UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

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FORM 8-K

 

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CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 25, 2009

 

FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

INDIANA

 

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

|                        0-17071 | 35-1544218 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|

|   | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
|--------|--------------------------|-----------------------------------|

 

200 East Jackson Street

P.O. Box 792

| Muncie, Indiana | 47305-2814 |
|-----------------|------------|

|   | (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
|--------|------------------------------------------|------------|

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (765) 747-1500

 

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: 

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

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

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

 

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

 

Item 8.01.       Other Events. As of the close of business on September 25, 2009, First Merchants Corporation completed the consolidation of certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Through the consolidation, First Merchants Bank of Central Indiana, National Association, Lafayette Bank            and Trust Company, National Association and Commerce National Bank were merged with and into First Merchants Bank, National Association. A copy of the Corporation’s press release, dated September 28, 2009, announcing the consolidation is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

 

| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
|------------|------------------------------------|

 

|   | (d) | (99.1) Press Release dated September 28, 2009. |
|--------|-----|------------------------------------------------|

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

|   | DATE: September 28, 2009. |
|--------|---------------------------|

 

|   | FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION |
|--------|-----------------------------|

 

 

|   | By: /s/ Mark K. Hardwick |
|--------|--------------------------|

|   | Mark K. Hardwick, |
|--------|-------------------|

|   | Executive Vice President and |
|--------|------------------------------|

|   | Chief Financial Officer |
|--------|-------------------------|

 

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

(99.1) Press Release dated September 28, 2009.

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**EXHIBIT 99.1**

 

**Press Release dated September 28, 2009**

 

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**N/E/W/S R/E/L/E/A/S/E**

 

September 28, 2009

 

For further information, contact:

| Mark Hardwick, Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer | 765-751-1857 |
|---------------------------------------------------------|--------------|

 

 

**First Merchants Bank Charter Consolidation Complete**

(Muncie, Ind., September 28, 2009) First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ: FRME) announced that it has received approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and has completed the merger of three of it’s subsidiary banks and charters into the corporation’s single remaining full-service bank charter, First Merchants Bank, N.A., effective at the close of business on Friday, September 25,            2009.

 

Michael C. Rechin, Chief Executive Officer stated, “This is a positive step forward focused on improved performance that will take advantage of a stronger brand presence and increased efficiencies. Management is committed to our model of local banking focused on local customers in our community markets, providing exceptional service by developing comprehensive financial relationships. Our company is strong,            well capitalized and focused on the acceleration of our strategic plan through growth and profitability.”

 

**About First Merchants Corporation**

 

First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. Subsidiaries of the Corporation include First Merchants Bank, N.A. and First Merchants Trust Company, N.A. The Corporation also operates First Merchants Insurance Services, a full-service property casualty, personal lines, and healthcare insurance agency.

 

First Merchants Corporation's common stock is traded over-the-counter on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol FRME. Quotations are carried in daily newspapers and can be found on the company's Internet web page (http://www.firstmerchants.com).

 

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