First Merchants Corporation
 | |
| Public | |
| Traded as | NASDAQ: FRME |
| Founded | 1982 (First Merchants Corporation) |
| Headquarters | Muncie, Indiana, USA |
Key people | Michael Rechin, President & CEO |
| Products | Banking, Insurance, Trust |
| Total assets |
 $5.6 billion USD (2014) |
Number of employees | 1,400 (2013) |
| Slogan | The Strength of Big, The Service of Small |
| Website | https://www.firstmerchants.com |
First Merchants Corporation (Nasdaq: FRME) is the largest financial holding company based in Central Indiana. [1] Since its organization in 1982, the Corporation has grown to include banks with 107 locations in 26 Indiana, 2 Ohio, and 2 Illinois counties, a trust company, and a multi-line insurance company. As of September 30, 2014 total asset size of First Merchants Corporation was $5.6 billion. Bank divisions within the corporation include:
- First Merchants Bank N.A., in Adams, Brown, Delaware, Fayette, Hamilton, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Jay, Johnson, Lake, Madison, Miami, Morgan, Porter, Randolph, Shelby, Union, Wabash, and Wayne counties in Indiana; Butler and Franklin counties in Ohio; and Cook, and DuPage counties in Illinois
- Lafayette Bank and Trust Company, A Division of First Merchants Bank N.A., in Carroll, Clinton, Jasper, Montgomery, Tippecanoe and White counties
- Commerce National Bank, A Division of First Merchants Bank N.A., in Franklin County, Ohio
- First Merchants Trust Company, A Division of First Merchants Bank, N.A., represents one of the largest trust companies in the state of Indiana.
- First Merchants Insurance Group, a full-service property, casualty, personal lines, and health care insurer.
History
First Merchants Bank was originally known as the Merchants National Bank of Muncie, Indiana and it was organized during the Panic of 1893 by a group of service-minded businessmen who recognized a need in their community and acted to fulfill that need.[2] Spearheaded by Hardin Roads, a former successful wholesale grocer, the enterprising men invested capital of $100,000. This was the only time it was necessary to raise capital through outside sources.