<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001652712</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000708955</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>First Financial Bancorp</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-34762</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>255 East Fifth Street, Suite 900</com:street1>
        <com:city>Cincinnati</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>OH</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>45202</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>877-322-9530</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Richard Dennen</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Merrill</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>8890 Lyra Dr 5th Flr</com:street1>
          <com:city>Columbus</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>OH</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>43240</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>20000</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>603950.56</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>98529694</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>02/04/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/05/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2934</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/05/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>NA</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/06/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2061</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/06/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>na</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>04/30/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>3725</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>04/30/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>na</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/01/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1129</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/01/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>na</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/05/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>3747</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/05/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>na</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/05/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>6404</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/05/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>na</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>02/04/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>Richard Dennen</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
