UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Banner Central Finance Company
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
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(Title of Class of Securities)
06652W107
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(CUSIP Number)
December 31, 2001
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
This Schedule is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b).
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
[Continued on the following pages]
Page 1 of 4 Pages
Page 2 of 4 Pages CUSIP #: 06652W107
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1. Name of Reporting Person:
(I.R.S. Identification No. of above person):
First Financial Fund, Inc.
13-3341573
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2. Check the appropriate box if a member of a group:
(a) ( )
(b) ( )
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3. SEC use only:
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4. Citizenship or Place of Organization:
Maryland
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5. Sole Voting Power
574,200
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Number of shares 6. Shared Voting Power
beneficially owned by 0
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7. Sole Dispositive Power
each Reporting Person with
0
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8. Shared Dispositive Power
574,200
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9. Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person:
574,200
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10. Check if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares:
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11. Percent of class represented by amount in row (9):
7.74%
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12. Type of Reporting Person:
IV
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Page 3 of 4 Pages CUSIP #: 06652W107
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SCHEDULE 13G
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Item 1(a): Name of Issuer:
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Banner Central Finance Company
Item 1(b): Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
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5480 East Ferguson Drive
Commerce, California 90022
Item 2(a): Name of Person Filing:
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First Financial Fund, Inc.
Item 2(b): Address of Principal Business Office:
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Gateway Center Three
100 Mulberry Street, 9th Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102-7503
Item 2(c): Citizenship:
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Maryland
Item 2(d): Title of Class of Securities:
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Common Stock
Item 2(e): CUSIP Number:
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320228109
Item 3: Type of Person Filing Pursuant to Secs. 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b)
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or (c):
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An investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8)
Item 4: Ownership:
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(a) AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED: First Financial Fund, Inc., a
registered closed-end investment company, may be deemed the
beneficial owner of 574,200 shares of common stock of the
Issuer.
(b) PERCENT OF CLASS: 7.74%
(c) VOTING AND DISPOTIVE POWER: First Financial Fund, Inc. has
sole power to vote or to direct the vote and shared power
to dispose or to direct the disposition of 574,200 shares
of common stock of the Issuer. First Financial Fund, Inc.
has shared power to vote or to direct the vote and sole
power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 0 shares
of common stock of the Issuer.
Page 4 of 4 Pages CUSIP #: 06652W107
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SCHEDULE 13G
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Item 5: Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
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Not Applicable
Item 6: Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:
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Not Applicable
Item 7: Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired
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the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company:
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Not Applicable
Item 8: Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:
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Not Applicable
Item 9: Notice of Dissolution of Group:
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Not Applicable
Item 10: Certification:
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By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge
and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are
held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are
not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or
influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not
acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in
any transaction having that purpose or effect.
Signature:
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After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is
true, complete, and correct.
Date: February 11, 2002
Signature: /s/Arthur J. Brown
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Name/Title: Arthur J. Brown
Secretary