UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                         ------------------------------

         DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported): June 21, 2006

                         ------------------------------

                           FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                         -------------------------------

         INDIANA                     0-17071                     35-1544218
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission file number)        (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                                       Identification No.)

                             200 East Jackson Street
                                  P.O. Box 792
                              Muncie, IN 47305-2814
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

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

                                  Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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))

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ITEM 5.02  DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR PRINCIPAL OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS;
APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS.

           By  press release dated  June 21, 2006,  First  Merchants Corporation
("Corporation")  announced  that Michael L. Cox,  President and Chief  Executive
Officer,   has  returned  from  a  temporary  medical  leave  of  absence.   The
Corporation's Board of Directors had appointed Michael C. Rechin, Executive Vice
President  and  Chief   Operating   Officer,   to  perform  the  duties  of  the
Corporation's  President and Chief Executive  Officer during Mr. Cox's absence.

ITEM 9.01  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(a)        Not applicable.

(b)        Not applicable.

(c)        Exhibits.

           Exhibit 99.1      Press Release, dated June 21, 2006, regarding the
                             matter referenced in Item 5.02.

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<PAGE>

                                   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.

                                 First Merchants Corporation
                                        (Registrant)

                                 By:  /s/  Mark K. Hardwick
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                           Mark K. Hardwick
                                           Executive Vice President and
                                           Chief Financial Officer
                                           (Principal Financial and
                                           Principal Accounting Officer)


Dated: June 21, 2006


                                  Page 3 of 5
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                                 -------------

Exhibit No.
-----------
    99.1                Description
                        -----------
                        Press Release, dated June 21, 2006, regarding the
                        matter referenced in Item 5.02.


                                  Page 4 of 5
<PAGE>
                          First Merchants Corporation

                                 Exhibit No. 99.1

                       Press Release, dated June 21, 2006

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

June 21, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Mark K. Hardwick, Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, 765-751-1857
http://firstmerchants.com

SOURCE: First Merchants Corporation, Muncie, Indiana

FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION ANNOUNCES CEO RETURNS FROM TEMPORARY MEDICAL LEAVE

First Merchants  Corporation  announced  today that Michael L.  Cox has returned
from his temporary medical leave of absence and has resumed his normal duties as
President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of the  Corporation.   During Mr. Cox's
absence,  Michael  C.  Rechin,  Executive  Vice  President  and Chief  Operating
Officer, performed the President and CEO duties.  Mr. Cox stated, "I am happy to
be back at work  and am  grateful  to Mr.  Rechin  for  taking  on  these  extra
responsibilities while I was on leave."

Forward Looking Statement

In our press releases, we may make Forward Looking Statements about our relative
business  outlook.  These Forward Looking  Statements and all other  statements,
made in our communications  that do not concern historical facts, are subject to
risks and uncertainties that may materially affect actual results.

Specific  Forward  Looking  Statements  include  but  are  not  limited  to  any
indications  regarding the financial services  industry,  the economy and future
growth of the Corporation's balance sheet or income statement.

About First Merchants Corporation

First  Merchants  Corporation is a financial  holding company  headquartered  in
Muncie,  Indiana.  Subsidiaries of the Corporation include First Merchants Bank,
NA, Madison  Community Bank,  United  Communities  National Bank, First National
Bank, Decatur Bank & Trust Company,  Frances Slocum Bank, Lafayette Bank & Trust
Company,   Commerce  National  Bank  and  First  Merchants  Trust  Company.  The
Corporation  also operates First Merchants  Insurance  Services,  a full-service
property  casualty,  personal lines,  and healthcare  insurance  agency and is a
majority  member of Indiana  Title  Insurance  Company,  LLC, a title  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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