First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.

 One Pierce Place, Suite 1500

 Itasca, IL 60143

September 10, 2013

VIA EDGAR AND FEDERAL EXPRESS

Mr. Amit Pande

Accounting Branch Chief

Division of Corporation Finance

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE

Washington, DC  20549

RE:         First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”)

Form 10-K for Fiscal Period Ended December 31, 2012

Filed March 1, 2013

File Number:  001-33934

Dear Mr. Pande:

We are in receipt of your letter dated August 30, 2013 regarding your review of the Company’s Form 10-K referenced above and are preparing a response to your comments.  The Company’s response is due on September 16, 2013.  We are in need of an additional ten (10) business days in order to afford us the best opportunity to respond to your comments.  Accordingly, we expect to send our response to you no later than September 30, 2013.

Should you have any questions or need further information, you may contact me directly via telephone at (630) 875-7347 or via e-mail at Paul.Clemens@FirstMidwest.com.

Very truly yours,

By:  /s/ PAUL F. CLEMENS

Paul F. Clemens

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

cc:           Mr. Benjamin Phippen

Staff Accountant