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: April 12, 2002

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

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

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


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

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

                                 (317) 747-1500
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                Page 1 of 3 Pages
                             Exhibit Index on Page 4
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Items 1-4. Not Applicable.

Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.

     On April 12, 2002,  First Merchants  Corporation  (the "Company") and First
Merchants  Capital Trust I (the "Trust") entered into an Underwriting  Agreement
with Stifel,  Nicolaus & Company,  Incorporated  and RBC Dain  Rauscher Inc. for
themselves  and as  co-representatives  of the  several  underwriters  named  in
Schedule  I  thereto  (the  "Underwriting  Agreement").  On April  17,  2002 and
pursuant  to the  Underwriting  Agreement,  the  Trust  issued  1,850,000  8.75%
Cumulative  Trust  Preferred  Securities  (liquidation  amount $25 per Preferred
Security) (the "Preferred  Securities")  with an aggregate  liquidation value of
$46,250,000.  The  proceeds  from  the  sale of the  Preferred  Securities  were
invested by the Trust in the Company's 8.75% Junior Subordinated  Debentures due
June  30,  2032  (the  "Debentures").  The  proceeds  from the  issuance  of the
Debentures  will  be  used  by the  Company  to  fund  a  portion  of  the  cash
consideration payable to the shareholders of Lafayette Bancorporation as part of
the Company's April 1, 2002 acquisition of Lafayette Bank and Trust Company.

Item 6. Not Applicable.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (a)  Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

               Not Applicable

     (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information.

               Not Applicable

     (c)  Exhibits.

          1.1  Underwriting Agreement dated April 12, 2002

          4.1  Certificate  of Trust of First  Merchants  Capital  Trust I dated
               December 12, 2001

          4.2  Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First  Merchants  Capital
               Trust I dated April 17, 2002

          4.3  Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities dated April 17, 2002

          4.4  Cumulative Trust Preferred Security Certificate

          4.5  Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement dated April 17, 2002

          4.6  Indenture dated April 17, 2002

          4.7  First Supplemental Indenture dated April 17, 2002

          4.8  8.75% Junior Subordinated Debenture due June 30, 2032

Items 8 and 9. Not Applicable.


                                Page 2 of 3 Pages
                             Exhibit Index on Page 4
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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: April 19, 2002.

                                      FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION


                                      By:  /s/ Larry R. Helms
                                           -------------------------
                                           Larry R. Helms,
                                           Senior Vice President and
                                           General Counsel


                                Page 3 of 3 Pages
                             Exhibit Index on Page 4
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

1.1  Underwriting Agreement dated April 12, 2002
4.1  Certificate of Trust of First Merchants  Capital Trust I dated December 12,
     2001
4.2  Amended and Restated  Trust  Agreement of First  Merchants  Capital Trust I
     dated April 17, 2002
4.3  Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities dated April 17, 2002
4.4  Cumulative Trust Preferred Security Certificate
4.5  Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement dated April 17, 2002
4.6  Indenture dated April 17, 2002
4.7  First Supplemental Indenture dated April 17, 2002
4.8  8.75% Junior Subordinated Debenture due June 30, 2032