CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 454,408,000	$ 68,005,000	$ 3,197,000	$ 232,503,000	$ 160,860,000	$ (10,157,000)
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		69,725	25,574,251
Comprehensive Income
Net income	25,252,000				25,252,000
Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax	6,555,000					6,555,000
Cash Dividends on Common Stock ($.04 in 2010 and 2011, $.10 in 2012 per Share)	(1,067,000)				(1,067,000)
Cash Dividends on Preferred Stock	(3,662,000)				(3,662,000)
Accretion of Discount on Preferred Stock		319,000			(319,000)
Loss on Capital Purchase Program Unamortized Discount	(1,401,000)	1,401,000			(1,401,000)
Repurchase of Capital Purchase Program Warrants	(368,000)			(368,000)
Loss on extinguishment of trust preferred securities	(10,857,000)				(10,857,000)
Equity Adjustment Related to First Merchants Reinsurance Co. LTD	(89,000)				(89,000)
Preferred Stock Redeemed under Capital Purchase Program (in shares)		(69,600)
Preferred Stock Redeemed Under Capital Purchase Program	(69,600,000)	(69,600,000)
Preferred Stock issued under the Small Business Lending Fund (shares)		90,783
Preferred Stock Issued Under the Small Business Lending Fund	90,783,000	90,783,000
Private Stock Issuance (shares)			2,822,000
Private Stock Issuance	21,165,000		353,000	20,812,000
Share-based Compensation (in shares)			72,824
Share-based Compensation	1,315,000		9,000	1,306,000
Stock Issued Under Employee Benefit Plans (in shares)			93,797
Stock Issued Under Employee Benefit Plans	669,000		12,000	657,000
Stock Issued Under Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (in shares)			11,073
Stock Issued Under Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan	89,000		1,000	88,000
Stock Redeemed (in shares)			(14,238)
Stock Redeemed	(126,000)		(2,000)	(124,000)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	514,467,000	90,908,000	3,570,000	254,874,000	168,717,000	(3,602,000)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		90,908	28,559,707
Comprehensive Income
Net income	45,122,000				45,122,000
Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax	(1,897,000)					(1,897,000)
Cash Dividends on Common Stock ($.04 in 2010 and 2011, $.10 in 2012 per Share)	(2,903,000)				(2,903,000)
Cash Dividends on Preferred Stock	(4,539,000)				(4,539,000)
Share-based Compensation (in shares)			86,325
Share-based Compensation	1,492,000		11,000	1,481,000
Stock Issued Under Employee Benefit Plans (in shares)			41,867
Stock Issued Under Employee Benefit Plans	449,000		5,000	444,000
Stock Issued Under Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (in shares)			15,709
Stock Issued Under Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan	202,000		2,000	200,000
Stock Options Exercised (in shares)			10,500
Stock Options Exercised	78,000		1,000	77,000
Stock Redeemed (in shares)			(21,492)
Stock Redeemed	(235,000)		(2,000)	(233,000)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	552,236,000	90,908,000	3,587,000	256,843,000	206,397,000	(5,499,000)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		90,908	28,692,616
Comprehensive Income
Net income	44,530,000				44,530,000
Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax	(911,000)					(911,000)
Cash Dividends on Common Stock ($.04 in 2010 and 2011, $.10 in 2012 per Share)	(5,612,000)				(5,612,000)
Cash Dividends on Preferred Stock	(2,380,000)				(2,380,000)
Preferred Stock Redemption Under Small Business Lending Fund (in shares)		(90,783)
Preferred Stock Redemption Under Small Business Lending Fund	(90,783,000)	(90,783,000)
Issuance of Common Stock Related to Acquisitions (in shares)			7,079,457
Issuance of Common Stock Related to Acquisition	135,642,000		885,000	134,757,000
Share-based Compensation (in shares)			116,978
Share-based Compensation	1,773,000		15,000	1,758,000
Stock Issued Under Employee Benefit Plans (in shares)			33,451
Stock Issued Under Employee Benefit Plans	479,000		4,000	475,000
Stock Issued Under Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (in shares)			18,449
Stock Issued Under Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan	325,000		2,000	323,000
Stock Options Exercised (in shares)	13,750		13,750
Stock Options Exercised	115,000		2,000	113,000
Stock Redeemed (in shares)			(32,940)
Stock Redeemed	(491,000)		(5,000)	(486,000)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 634,923,000	$ 125,000	$ 4,490,000	$ 393,783,000	$ 242,935,000	$ (6,410,000)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		125	35,921,761.000