SEC FORM 3

SEC Form 3

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

ELLINGTON KIMBERLY J

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

200 EAST JACKSON STREET

(Street)

MUNCIE

47305

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
05/06/2005

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP [ FRME ]

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	X	Other (specify below)
	Senior Vice President		Director Human Resources

5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	766.082⁽¹⁾	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy)	07/01/2003	07/01/2011	Common Stock	914	$19.73	D
Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy)	07/01/2004	07/01/2012	Common Stock	3,308	$26.93	D
Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy)	07/01/2005	07/01/2013	Common Stock	3,150	$23.46	D
Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy)	07/01/2006	07/01/2014	Common Stock	3,600	$25.595	D
Deferred Stock Units	12/31/2005	12/31/2005	Common Stock	50.23	⁽²⁾	D
Deferred Stock Units	12/31/2006	12/31/2006	Common Stock	131.26	⁽²⁾	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Includes 102.9482 shares owned by reporting person in her 401K account.

2. Conversion of derivative security is 1 for 1.

	Kimberly J. Ellington	05/09/2005
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.