8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

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CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 19, 2013

FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

INDIANA

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

0-17071

(Commission File Number)

35-1544218

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

200 East Jackson Street

Muncie, Indiana

(Address of principal executive offices)

47305-2814

(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (765) 747-1500

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:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

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

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

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

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(d)On November 19, 2013, the Board of Directors of First Merchants Corporation (the “Corporation”) increased the size of its Board of Directors from ten (10) to eleven (11) members with the additional vacancy added in Class I. The Board appointed F. Howard Halderman to fill the vacancy. Mr. Halderman’s term will continue until the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Shareholders, at which time he will be considered for election for a two (2) year term. As of the date of this report, the Board has not yet determined on which committees Mr. Halderman will serve. A copy of the Corporation’s press release, dated November 22, 2013, announcing the appointment of Mr. Halderman is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.

Item 9.01.Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) (99.1) Press Release dated November 22, 2013.

SIGNATURES

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.

DATE: November 22, 2013

FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION

By: /s/ Mark K. Hardwick

Mark K. Hardwick,

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release, dated November 22, 2013 issued by First Merchants Corporation

EX-99.1

N / E / W / S     R / E / L / E / A / S / E

November 22, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:

David L. Ortega, First Vice President/Director of Investor Relations

765-378-8937

http://www.firstmerchants.com

SOURCE: First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ: FRME), Muncie, Indiana

First Merchants Corporation Elects F. Howard Halderman to its Board of Directors

First Merchants Corporation has elected F. Howard Halderman to the Board of Directors for First Merchants Corporation and First Merchants Bank, N.A. Mr. Halderman is President of Halderman Farm Management Service, Inc., a third-generation, farm management and real estate company headquartered in Wabash, Indiana, providing management services to more than 650 farms with market value in excess of $1 billion located throughout the United States and Canada.

Charles E. Schalliol, Chairman of the Board stated, “We are excited that Howard is joining the First Merchants’ Board and bringing his deep knowledge of agriculture and real estate to our team. These are core areas of focus for First Merchants and the communities we serve.”

Mr. Halderman added, “I am very pleased to join the leadership of this rapidly growing Midwestern bank. My hope is to assist the management team and its Board in growing our business in my areas of expertise - agricultural property management and real estate.”

In making the announcement, Michael C. Rechin, President and Chief Executive Officer said, “We are fortunate to have the opportunity to add a leader of Howard’s stature to our company as a new director. Agribusiness and its positive economic engine is historical bedrock for the State of Indiana and First Merchants. Adding an industry leader such as Howard to our Board allows us to serve the broad needs of this pervasive economic segment to our region of the country.”

A graduate of Purdue University and 2012 Distinguished Agricultural Alumni, Mr. Halderman serves on the Purdue University College of Agriculture Dean’s Advisory Council, and locally as a board member of the Honeywell Foundation, Wabash County Hospital and Field of Dreams, Inc.

About First Merchants Corporation:

First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. The Corporation is comprised of First Merchants Bank, N.A., which also operates as Lafayette Bank & Trust, Commerce National Bank, and First Merchants Trust Company as divisions of First Merchants Bank, N.A. First Merchants Corporation also operates First Merchants Insurance Group, a full-service property casualty, personal lines, and healthcare insurance agency.

First Merchants Corporation's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System under the symbol FRME. Quotations are carried in daily newspapers and can be found on the company's Internet web page (http://www.firstmerchants.com).

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