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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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 jW1kwB2n+zOFmccRfppWsA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000702325-08-000161.txt : 20081223
<SEC-HEADER>0000702325-08-000161.hdr.sgml : 20081223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081223132521
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000702325-08-000161
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081223
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCUDDER MICHAEL L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199246

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-10967
		FILM NUMBER:		081266541

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 PARK BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 405
		CITY:			ITASCA
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60143

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>scu751.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199246</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCUDDER MICHAEL L</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30920</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>49269</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8710</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By NQ Stock Option Gain Deferral Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5531</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Profit Sharing Plan Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Awards (RSAs) granted pursuant to the Restated First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The restricted shares represented by this award will vest in full and be transferrable on March 15, 2012, if the Company meets certain performance standards.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Between August 20, 2008 and December 23, 2008 the Reporting Person acquired 111 shares of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Common Stock under the First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Non-Qualified Gain Deferral Plan pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment feature of the Plan.  This information is based on a plan statement dated October 15, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Between August 20, 2008 and December 23, 2008 the Reporting Person acquired 71 shares of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Common Stock under the First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Savings and Profit Sharing Plan pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment feature of the Plan.  This information is based on a plan statement dated October 22, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Between July 19, 2008 and December 23, 2008 the Reporting Person acquired 3 shares of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Common Stock under the First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Savings and Profit Sharing Plan.  The aggregate information reported in this line item includes such shares as reported in a plan statement dated October 6, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Andrea L. Stangl, Attorney-in-fact for Michael L. Scudder</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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