FORM 8-K

                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, DC 20549

                              CURRENT REPORT

                  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

                      SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                         _________________________

                      DATE OF REPORT: August 9, 1995

                         _________________________

                        FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
          (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                         _________________________

        INDIANA                      0-17071                   35-1544218
(State of Incorporation)          (SEC File No.)          (IRS Employer ID No.)

                          200 East Jackson Street
                               P. O. Box 792
                          Muncie, IN   47305-2814
                 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                              (317) 747-1500
                      (Registrant's Telephone Number)



ITEMS 1-4.   Not Applicable

ITEM 5.      OTHER EVENTS.

     On August 8, 1995, the Board of Directors of First Merchants Corporation
declared a three-for-two split of its shares of outstanding common stock.
Shareholders of record on October 20, 1995, are entitled to participate in
the split. The date of delivery for shares to be issued pursuant to the split
is October 27, 1995.

     Fractional shares will not be issued in connection with the stock split.
In lieu of issuing fractional shares, the Company shall pay each shareholder
otherwise entitled to a fractional share an amount in cash equal to the
fraction of the average of the highest "bid" and the lowest "offered"
quotations for a share on October 20, 1995 the record date, as reported by
the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System.

ITEM 6.     Not Applicable

ITEM 7.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

            (a)   Not Applicable.

            (b)   Not Applicable.

            (c)   (99) Press Release dated August 9, 1995

ITEM 8.     Not Applicable.



                                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: August 11, 1995

                              FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION


                              /s/ Larry R. Helms
                              _________________________________________
                              Larry R. Helms
                              Senior Vice President



                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

     (99) Press Release dated August 9, 1995

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



August 9, 1995

For more information, contact:
JAMES L. THRASH, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, 317-747-1390
OR
DOUG HARRIS, ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, INVESTOR SERVICES, 317-747-1346


FIRST MERCHANTS ANNOUNCES
3-FOR-2 STOCK SPLIT AND DIVIDEND INCREASE


First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ-FRME) has announced the declaration of a
3-for-2 split of its shares of outstanding common stock. The split was
declared by the Corporation's Board of Directors at a meeting on August 8,
1995. Shareholders of record on October 20, 1995 are entitled to participate
in the split. The date of delivery for shares to be issued pursuant to the
split is October 27, 1995.

At the same meeting, the Board of Directors also approved a 9.4% increase in
the quarterly dividend to $ .30 per share, payable September 20, 1995 to
shareholders on record on September 6, 1995. This represents a quarterly
increase of $ .02 per share and reflects the Board's long-term intent to
raise dividend levels commensurate with earnings growth and to distribute
35% - 40% of net income to shareholders. Dividends have increased in each of
the last thirteen years.

The Corporation recently reported second quarter earnings of $ .75 per share,
up from $ .70 reported for the same period last year.

                                    -MORE-



FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
release, page two
_________________________________



First Merchants Corporation is an east central Indiana bank holding company.
Its subsidiaries include First Merchants Bank in Delaware County, Pendleton
Banking Company in Madison County and First United Bank in Henry County.

First Merchants Corporation common stock is traded over-the-counter on the
NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol "FRME" and is rated "A+" by
Standard and Poor's Corporation. Quotations are carried in many daily
newspapers and other financial publications. Seven brokerage firms make a
market in First Merchants Corporation stock, including three Indiana-based
firms: City Securities Corporation, David A. Noyes and Company, and NatCity
Investments, Inc. Other market makers include Howe, Barnes & Johnson, Inc.;
McDonald & Company; Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc.; and Sandler, O'Neill &
Partners, L.P.

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