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): November 3, 2005
______________________________
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)
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))
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of
Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.
(c) On November 3, 2005, the Corporation appointed Michael C.
Rechin to serve as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr.
Rechin has served as the Executive Vice President of Corporate Banking for
National City Bank for the past five (5) years. A copy of the Corporation's
press release, dated November 4, 2005, announcing the appointment of Mr. Rechin
is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) (99.1) Press Release dated November 4, 2005.
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: November 4, 2005
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
By: /s/ Mark K. Hardwick
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Mark K. Hardwick,
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
99.1 Press Release dated November 4, 2005
Exhibit 99.1
N / E / W / S R / E / L / E / A / S / E
November 4, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Andrew Weixler, 765-747-1360
BANKING VETERAN TO JOIN FIRST MERCHANTS AS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Muncie, Indiana - November 4, 2005 - First Merchants Corporation announced today
that Michael C. Rechin will be joining the company as Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer.
Rechin most recently was Executive Vice President of Corporate Banking for
National City Bank, managing its Indiana operations. He began his career with
BancOhio National Bank in Columbus, Ohio, in 1983 as a corporate banking trainee
and joined National City upon the acquisition of BancOhio in 1984. He held
various positions in the multi-national and metro-Ohio commercial banking areas
of National City before assuming his current post in Indianapolis in 1995.
During his tenure with National City, Rechin has had responsibility for all
commercial banking activities involving commercial lending, treasury management,
investment real estate, and international divisions.
Rechin is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio with a Bachelors degree in
English and an MBA in finance. He has completed numerous banking schools during
his career with BancOhio and National City.
As an active leader in the Indianapolis community, Rechin is a director of the
United Way of Central Indiana, Arts Council of Indianapolis, and Lynx Capital
Corporation. He previously served as a director of St. Vincent Hospital
Foundation, the Indy Partnership, a member of Junior Achievement of Indianapolis
Board, and as co-chairman of the American Heart Association Heart Walk.
First Merchants Chief Executive, Michael L. Cox, stated, "we are very excited to
have a person of Mike's caliber and capabilities join our senior management
team."
About First Merchants Corporation
First Merchants Corporation (Nasdaq: FRME) is a $3.2 billion financial holding
company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. Since its organization in 1982, the
Corporation has grown to include nine affiliate banks with over 70 locations in
17 Indiana and three Ohio counties, a trust company, a multi-line insurance
company, and a title company. Bank subsidiaries of the Corporation include:
* First Merchants Bank in Delaware and Hamilton counties
* Madison Community Bank in Madison County
* First United Bank in Henry County
* United Communities National Bank (UCNB) in Randolph, Union, Fayette, Wayne,
and Butler (OH) counties
* First National Bank in Jay County
* Decatur Bank & Trust Company in Adams County
* Frances Slocum Bank in Wabash, Howard, and Miami counties
* Lafayette Bank and Trust Company in Tippecanoe, Carroll, Jasper, and White
counties
* Commerce National Bank in Franklin and Hamilton counties in Ohio
The Corporation also operates First Merchants Insurance Services, a full-service
property, casualty, personal lines, and health care insurer, and is the majority
owner of the Indiana Title Insurance Company LLC. Merchants Trust Company unites
the trust and asset management services of all affiliate banks of the
Corporation and represents one of the largest trust companies in the State of
Indiana, with assets in excess of $1.5 billion.
For more information, visit www.firstmerchants.com.
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