SEC Form 4 
FORM 4	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 	  
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	Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).			
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
HOY WILLIAM L	

(Last)	(First)	(Middle)	
200 E JACKSON STREET	

(Street) 
MUNCIE	IN	47305	

(City)	(State)	(Zip)	
	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol 
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP [ FRME ] 	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer 
(Check all applicable) 
X	Director		10% Owner	
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)	

	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2012 		
	4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) 
X	Form filed by One Reporting Person	
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person	
	
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned	
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 	4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 	5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) 	
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price				
Common Stock(1) 	12/31/2012		A		336	A	$14.84 	19,770(2) 	D		
Common Stock								917	I	Daughter	
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 	
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 	5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 	6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)	7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) 	
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares					
Explanation of Responses:	
1. Non-Employee Director Stock Options (right to buy) total 7,157 shares	
2. Includes Restricted Stock Awards totaling 6,462 shares	
Remarks:	
Exhibit 24; Confirming Statement	
	Rhonda Bost (Confirming Statement on File)	01/03/2013	
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date	
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.	
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).	
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).	
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.	
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.	

Exhibit 24
 
Confirming Statement
 
This statement confirms that the undersigned, William L. Hoy, has authorized and designated Jennifer Mainord or Rhonda Bost, to execute and file on the undersigned’s behalf, all Forms 3, 4, and 5 (including any amendments thereto) that the undersigned may be required to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a result of the undersigned’s ownership of or transactions in securities of First Merchants Corporation. The authority of Jennifer Mainord or Rhonda Bost under this statement shall continue until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with regard to the undersigned’s ownership of or transactions in securities of First Merchants Corporation, unless earlier in writing. The undersigned acknowledges Jennifer Mainord or Rhonda Bost are not assuming any of the undersigned’s responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Date:  09/10/2012

/s/ William L. Hoy
Signature