Company: FRME
Filing Date: 2025-06-20
Form Type: 11-K
Source: 0000712534-25-000132
Chunk: 0

Company: FIRST MERCHANTS CORP
Filing Date: 2025-06-20
Form: 11-K
Chunk 0
---
#### FORM 11-K

### SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

#### WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
<div align='center'>___________________

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</div>

#### For the fiscal ended December 31, 2024
<div align='center'>OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 001-41342</div>

| A.Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the Issuer named below: |

#### First Merchants Corporation

#### Retirement Income and Savings Plan
| B.    Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal office: |

#### First Merchants Corporation

#### 200 East Jackson Street

#### Muncie, Indiana 47305

#### First Merchants Corporation

#### Retirement Income and Savings Plan
<div align='center'>EIN 35-1544218 PN 002

Independent Auditor's Report and Financial Statements

December 31, 2024 and 2023</div>

#### First Merchants Corporation

#### Retirement Income and Savings Plan

#### December 31, 2024 and 2023

#### Table of Contents
| Section                                                                                |     | Page No. |
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm                                |     |        1 |
| Financial Statements                                                                   |     |          |
| Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits                                        |     |        3 |
| Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits                             |     |        4 |
| Notes to Financial Statements                                                          |     |        5 |
| SupplementalSchedules                                                                  |     |          |
| Schedule H, Line 4a - Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions                 |     |       16 |
| Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2024 |     |       17 |
| Exhibit Index                                                                          |     |       18 |
| Signatures                                                                             |     |       19 |

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Plan Administrator, Plan Participants, Audit Committee and

Employee Benefits Administrative Committee

First Merchants Corporation Retirement Income and Savings Plan

Muncie, Indiana