Company: FRME
Filing Date: 2025-10-22
Form Type: 425
Source: 0000712534-25-000193
Chunk: 2

Company: FIRST MERCHANTS CORP
Filing Date: 2025-10-22
Form: 425
Chunk 2
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 Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

|                         |     | First Merchants Corporation                       |
|                         |     | -Registrant                                       |
|                         |     | By:/s/ Michele M. Kawiecki                        
 Michele M. Kawiecki                               
 Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer 
 (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)      |
| Dated: October 22, 2025 |     |                                                   |

<div align='center'>EXHIBIT INDEX</div>

| Exhibit No. 
 99.1        
 99.2        |     | Description                                                                                                       
 Press Release, datedOctober 22, 2025 issued by First Merchants Corporation                                        
 Slide Presentation, utilized onOctober 23, 2025 during conference call and webcast by First Merchants Corporation |
|:------------|:----|:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 104         |     | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)                                       |