Company: FRME
Filing Date: 2025-11-14
Form Type: 425
Source: 0000712534-25-000202
Chunk: 0

Company: FIRST MERCHANTS CORP
Filing Date: 2025-11-14
Form: 425
Chunk 0
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### UNITED STATES

### SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

#### Washington, DC 20549

#### FORM 8-K
<div align='center'>CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported): November 14, 2025</div>

### FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
<div align='center'>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</div>

| Indiana                                        |     |                                  |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |     |                                  |
| 001-41342                                      |     | 35-1544218                       |
| (Commission File Number)                       |     | -IRS Employer Identification No. |

#### 200 East Jackson Street

#### P.O. Box 792

#### Muncie, IN 47305-2814
<div align='center'>(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(765) 747-1500

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)</div>

#### Not Applicable
<div align='center'>(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)</div>

| Title of Each Class                                                                                                      |     | Trading Symbol(s) |     | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock, $0.125 stated value per share                                                                              |     | FRME              |     | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC               |
| Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/100th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A |     | FRMEP             |     | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC               |

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☒ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the