consent to Compliance with
the TARP Compensation Standards.  As a condition of
participation in the Plan, each Participant shall acknowledge that (i) the
benefits provided under the Plan may be subject to the TARP Compensation
Standards and/or TARP Policy, (ii) the Plan may be amended and/or its
administration modified in order to comply with the TARP Compensation Standards
and TARP Policy, and (iii) a Participant shall be required (as determined by the
Committee or the Board) to repay all amounts paid from the Plan that are later
determined to have been paid in violation of the TARP Compensation Standards or
TARP Policy.

    
      
         

      

      
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    ARTICLE
V

    ADMINISTRATION

     

    5.1  Administration.  The Plan shall be
administered by the Committee, which shall have the exclusive right and full
discretion (i) to interpret the Plan, (ii) to decide any and all matters arising
hereunder (including the right to remedy possible ambiguities, inconsistencies,
or admissions), (iii) to make, amend and rescind such rules as it deems
necessary for the proper administration of the Plan and (iv) to make all other
determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan,
including determinations regarding eligibility for benefits payable under the
Plan.  All interpretations of the Committee with respect to any matter
hereunder shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons affected
thereby.  No member of the Committee shall be liable for any
determination, decision, or action made in good faith with respect to the
Plan.  The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the members of the
Committee from and against any and all liabilities, costs, and expenses incurred
by such persons as a result of any act, or omission, in connection with the
performance of such persons’ duties, responsibilities, and obligations under the
Plan, other than such liabilities, costs, and expenses as may result from the
bad faith, willful misconduct, or criminal acts of such persons.

     

    5.2  Claims
Procedure.  In accordance with the
requirements of Section 503 of ERISA, the Plan provides a benefit claims and
appeals procedure that is intended to comply with the regulations issued by the
Secretary of Labor at 29 C.F.R. 2560.503-1.  Unless a separate
procedure is established for the Plan, the claims and appeals procedure set
forth in Section 7.14 of the Pension Plan (as may be amended from time to time)
shall apply to the Plan.

     

    ARTICLE
VI

    BENEFICIARIES

     

    6.1  Beneficiary
Designation.  The Participant
shall have the right, at any time, to designate any person or persons as
Beneficiary (both primary and contingent) to whom payment under the Plan shall
be made in the event of the Participant’s death.  The Beneficiary
designation shall be effective when it is submitted in writing to and
acknowledged by the Committee during the Participant’s lifetime on a form
prescribed by the Committee.

     

    6.2  Revision
of Designation.  The submission of
a new Beneficiary designation shall cancel all prior Beneficiary
designations.  Any finalized divorce or marriage (other than a common
law marriage) of a Participant subsequent to the date of a Beneficiary
designation shall revoke such designation, unless in the case of divorce the
previous spouse was not designated as Beneficiary and unless in the case of
marriage the Participant’s new spouse has previously been designated as
Beneficiary.

     

    6.3  Successor
Beneficiary.  If the primary
Beneficiary dies prior to complete distribution of any the benefits payable
under this Plan any remaining benefits shall be paid to the contingent
Beneficiary elected by the Participant.

     

    6.4  Absence
of Valid Designation.  If a Participant
fails to designate a Beneficiary as provided above, or if the Beneficiary
designation is revoked by marriage, divorce, or otherwise without execution of a
new designation, or if every person designated as Beneficiary predeceases the
Participant or dies prior to complete distribution of the Participant’s
benefits, then the Committee shall direct the distribution of any benefits
payable under this Plan to the relevant estate.

    
      
         

      

      
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    ARTICLE
VII

    AMENDMENT AND
TERMINATION

     

    7.1 Amendment.  The
Company reserves the right to amend, terminate or freeze the Plan, in whole or
in part, at any time by action of the Board.

     

    7.2 Payments
Upon Termination of Plan.  In the event that
the Plan is terminated, the vested benefits of a Participant shall be paid to
the Participant or his Beneficiary on the dates on which the Participant or his
Beneficiary would otherwise receive payments hereunder without regard to the
termination of the Plan.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, and
to the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code and the TARP Compensation
Standards, the Company, by action taken by its Board or its designee, may
terminate the Plan and pay Participants and Beneficiaries their entire vested
benefit subject to the following conditions:

     

    (a)           Dissolution; Bankruptcy
Court Order.  The termination occurs within twelve (12) months
after a corporate dissolution taxed under Section 331 of the Code, or with the
approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C.
§503(b)(1)(A).   In such event, the vested benefit of each
Participant shall be paid at the time and pursuant to the schedule specified by
the Committee, so long as all payments are required to be made by the latest of:
(i) the end of the calendar year in which the Plan termination occurs, (ii) the
first calendar year in which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial
risk of forfeiture, or (iii) the first calendar year in which payment is
administratively practicable.

     

    (b)           Change in
Control.  The termination occurs pursuant to an irrevocable
action of the Board or its designee that is taken within the thirty (30) days
preceding or the twelve (12) months following a change in control event (within
the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(5) (a "Change in Control"), and
all other plans sponsored by the Company (determined immediately after the
Change in Control) that are required to be aggregated with this Plan under
Section 409A of the Code are also terminated with respect to each participant
therein who experienced the Change in Control ("Change in Control
Participant").   In such event, the vested benefit of each
Participant under the Plan and each Change in Control Participant under all
aggregated plans shall be paid at the time and pursuant to the schedule
specified by the Committee, so long as all payments are required to be made no
later than twelve (12) months after the date that the Board or its designee
irrevocably approves the termination.

     

    (c)           Company's
Discretion.  The termination does not occur "proximate to a
downturn in the financial health" of the Company (within the meaning of Treasury
Regulation § 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)), and all other arrangements required to be
aggregated with the Plan under Section 409A of the Code are also terminated and
liquidated.   In such event, the Participant's entire vested
benefit shall be paid at the time and pursuant to the schedule specified by the
Committee, so long as all payments are required to be made no earlier than
twelve (12) months, and no later than twenty-four (24) months, after the date
the Board or its designee irrevocably approves the termination of the
Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment that would otherwise
be paid pursuant to the terms of the Plan prior to the twelve (12) month
anniversary of the date that the Board or its designee irrevocably approves the
termination of the Plan shall continue to be paid in accordance with the terms
of the Plan.  If the Plan is terminated pursuant to this Section
7.2(c), the Company shall be prohibited from adopting a new plan or arrangement
that would be aggregated with this Plan under Section 409A of the Code within
three (3) years following the date that the Board or its designee irrevocably
approves the termination and liquidation of the Plan.

    
      
         

      

      
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    (d)           Other
Events.  The termination occurs upon such other events and
conditions as the Internal Revenue Service may prescribe in generally applicable
guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.

     

    Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Section 7.2 to the contrary, in no event may a
payment be accelerated following a Participant's Separation from Service to a
date that is prior to the first business day of the seventh month following the
Participant's Separation from Service (or if earlier, upon the first business
day of the month following the Participant's death).

    

    The
provisions of paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 7.2 are intended
to comply with the exception to accelerated payments under Treasury Regulation
§1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix) and shall be interpreted and administered
accordingly.  The term "Company" as used in paragraphs (b) and (c) of
this Section 7.2 shall include the Company and any entity which would be
considered to be a single employer with the Company under Code Sections 414(b)
or Section 414(c).

     

    ARTICLE
VIII

    MISCELLANEOUS

     

               8.1  Construction
and Governing Law.  The Plan shall be
construed, enforced, and administered and the validity thereof determined in
accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio, to the extent that applicable
federal law does not apply to the Plan.  Words used herein in the
masculine gender shall be construed to include the feminine gender where
appropriate and the words used herein in the singular or plural shall be
construed as being in the plural or singular where appropriate.

     

    8.2  No
Employment Rights.  Neither the
establishment or maintenance of the Plan nor the status of an employee as a
Participant shall give any Participant any right to be retained in employment;
and no Participant and no person claiming under or through such Participant
shall have any right or interest in any benefit under the Plan unless and until
the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan affecting such Participant
shall have been satisfied.

     

    8.3  Unfunded
Plan.  The Plan is
intended to be an unfunded plan maintained primarily to provide deferred
compensation benefits for a select group of “management or highly compensated
employees” within the meaning of Sections 201, 301 and 401 of ERISA and
therefore to be exempt from Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of
ERISA.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may elect, at its
sole discretion, to establish a grantor trust (with a trustee selected by the
Company) to which the Company may allocate funds to provide for the benefits
provided under the Plan, provided that such trust complies with the requirements
of Revenue Procedure 92-64 (and any related or subsequent guidance) and the
allocation of funds to such trust does not otherwise violate Section 409A, the
TARP Compensation Standards or any other applicable federal
law.

    
      
         

      

      
        -10-

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    8.4  Discharge
of Obligations.  The payment to a
Participant or his Beneficiary of his entire benefit under the Plan shall
discharge all obligations of the Affiliated Group to such Participant or
Beneficiary under the Plan with respect to that Plan benefit.

     

    8.5  Nonalienation.  The right of any
Participant or any person claiming under or through a Participant to any benefit
or any payment hereunder shall not be subject in any manner to attachment or
other legal process for the debts of the Participant or person; and the same
shall not be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment or
encumbrance.

     

    8.6  Limitation
of Liability.  No member of the
Board and no officer or employee of any member of the Affiliated Group shall be
liable to any person for any action taken or omitted in connection with this
Plan, nor shall any member of the Affiliated Group be liable to any person for
any such action or omission.  No person shall, because of the Plan,
acquire any right to an accounting or to examine the books or the affairs of any
member of the Affiliated Group.  Nothing in the Plan shall be
construed to create any trust or fiduciary relationship between any member of
the Affiliated Group and any Participant or any other person.

     

    8.7  Successors.  The Company shall
require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation, reorganization or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the
business and/or assets of the Company expressly to assume this
Plan.  This Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Company and any successor of the Company, including without limitation any
persons acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the
business and/or assets of the Company whether by sale, merger, consolidation,
reorganization or otherwise (and such successor shall thereafter be deemed the
"Company" for the purposes of this Plan), and the heirs, Beneficiaries,
executors and administrators of each Participant.

     

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has
caused this Plan to be executed as of this _____ day of _____________,
_____.

     

    
      
        
          
            	
                    FIRST
      FINANCIAL BANCORP

                  
	 
      
	
                    By:

                  	
                     

                  
	
                    Name:

                  
	
                    Title:

                  

          

        

      

    

     

    
      
         

      

      
        -11-EXHIBIT 10.8

     

    ENDORSEMENT
METHOD SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT

    

    THIS
AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of this ___ day of ________, by and
between the following parties:
First Financial Bank, N.A. (the "Bank") and «executive» (the
"Executive").

    

    This
Agreement between the Bank and the Executive sets forth the terms under which
the Bank will purchase and own a life insurance policy (the "Policy") insuring
the life of the Executive; and the death proceeds of the Policy will be divided
between the Bank and the beneficiary designated by the
Executive.  This Agreement is made in consideration of the mutual
promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and adequacy of which hereby are acknowledged.

     

    
      	
              I.

            	
              POLICY
      TITLE AND OWNERSHIP

            

    

    

    The Bank
has applied for one or more life insurance policies, hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Policy," insuring the life of the
Executive.  Schedule A, which is attached hereto and incorporated
herein by reference as if fully rewritten, provides the following information
with regard to the Policy: the issuer thereof (the "Insurer"), the policy
number, and such other information as therein set forth.  The Bank and
the Executive agree to take all necessary action to cause the Insurer to issue
the Policy and to cause the Policy to conform to the provisions of this
Agreement.  The Bank and the Executive further agree that the Policy
shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  If
the Bank and the Executive mutually agree to change the coverage under the
Policy, the rights, duties, and benefits of the parties to such changed coverage
shall continue to be subject to the terms of this Agreement.

    

    The Bank
shall be the sole and absolute owner of and shall possess all incidents of
ownership in the Policy and may exercise all ownership rights granted to the
owner thereof by the terms of the Policy except as may be otherwise provided in
this Agreement.

    

    This
Agreement is effective as to a Policy upon execution of this Agreement or upon
issuance of such Policy, whichever is later.  The Bank shall be
responsible for safeguarding the Policy.

    

    
      	
              II.

            	
              BENEFICIARY
      DESIGNATION RIGHTS

            

    

    

    The
Executive shall have the right and power to instruct the Bank from time to time
to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries (collectively referred to herein as
the "Executive's Beneficiary") to receive the Part Two Share of the proceeds
payable under this Agreement upon the death of the Executive, and to elect a
payment option for such Executive's Beneficiary, subject to any right or
interest the Bank may have in such proceeds, as provided in this
Agreement.  The Bank agrees to designate the Executive's Beneficiary
for the Part Two Share in such Policy in accordance with the written direction
of the Executive.  The parties to this Agreement shall execute and
forward promptly and without unreasonable delay, changes in beneficiary
designation forms and documents, including the Policy, as required by the
Insurer, to effectuate the exercise of any rights of the parties
hereto.  If the Executive does not designate a Beneficiary or if no
Beneficiary survives the Executive, the Executive's Beneficiary shall be his or
her estate.

    
      
         

      

      
        1

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    
      	
              III.

            	
              PREMIUM
      PAYMENT METHOD

            

    

    

    The Bank
shall pay amounts equal to the planned premiums and any other premium payments
that might become necessary to keep the Policy in force.

    

    
      	
              IV.

            	
              USE
      OF DIVIDENDS

            

    

    

    Dividends declared on the Policy shall
be applied as the Bank elects on the Policy application.

    

    
      	
              V.

            	
              TAXABLE
      BENEFIT

            

    

    

    The
Executive will receive an annual taxable benefit equal to the assumed cost of
insurance to the extent required by the Internal Revenue Service.  The
Bank will cause the amount of imputed income received annually to be reported to
the Executive on Form W-2 or its equivalent.

    

    
      	
              VI.

            	
              DIVISION
      OF DEATH PROCEEDS

            

    

    

    Upon the
death of the Executive, the Bank shall cooperate with the Executive's
Beneficiary to take whatever action is necessary to collect the death benefit
provided under the Policy.  Subject to Section VII of this Agreement,
the death proceeds of the Policy shall be as follows and paid in the following
order to the extent that such proceeds permit.  When such death
benefit has been collected and paid as provided herein, this Agreement shall
thereupon terminate.

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              A.

            	
              Part One
      Share.  First the Bank shall be entitled to an amount
      known herein as the "Part One Share" which is equal to the premiums which
      the Bank has paid for the Policy since the effective date of this
      Agreement.

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              B.

            	
              Part Two
      Share.  Second, the Executive's Beneficiary shall be
      entitled to an amount known herein as the "Part Two Share" which is equal
      to the following:

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (i)

            	
              If
      the Executive is employed by the Bank or an Affiliated Employer at the
      time of his or her death, the Part Two Share shall be equal to three times
      the Executive's base salary in effect at the time of his or her
      death.  For purposes of this Agreement, "Affiliated Employer"
      means First Financial Bancorp and any employer which is a direct or
      indirect subsidiary of First Financial Bancorp, but only during the period
      it is such a subsidiary.

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (ii)

            	
              If
      the Executive is not employed by the Bank or an Affiliated Employer at the
      time of his or her death, and if, when the Executive's employment with the
      Bank and all Affiliated Employers terminated, the
      Executive:  (a) was then eligible to receive an immediate
      retirement benefit under the Early Retirement, Normal Retirement, Late
      Retirement, or Disability Retirement provisions of the First Financial
      Bancorp Employees' Pension Plan and Trust as in effect from time to time,
      and (b) had been employed by First Financial Bancorp and/or an Affiliated
      Employer for at least five years, the Part Two Share shall be equal to
      three (3) times the Executive's base salary at the time of his or her
      termination of employment.  For purposes of clause (b) of this
      subparagraph, employment with an Affiliated Employer other than First
      Financial Bancorp (or the successor or predecessor of that Affiliated
      Employer) during any period during which that employer is not a subsidiary
      or affiliate of First Financial Bancorp shall be
    disregarded.

            

    

    
      
         

      

      
        2

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (iii)

            	
              For
      purposes of this Agreement, an Executive's base salary shall be his or her
      base annual rate of compensation not including fringe benefits, bonuses,
      incentive compensation, severance pay, contributions to or benefits paid
      under qualified or nonqualified retirement or deferred compensation plans,
      stock options, expense reimbursements, or other forms of special
      compensation.  Notwithstanding the prior sentence, the
      Executive's base salary shall include any pre-tax elective deferral
      contributions made at the Executive's election under a cash or deferred
      arrangement that is qualified under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue
      Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), and any elective contributions made by
      the Executive under a Code section 125 cafeteria plan or flexible spending
      arrangement.

            

    

    

    
      	
              VII.

            	
              OTHER
      DISPOSITION OF THE POLICY

            

    

    

    Subject
to the Executive's option to purchase an assignment of the Policy under Section
IX below, if this Agreement terminates for any reason (except due to the death
of the Executive if such death entitles the Executive's Beneficiary to a Part
Two Share under Section VI hereof), the Bank may surrender or cancel the Policy
for its cash surrender value and retain all such value, or the Bank may change
the beneficiary designation provisions of the Policy, naming itself or any other
person or entity as beneficiary thereof, or exercise any other ownership rights
in and to the Policy, without regard to the provisions of this
Agreement.  Thereafter, neither the Executive nor any person claiming
for or through him or her shall have any further interest in and to the Policy,
either under the terms thereof or this Agreement.

    

    
      	
              VIII.

            	
              PREMIUM
      WAIVER

            

    

    

    If the
Policy contains a premium waiver provision and such waiver becomes operative,
such waived premium amounts shall be considered for all purposes of this
Agreement as having been paid by the Bank.

    

    
      	
              IX.

            	
              TERMINATION
      OF AGREEMENT

            

    

    

    This
Agreement shall terminate upon the final payment of death benefits as provided
under Section VI hereof.  This Agreement also shall terminate upon the
happening of any one of the following:

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              A.

            	
              The
      Executive leaves the employ of the Bank and all Affiliated Employers
      (voluntarily or involuntarily) for a reason other than his or her death
      and prior to having met all of the requirements in Section VI(B)(ii)
      above.

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              B.

            	
              The
      Executive (whether or not the Executive satisfied the requirements of
      Section VI(B)(ii) above) is discharged from employment with the Bank or an
      Affiliated Employer for cause.  Solely for purposes of this
      Agreement, "cause" shall mean gross negligence or gross neglect or the
      commission of a felony or gross misdemeanor involving moral turpitude,
      fraud, dishonesty, or willful violation of any law that results in any
      adverse effect on the Bank or an Affiliated
  Employer.

            

    

    
      
         

      

      
        3

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              C.

            	
              The
      Executive notifies the Bank in writing that he or she irrevocably elects
      to terminate this Agreement and relinquish all of his or her rights
      thereunder.

            

    

    

    If the
Executive's employment is terminated for cause or if the Executive elects to
terminate this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate as of the earlier of
the date of termination of employment or the date that the termination election
is received by the Bank, respectively, and neither the Executive nor any person
claiming for or through him shall have any further rights under this Agreement
or under the Policy.  If the Executive's employment terminates for any
reason except cause or the Executive's death, and if the Executive has not met
all of the requirements in Section VI(B)(ii) above, the Bank shall notify the
Executive through certified mail as soon as administratively practicable that he
or she has an assignable option to receive from the Bank an absolute assignment
of the Policy in consideration of a cash payment to the Bank, equal to the
greater of:

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              A.

            	
              The
      cash value of the Policy as of the date of such assignment,
    or

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              B.

            	
              The
      amount of the premiums paid by the Bank prior to the date of such
      assignment plus interest thereon at the annual rate of six percent
      (6%).

            

    

    

    The
amounts in items A and B above shall be reduced by any outstanding loans or
withdrawals from the Policy made by the Bank.

    

    If the
Executive does not provide written notice to the Bank that he or she elects to
exercise this option within 14 calendar days after the date the Bank sends
notice of such option, this Agreement and all of the Executive's rights,
interest, and claims hereunder and in the Policy shall terminate and be
irrevocably forfeited as of the end of such 14 day period.

    

    If the
Executive provides timely written notice of the exercise of such option, he or
she shall have 30 calendar days from the date the Bank sent the notification to
him or her of such option to make the required cash payment to the Bank or to
notify the Bank in writing that he or she irrevocably elects to have such
payment deducted from any amounts then owed to him or her by the
Bank.  If the Executive timely pays for such assignment, this
Agreement shall terminate as of the effective date of the assignment of the
Policy.  If the Executive does not timely pay, this Agreement and all
of the Executive's rights, interest, and claims hereunder and in the Policy
shall terminate and be irrevocably forfeited as of the end of such 30 day
period.

    

    
      	
              X.

            	
              ASSIGNMENT

            

    

    

    Notwithstanding
any provision hereof to the contrary, the Executive may at any time during the
term of this Agreement, with the Bank's written consent, absolutely and
irrevocably assign by gift all of his or her right, title, and interest in and
to this Agreement and the Policy to an assignee.  This right shall be
exercisable by the execution and delivery to the Bank of a written assignment,
on a form prepared or approved by the Bank.  Upon the Bank's consent
to such written assignment executed by the Executive and duly accepted by the
assignee thereof, the Bank shall indicate its consent thereto in writing and
shall thereafter treat the Executive's assignee as the sole owner of all of the
Executive's right, title, and interest in and to this Agreement and in and to
the Policy.  Thereafter, the Employee shall have no right, title, or
interest in and to this Agreement or the Policy.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the provisions of Section VI(B)(i) and (ii) shall be applied by
determining the employment status and/or pension eligibility of the Executive
(the assignor), not the assignee.

    
      
         

      

      
        4

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    

    The Bank
may pledge or assign the Policy, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, for the sole purpose of securing a loan from the Insurer or from a
third party.  The amount of such loan together with accumulated
interest thereon shall not exceed the amount of premiums paid by the Bank on the
Policy.

    

    
      	
              XI.

            	
              AGREEMENT
      BINDING

            

    

    

    This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Bank and its
successors and assigns, and the Executive and his or her heirs, successors,
personal representatives, executors, administrators, assigns, and
beneficiaries.

    

    
      	
              XII.

            	
              NAMED
      FIDUCIARY AND PLAN ADMINISTRATOR

            

    

    

    The Bank
is hereby designated the "Named Fiduciary" under this Agreement.  As
Named Fiduciary, the Bank shall be responsible for the management, control, and
administration of the split dollar life insurance plan established
herein.  The Named Fiduciary may allocate to others certain aspects of
the management and operational responsibilities of the split dollar life
insurance plan established herein, including the employment of advisors and the
delegation of any ministerial duties to qualified individuals.

    

    
      	
              XIII.

            	
              CLAIMS
      PROCEDURE

            

    

    

    The Named
Fiduciary hereby establishes a claims procedure, attached as Exhibit A hereto
and incorporated herein as if fully rewritten, which is consistent with the
requirements of section 503 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and the Executive or any Beneficiary claiming any
benefit under this Agreement must exhaust such claims procedure before
commencing action in any judicial or administrative forum.

    

    
      	
              XIV.

            	
              GOVERNING
      LAW

            

    

    

    The laws
(other than laws governing conflicts of laws) of the State of Ohio shall govern
this Agreement.

    

    
      	
              XV.

            	
              AMENDMENT
      OF AGREEMENT

            

    

    

    This
Agreement may be altered, amended, or modified only by a written agreement
signed by the Bank and the Executive.  It shall be the obligation of
the Bank to notify the Insurer of any amendments or changes to this
Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the Insurer is
replaced with another insurer, the Bank may, subject to applicable law, amend
the Agreement without the consent of the Executive so long as the Part Two Share
is not reduced and (ii) the Bank may amend the Agreement without the consent of
the Executive to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or
advisable for the purpose of conforming the Agreement to any present or future
law relating to agreements of this or similar nature (including, but not limited
to, Code section 409A), and to the administrative regulations and rulings
promulgated thereunder.

    

    
      	
              XVI.

            	
              INTERPRETATION
      OF AGREEMENT

            

    

    

    The Bank,
as the Named Fiduciary, shall have sole discretion to interpret each and all
provisions of this Agreement and to determine the eligibility of any person for
benefits under this Agreement.  All such determinations of the Bank
shall be binding on all persons concerned.  Where appropriate in this
Agreement, words used in the singular shall include the plural and words used in
the masculine shall include the feminine and vice versa.

    
      
         

      

      
        5

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    
      	
              XVII.

            	
              INSURER
      NOT A PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT

            

    

    

    The
Insurer shall not be deemed a party to this Agreement.  The Insurer
shall be fully discharged from its obligations under the Policy by payment of
the Policy death benefit to the beneficiary or beneficiaries named in the
Policy, subject to the terms and conditions of the Policy.  No
provision of this Agreement or any amendment or modification thereto shall in
any way be construed as enlarging, changing, varying, or in any other way
affecting the obligations of the Insurer except insofar as the provisions hereof
are made a part of the Policy by the beneficiary designation executed by the
Bank and filed with the Insurer in connection herewith.

     

    
      Executed
this _______ day of ____________________, _____.

    

    

    
      
        
          
            
              
                
                  
                    
                      	 
      	 
      	 
      	
                              First
      Financial Bank, N.A.

                            
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	
                              Witness:

                            	 	 	
                              By:

                            	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	
                              Name:

                            	
                              J.
      Franklin Hall

                            
	 
      	 
      	 
      	
                              Title:

                            	
                              Senior
      Vice President and Chief 

                              Financial
      Officer

                            
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	
                              «executive»

                            
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	
                              Witness:

                            	 
      	 
      	
                              Signed:

                            	 
      

                    

                  

                

              

            

          

        

      

    

     

    
      
         

      

      
        6

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    

    
      ENDORSEMENT
METHOD SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT

    

    
      SCHEDULE
A

    

     

    
      	
              Insurer:

            	
              Sun Life Assurance Company of
      Canada (US)

            

    

     

    
      	
              Policy
      Number:

            	
              On
  File

            

    

    

    
      	
              Bank:

            	
              First Financial Bank,
      N.A.  (Owner of
      Policy)

            

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              300
      High Street

            

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              Hamilton,
      OH  45011

            

    

     

    
      	
              Executive:

            	
              «executive»

            

    

     

    
      Relationship
of

    

    
      	
              Bank
      to Executive:

            	
              Employer

            

    

     

    
      
         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    
      ENDORSEMENT
METHOD SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT

    

    
      BENEFICIARY
DESIGNATION FORM

    

    

    Instructions:  The
Executive (hereafter, "you") should complete this form in order to direct the
Bank to designate your beneficiaries for purposes of the Endorsement Method
Split Dollar Agreement (the "Agreement").  If you designate more than
one primary beneficiary, please indicate below what percent of the policy
proceeds you want each surviving primary beneficiary to receive.  If
you designate more than one contingent beneficiary, please indicate what percent
of the policy proceeds you want each surviving contingent beneficiary to receive
if no primary beneficiary survives you.  If you designate more than
one beneficiary but you do not indicate what percent each one should receive,
the proceeds will be divided equally among each surviving primary beneficiary
(or equally among each surviving contingent beneficiary if no primary
beneficiary survives you).  Any percentages that you designate for
primary beneficiaries will be increased proportionately for surviving primary
beneficiaries if some primary beneficiaries die before you die and you do not
file a new form.  The same rule will apply to contingent beneficiaries
if no primary beneficiaries survive you.   When you die, the
proceeds will be distributed to the primary beneficiaries you designated who
survive you.  If no primary beneficiary survives you, the proceeds
will be distributed to the contingent beneficiaries you designated who survive
you.  If no designated primary or contingent beneficiary survives you,
the proceeds will be distributed according to the applicable terms of the
Agreement.

    

    
      Primary
Beneficiary:

    

    
      
        	
                Name: 

              	
                Relationship 

              	
                Percentage 

              
	
                ________________________________

              	
                ________________________

              	
                __________

              

      

    

    
      	
              ________________________________

            	
              ________________________

            	
              __________

            

    

    
      	
              ________________________________

            	
              ________________________

            	
              __________

            

    

    
      	
              ________________________________

            	
              ________________________

            	
              __________

            

    

     

    Contingent
Beneficiary:

    
      
        	
                Name 

              	
                Relationship 

              	
                Percentage 

              
	
                ________________________________

              	
                _________________________

              	
                __________

              

      

    

    
      
        	
                ________________________________

              	
                _________________________

              	
                __________

              

      

    

    
      	
              ________________________________

            	
              _________________________

            	
              __________

            

    

    
      	
              ________________________________

            	
              _________________________

            	
              __________

            

    

     

    I direct
the Bank to designate the person(s) or entity named above to be my
beneficiary(ies) for purposes of the Agreement.  I hereby revoke all
prior directions regarding designations of primary and contingent beneficiaries
for purposes of the Agreement.  I understand that this form applies
only if I properly complete it and file it with the Bank before my
death.  I reserve the right to revoke or change my beneficiary
designation directions by filing a new properly completed form with the Bank
before my death, which revocation or change shall be forwarded to the proper
parties or entities, subject to the terms of the Agreement.

    

    Name of
Executive:  «executive»

     

    
      
        	
                ____________________________________________

              	 
      	
                ____________________________

              
	
                Signature
      of Executive

              	 
      	
                Date

              

      

    

    

      
        
           

        

        
           

          
            

          

        

        
           

        

      

    

    

    EXHIBIT
A TO ENDORSEMENT METHOD SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT

    

    Benefit
Claims.

     

    [1]           Normally,
the Executive need not present a formal claim for plan benefits in order to
qualify for rights or benefits under this Agreement  (the
“Plan”).  If, however, any person is not granted the rights or
benefits to which the person believes himself or herself to be entitled, a
formal claim for benefits must be filed in accordance with this
section.  A claim by any person must be presented to the claims
official appointed by the Plan Committee — the members of the Plan Committee are
selected by the Bank from time to time and serve at the pleasure of the Bank —
in writing (or, if none is appointed, to the Plan Committee) within the maximum
time permitted by law or under regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Labor
or his or her delegate pertaining to claims procedures.  The claims
official will, within a reasonable time, and not later than the maximum period
of time specified by law or under regulation, consider the claim and will issue
his or her determination thereon in writing.  If the claim is granted,
the appropriate distribution or payment will be made.  Before deciding
the claim, the claims official will review the provisions of the Plan and other
relevant Plan documents, including similar claims, to ensure and verify that the
claim is made in accordance with those documents and that the decision is
applied consistently with regard to similarly situated claimants.

     

    [2]           If
the claim is wholly or partially denied, the claims official will, within a
reasonable period of time, and normally within 90 days of the receipt of such
claim, or if the claim is a claim on account of Disability (as defined under the
First Financial Bancorp Employees’ Pension Plan and Trust), within 45 days of
the receipt of such claim, provide the claimant with written notice of the
denial setting forth in a manner calculated to be understood by the
claimant:

     

    
      	
               
      

            	
              [a]

            	
              The
      specific reason or reasons for the
denial;

            

    

     

    [b]           Specific
references to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is
based;

     

    [c]           A
description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant
to perfect the claim and an explanation of why the material or information is
necessary;

     

    [d]           An
explanation of the Plan’s claim review procedure and the time limits applicable
to such procedures; and a statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil
action under ERISA section 502(a) following an adverse determination upon
review; and

     

    [e]           In
the case of an adverse determination of a claim on account of Disability, the
information to the claimant shall include, to the extent necessary, the
information set forth in Employee Benefits Security Administration Regulation
2560.503-1(g)(1)(V).

     

    
      
         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    If
special circumstances require the extension of the 45-day or 90-day period
described above, the claimant will be notified before the end of the initial
period of the circumstances requiring the extension and the date by which the
review official expects to reach a decision.  Any extension for
deciding a claim will not be for more than an additional 90-day period, or if
the claim is a claim on account of Disability, for not more than two additional
30-day periods.

     

    [3]           Each
claimant may appeal in writing the claims official’s denial of a claim to a
review official designated by the Plan Committee for a full and fair
review.  The claimant or his or her duly authorized representative
may:

     

    [a]           Request
a review by filing a written application with the review official;

     

    [b]           Review
and receive copies of pertinent documents; and

     

    [c]           Submit
issues and comments in writing.

     

    [4]           The
Plan Committee may establish time limits within which a claimant may request
review of a denied claim which are reasonable in relation to the nature of the
benefit which is the subject of the claim and other attendant circumstances but
which will not be less than 60 days (180 days in the case of a denial of a claim
on account of Disability) after receipt by the claimant of written notice of the
denial of his or her claim.

     

    [5]           The
decision by the review official upon review of a claim will be made normally not
later than 60 days (45 days in the case of a claim on account of Disability)
after his or her receipt of the request for review, unless special circumstances
require an extension of time for processing, in which case a decision will be
rendered as soon as possible, but not later than 120 days (90 days in the case
of a claim on account of Disability) after receipt of the request for
review.  This notice to the claimant will indicate the special
circumstances requiring the extension and the date by which the review official
expects to render a decision and will be provided to the claimant prior to the
expiration of the initial 45-day or 60-day period.

     

    [6]           The
decision on review will be in writing and will include specific reasons for the
decision written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, with
specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is
based.  The review official will consider all information submitted by
the claimant, regardless of whether the information was part of the original
claim.  The decision will also include a statement of the claimant’s
right to bring an action under ERISA section 502(a).

     

    In the
case of a claim on account of Disability:  (a) the review of the
denied claim shall be conducted by a named fiduciary who is neither the
individual who made the benefit determination nor a subordinate of such person;
and (b) no deference shall be given to the initial benefit
determination.  For issues involving medical judgment, the named
fiduciary must consult with an independent health care professional who may not
be the health care professional who decided the initial claim.

     

    [7]           To
the extent permitted by law, the decision of the claims official (if no review
is properly requested) or the decision of the review official on review, as the
case may be, will be final and binding on all parties.  No legal
action for benefits under the Plan will be brought unless and until the claimant
has exhausted his or her remedies under this section.

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