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):
                                 MARCH 25, 2005


                       FIRST MID-ILLINOIS BANCSHARES, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                                    DELAWARE
                 (State of Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

                               0-13368 37-1103704
                     (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
                              Identification No.)


                    1515 CHARLESTON AVENUE, MATTOON, IL 61938
           (Address Including Zip Code of Principal Executive Offices)

                                 (217) 234-7454
              (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
     (17CFR 230.425)

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

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

[  ] Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  13e-4(c)  under the
     Exchange Act (17CFR 240.13e-4(c))






Item 8.01.  Other Events.

First Mid-Illinois Bancshares,  Inc. announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary,
First  Mid-Illinois  Bank & Trust,  N.A., will be opening  another  full-service
banking facility in Highland,  Illinois.  The Company plans to open the facility
on Friday, April 1, 2005.

First  Mid-Illinois  Bancshares,  Inc.  also  announced  that  its  wholly-owned
subsidiary,  The Checkley Agency, Inc., will be moving its office location.  The
Checkley Agency, Inc. expects to open its new office in late 2005.

A copy of the press release is set forth as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by
reference herein.


Item 9.01.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a)  None required

(b)  None required

(c)  Exhibits

     Exhibit 99 - Press release issued March 25, 2005







                                    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.





                                           FIRST MID-ILLINOIS BANCSHARES, INC.



Date:  March 25, 2005                      /s/ William S. Rowland

                                           William S. Rowland
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer









                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit
Number            Description
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  99              Press release issued March 25, 2005







                                                                      Exhibit 99


TO:      PRESS

FROM:    Bill Rowland
         CEO, First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc.

DATE:    3/25/05


First Mid-Illinois Bancshares,  Inc. announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary,
First  Mid-Illinois  Bank & Trust,  N.A., will be opening  another  full-service
banking facility in Highland,  Illinois. The new facility will be located at the
corner of Broadway and Cypress Street and provide  customers a downtown location
in addition to the  existing  facility on Route 143 in  Highland.  Chairman  and
Chief  Executive  Officer  William  S.  Rowland  said "We are  pleased  with the
progress we have made in Highland  since  entering the community in 2001 and are
excited about the opportunity to expand our branching network.  We will now have
twenty-five  banking  locations in  seventeen  Illinois  communities."  Highland
Regional  President  Gordon  Smith  commented  "First Mid is pleased to have two
Highland locations that will provide additional convenience for our customers as
they travel to work, school, or home.  Construction is nearing completion and we
plan to open the facility on Friday, April 1, 2005."

First Mid-Illinois  Bancshares also announced that its wholly-owned  subsidiary,
The Checkley  Agency,  Inc.,  will be moving its office  location from 416 South
17th Street to 100 Lerna Road South in Mattoon,  Illinois. The new location will
be leased from BB&D  Development,  LLC.  Checkley  President Robert Jones stated
"The new location off Route 16 will  provide  greater  office space for us as we
continue to expand our business. Construction will soon be underway with the new
location expected to open this summer."

First  Mid-Illinois  Bancshares,  Inc.  is  headquartered  in Mattoon and is the
parent company for First  Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust,  N.A., The Checkley Agency,
Inc., and Mid-Illinois  Data Services,  Inc. First  Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust,
N.A., originally chartered as the 24th U.S. National Bank in 1865, has assets in
excess of $820 million and manages an additional  $350 million in assets through
the Trust & Financial  Services  Division.  First Mid currently operates banking
centers  in:  Champaign,  Urbana,  Monticello,   Mattoon,  Charleston,  Decatur,
Effingham,  Highland, Maryville, Neoga, Pocahontas,  Sullivan, Altamont, Arcola,
Tuscola,  Taylorville,  and De Land. More information  about First  Mid-Illinois
Bancshares is available at www.firstmid.com.

- -END-