8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 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)    August 18, 2005   

FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio	0-10161	34-1339938
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

III Cascade Plaza, 7th Floor Akron, Ohio	44308
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(330) 996-6300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o 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.

     On August 18, 2005, Michael Hochschwender was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board of directors of FirstMerit Corporation. The appointment fills an existing vacancy on the board and increases the number of directors to 14. Mr. Hochschwender was appointed to serve the full term of the class of directors to which he was appointed, which term will expire at the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders. He will begin serving as a director at the October 2005 meeting of the board of directors and is not expected to serve on any committees of the board. A copy of the press release making this announcement is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

     (c) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release dated August 23, 2005

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Signature

     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.

FirstMerit Corporation
By:	/s/ Terrence E. Bichsel
	Terrence E. Bichsel Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: August 23, 2005

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Public Relations:	Investor Relations:
Jacque Sir Louis (330) 849-8877	Tom O’Malley (330) 384-7109

FIRSTMERIT EXPANDS ITS BOARD WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW DIRECTOR

AKRON, Ohio – August 23, 2005 – FirstMerit Corporation [Nasdaq: FMER] has appointed Michael Hochschwender, president & CEO, The Smithers Group, to its corporate board of directors. The appointment fills an existing vacancy on the board and increases the number of directors to 14.

Mr. Hochschwender has more than 20 years of corporate management and consulting experience. Currently, he is president and CEO of The Smithers Group, a position he has held since 1996.

“Mike brings a solid business background and a keen sense for growing market leading companies - his vision and insight will be invaluable to the FirstMerit board of directors” said John R. Cochran, chairman and CEO, FirstMerit Corporation. “The appointment of another independent director to FirstMerit’s board reflects our ongoing commitment to strong corporate governance practices.”

Mr. Hochschwender holds a master’s degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University. He also served five years as a U.S. Navy SEAL, deploying to Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

He is active in local health, civic and educational organizations, serving on the boards of Akron General Medical Center, the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, Old Trail School, the Center for Non-Profit Excellence, the Akron Region Advisory Board of FirstMerit Bank, N.A., and The University of Akron Foundation.

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ADD ONE/FMER BOARD APPOINTMENT

Mr. Hochschwender will begin serving as a director at the October 2005 meeting of the board of directors. He will serve the remaining term of the class of directors to which he was appointed, which expires at the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders. He was elected as a director after being nominated to the board by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

FirstMerit Corporation (Nasdaq: FMER) is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Akron, Ohio, with assets of $10.3 billion as of June 30, 2005, and 160 banking offices in 24 Ohio and Western Pennsylvania counties. Principal wholly owned subsidiaries include: FirstMerit Bank, N.A., FirstMerit Mortgage Corporation, FirstMerit Title Agency, Ltd., FirstMerit Credit Life Insurance Company, and FirstMerit Community Development Corporation.

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