EXHIBIT 31.1

|1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of *MutualFirst*Financial, Inc.;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
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|2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;                             
|3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report,
fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;                                                
|4. | The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control
over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and
have:
|   | a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|   | b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|   | c)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|   | d)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|5. | The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of
internal control over financial reporting to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's
board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):                                          
|   | a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|   | b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

|Date: March 16, 2006 |  | By: | /s/ David W. HeeterDavid W. HeeterPresident and Chief Executive Officer
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