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                                                                   Exhibit 10.30
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------

         THIS AGREEMENT is effective this 17th day of April, 2002 by and between
FirstMerit Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates ("FirstMerit") and Sid
A. Bostic ("Bostic").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         A.       WHEREAS, Bostic has been serving as President and Chief
                  Operating Officer of FirstMerit, Corporation; and

         B.       WHEREAS, FirstMerit and Bostic desire to enter into a
                  relationship whereby Bostic will remain employed by FirstMerit
                  under the terms of this Agreement.

         C.       WHEREAS, as a condition of continued employment, FirstMerit
                  has required that Bostic agree to refrain from competing with
                  FirstMerit or disseminating or improperly using confidential
                  information of FirstMerit and Bostic is willing to make such a
                  commitment, in accordance with the provisions of this
                  Agreement.

         D.       WHEREAS, FirstMerit and Bostic desire to enter into this
                  Agreement to provide for the continuation of Bostic's services
                  to FirstMerit for a term certain as Executive Consultant.


         IN CONSIDERATION of the foregoing, the mutual covenants contained
herein and other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

         1.       EMPLOYMENT DUTIES

         During the term of this Agreement, Bostic shall serve as an executive
consultant to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Board of
Directors. Bostic will be responsible for providing vision and creativity for
FirstMerit and will provide leadership in developing and implementing certain
programs. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors
shall, from time to time and subject to modification at any time and at its sole
discretion, hereafter assign such responsibilities and duties as they may deem
appropriate. Bostic shall faithfully, diligently, competently, and to the best
of his ability, carry out those responsibilities and duties as assigned from
time to time by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of
FirstMerit.

         2.       TERM OF AGREEMENT

         The term of this Agreement shall commence April 17, 2002, and shall
continue until January 31, 2004, unless such term is earlier terminated as
hereinafter provided. Bostic and FirstMerit agree that Bostic's retirement shall
become effective on February 1, 2004.










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         3.       COMPENSATION

         During the term of this Agreement, FirstMerit shall pay Bostic for his
services the sum of Seventeen Thousand Four Hundred Thirty-seven Dollars and
Fifty Cents ($17,437.50) paid semimonthly. The semimonthly amount to be paid
hereunder shall be paid in accordance with FirstMerit's policies and shall be
paid net of amounts withheld for federal, state or local income taxes, FICA, and
such other applicable amounts as may be required to be paid during the term of
this Agreement.

         Bostic shall not be eligible to participate in the bonus or other
incentive compensation plan or programs, and stock option grants, plans or
programs, offered or instituted by FirstMerit during the term of this Agreement.

         4.       TERMINATION UPON COMPLETION OF TERM

         Bostic shall serve FirstMerit as Executive Consultant until January 31,
2004, unless this Agreement is earlier terminated in accordance with Section 6.
At the completion of this term or upon termination in accordance with Section 6,
Bostic agrees that his employment with FirstMerit will terminate.

         5.       EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

         During the term of this Agreement, Bostic shall be eligible to
participate in the following employee benefits from FirstMerit as applicable:

                  (a) Bostic shall continue to participate in such retirement,
         medical, and other employee benefit plans as may be maintained by
         FirstMerit during the term of this Agreement including, without
         limitation, the Pension Plan for Employees of FirstMerit Corporation
         and Subsidiaries, the FirstMerit Corporation Executive Supplemental
         Retirement Plan, the FirstMerit Unfunded Supplemental Benefit Plan
         (effective as of January 1, 1984), the FirstMerit Corporation and
         Subsidiaries Employees Salary Savings Retirement Plan, and the Amended
         and Restated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, according to the
         terms of such plans, as amended from time to time, and on the same
         basis as other full-time, salaried employees of FirstMerit who are
         participating in such plans; except that Bostic shall not be eligible
         to participate in FirstMerit's Long Term Disability Insurance Pan and
         that Bostic's participation in the FirstMerit Corporation Executive
         Supplemental Retirement Plan shall be subject to the terms of the
         Amended and Restated Membership Agreement with respect to the
         FirstMerit Corporation Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan, dated
         February 1, 2001, between FirstMerit and Bostic.

                  (b) If Bostic elects to continue as a participant in the
         Executive Life Insurance Program, FirstMerit will, until such time as
         the premium obligations have been fulfilled, continue payment of the
         premium on Bostic's life insurance plus an additional amount equal to
         forty percent (40%) of the premium, which policy shall provide life
         insurance in the amount of $750,000.00 on the life of Bostic. Bostic
         shall be personally obligated to


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         pay any and all taxes associated with this life insurance benefit.

                  (c) During the term of this Agreement, Bostic shall be
         reimbursed for the cost of preparation of his personal income tax
         returns up to $750.00 per year in accordance with the income tax
         preparation reimbursement program available to senior officers of
         FirstMerit.

                  (d) During the term of this Agreement and so long as Bostic
         owns his current Ohio residence, FirstMerit will pay all membership
         dues and special assessments, and any sales taxes assessed or payable
         with respect to such dues or assessments, incurred in connection with
         Bostic's membership in Barrington Country Club. In addition, FirstMerit
         will reimburse Bostic for reasonable business expenses incurred by him
         directly relating to his duties and responsibilities as assigned from
         time to time by the Board of Directors. Such expenses shall be
         submitted for approval and reimbursement in accordance with the
         procedures and policies of FirstMerit. Upon the sale of Bostic's
         current Ohio residence all payments relating to Bostic's membership at
         Barrington Country Club will cease.

                  (e) Any unexercised and outstanding stock options will vest
         and will be exercisable in accordance with the terms of the stock
         option agreements between FirstMerit and Bostic, dated February 2,
         1998, February 8, 1999, February 17, 2000 and January 18, 2001,
         respectively, as amended. Restrictions on the shares of restricted
         stock granted to Bostic pursuant to the Restricted Stock Agreement,
         dated February 1, 1998, as amended, will lapse in accordance with the
         terms of such agreement.

                  (f) The Employment Agreement between and among FirstMerit
         Corporation, FirstMerit Bank, N.A. and Bostic, dated February 1, 2001
         and the Amended and Restated Change of Control Termination Agreement
         between FirstMerit Corporation and Bostic, dated February 1, 2001 shall
         become null, invalid and of no force or effect on April 17, 2002.

                  (g) Other than the compensation and benefits provided under
         this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreements and Restricted Stock
         Award Agreement described in Subparagraph (e) above, Bostic
         acknowledges and agrees that he is not entitled to any other
         compensation or remuneration pursuant to the employment relationship,
         policies, or practices. Further, Bostic acknowledges and agrees that he
         is not entitled to any severance pay under the terms of any FirstMerit
         agreement, policy, practice, or plan.

         6.       TERMINATION

                  (a) FirstMerit may terminate the employment of Bostic under
         the Agreement without notice for Just Cause. Notwithstanding anything
         to the contrary contained herein, it shall be considered Just Cause to
         terminate the Bostic's employment upon the happening of any of the
         following:

                           1.       The retirement or death of the Bostic;







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                           2.       Felonious criminal activity whether or not
                                    affecting the Employer;


                           3.       Disclosure to unauthorized persons of
                                    Employer information which is considered by
                                    FirstMerit to be confidential;

                           4.       Breach of any contract with, or violation of
                                    any legal obligation to, the FirstMerit or
                                    dishonesty; or

                           5.       Gross negligence or insubordination in the
                                    performance of duties of the position held
                                    by the Employee.

         In the event of termination by the FirstMerit for Just Cause, the
Bostic shall not be entitled to receive salary or other benefits beyond the date
of termination.

                  (b) Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to this
         paragraphs 2 or 6, the obligations of each of the parties hereunder
         shall expire as of the date of such termination, including, without
         limitation, the obligations of FirstMerit to pay any compensation to
         Bostic.

7.       COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE AND NON-SOLICITATION.

                  a.       During the term of this Agreement and for a period of
                           two (2) years thereafter, Bostic shall not, on his
                           own behalf or with others, directly or indirectly, as
                           a shareholder, partner, director, officer, employee,
                           agent or otherwise, manage, operate, control, own,
                           provide services to, participate in, consult with or
                           be connected in manner with any corporation,
                           partnership, proprietorship or other business entity
                           that engages in any business activity in which
                           FirstMerit is now engaged or otherwise provides
                           banking, financial or related services in locations
                           identified in Section 7, "Geographic Region".
                           Further, Bostic is prohibited from engaging in the
                           above activities for entities located outside of the
                           Geographic Region, if that entity conducts business
                           within the Geographic Region.

                  b.       Bostic hereby further agrees and covenants that
                           during the aforementioned period, he shall not,
                           directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or with
                           others (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee
                           of FirstMerit to leave the employ of FirstMerit, or
                           in any way interfere with the relationship between
                           FirstMerit and any employee, (ii) knowingly hire any
                           such employee of FirstMerit, or (iii) induce or
                           attempt to induce any referral source, customer, or
                           other business relation of FirstMerit not to do
                           business with FirstMerit, or to cease doing business
                           with FirstMerit, or in any way interfere with the
                           relationship between any such referral source,
                           customer, or business relation and FirstMerit.




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         8.       GEOGRAPHIC REGION.

         As for FirstMerit's banking and financial business, the Covenant Not to
Compete and Non-Solicitation provisions contained in Section 7 of this Agreement
shall be in force and binding upon Bostic in all counties in the state of Ohio
in which FirstMerit currently has offices, and in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.
("Geographic Region").

         9.       TRADE SECRETS AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

         Bostic acknowledges that, as Chief Operation Officer of FirstMerit
Corporation, he has had extensive access to and has acquired various
confidential information relating to the Business, including, but not limited
to, financial and business records, customer lists and records, business plans,
corporate strategies, information disclosed or discussed during any exit
conference, employee information, wage information, and related information and
other confidential information (collectively, the "Confidential Information").
Bostic agrees that the Confidential Information is and will be of special and
unique value to FirstMerit. Bostic further acknowledges and covenants that, at
all times, the Confidential Information is the sole property of FirstMerit and
will constitute trade secrets and confidential information of FirstMerit, and
that his knowledge of the Confidential Information will enable him to compete
with FirstMerit in a manner likely to cause FirstMerit irreparable harm upon the
use or disclosure of such matters. Therefore, Bostic hereby irrevocably
covenants that he shall not, at any time after the date of this Agreement, use
or disclose to any third party, directly or indirectly, any of the Confidential
Information, except as permitted by this Agreement. This paragraph shall not be
limited by the time periods contained in Section 7 of this Agreement. Excluded
from the definition of Confidential Information is (a) information which is
publicly available, other than as a result of actions by Bostic in breach of
this Agreement; and (b) information which is disclosed by FirstMerit to third
parties on a non-confidential basis.

         10.      ASSIGNMENT

         This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their
respective heirs, personal representatives, executors, administrators and
successors; provided, however, that no assignment or transfer of this Agreement
by Bostic, including assignment or transfer by operation of law, shall be valid
without the prior written consent of FirstMerit. FirstMerit may freely assign
this Agreement without Bostic's consent.

         11.      GOVERNING LAW

         This Agreement shall be construed under and governed by the internal
laws of the State of Ohio and properly venued in Summit County, Ohio. In the
event that any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be void or
unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, this Agreement shall not be
rendered null and void thereby but shall be construed and enforced as if such
void or unenforceable provision was not originally a part of this Agreement.

         12.      ENTIRE AGREEMENT




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         This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties herein
with regard to the employment of Bostic and any oral or written statements,
representations, agreements or understandings made or entered into prior to or
contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, are hereby rescinded,
revoked and rendered null and void by the parties.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed this 17th day of April, 2002.


Witnesses:                          FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION


                                    By:      /s/ John R. Cochran
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                             John R. Cochran
                                             Chairman and CEO



                                    /s/  Sid A. Bostic
                                    -------------------------------------------
                                    Sid A. Bostic















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