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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 se5pYvqSyuol11yLqPXaeg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000702325-05-000137.txt : 20050919
<SEC-HEADER>0000702325-05-000137.hdr.sgml : 20050919
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050919113546
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000702325-05-000137
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050916
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050919
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050919

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000702325
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				363161078
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE PIERCE PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			ITASCA
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60143
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6308757450

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE PIERCE PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			ITASCA
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60143

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KENT S BELASCO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001279182

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-10967
		FILM NUMBER:		051090592

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP INC
		STREET 2:		300 PARK BLVD SUITE 400
		CITY:			ITASCA
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60143
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6308757450
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bel369.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000702325</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FMBI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001279182</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KENT S BELASCO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE PIERCE PLACE, SUITE 1500</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ITASCA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60143</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Chief Information Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock under NQ Retirement Plan</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>37.3300</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1137</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares of phantom stock in the NQ Retirement Plan have a 1-for-1 conversion ratio.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Between September 7, 2005 and September 19, 2005 the reporting person acquired 1 share of First Midwest common stock under the First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Non-Qualified Retirement Plan.  The information in this report is based on a plan statement dated September 16, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares of phantom stock in the NQ Retirement Plan are exercisable immediately.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares of phantom stock in the NQ Retirement Plan are payable in cash following the termination of the reporting person's employment with First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Donna L. Zodrow, Attorney-in-fact for</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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