UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K



                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 23, 2004
                                                        (February 17, 2004)



                           FIRST BANCTRUST CORPORATION
       ------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)





          DELAWARE                       000-32535               37-1406661
 State or other jurisdiction            (Commission            (IRS Employer
       of Incorporation                 File Number)        Identification No.)



                    206 SOUTH CENTRAL AVENUE, PARIS, IL 61944
                    -----------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (217) 465-6381
                                 --------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

        (a)      Exhibits.

                 Exhibit Number

                 99.1      Press Release, dated February 17, 2004 issued
                           by First BancTrust Corporation

ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION).

         The following information, including the Exhibit attached hereto, shall
         not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934.

         On February 17, 2004, First BancTrust Corporation issued a news release
         to report its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2003.
         The release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.



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                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                                FIRST BANCTRUST CORPORATION



Dated:  February 18, 2004                       /s/Terry J. Howard
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Terry J. Howard
                                                President and Chief Executive
                                                Officer



Dated:  February 18, 2004                       /s/Ellen M. Litteral
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Ellen M. Litteral
                                                Chief Financial Officer and
                                                Treasurer



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number

    99.1          Press Release, dated February 17, 2004 issued by First
                  BancTrust Corporation



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