General Litigation and Regulatory Examinations	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
General Litigation and Regulatory Examinations	GENERAL LITIGATION AND REGULATORY EXAMINATIONS On July 8, 2015, a purported shareholder of Ameriana Bancorp filed a putative class action lawsuit captioned Shiva Stein, individually and on behalf of other similarly situated vs. Ameriana Bancorp et al., Cause No. 49D10-1507-PL-022566 in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court 10 against Ameriana Bancorp, its Board of Directors and First Merchants Corporation. Plaintiff amended the complaint on September 23, 2015. The amended complaint alleges direct and derivative claims for breach of fiduciary duties by the members of the Board of Directors regarding the proposed Merger and claims against First Merchants Corporation for allegedly aiding and abetting those alleged breaches. The plaintiff seeks (1) class certification, (2) to enjoin the merger, (3) a declaration that the Merger Agreement is unlawful and unenforceable, (4) an order directing the members of Ameriana Bancorp's Board of Directors to commence a new sales process, (5) an order rescinding the Merger Agreement, and (6) compensatory damages, expert fees, attorneys' fees, and costs in an unspecified amount. At this early stage of the litigation, it is not possible to assess the probability of a material adverse outcome or reasonably estimate any potential financial impact of the lawsuit on Ameriana Bancorp. Ameriana Bancorp, its Board of Directors and First Merchants Corporation believe the claims against them are without merit and intend to contest the matter vigorously. On September 22, 2015, a purported shareholder of Ameriana Bancorp filed a putative class action lawsuit captioned Darrell F. Ewing v. Ameriana, et al., No. 1:15-CV-01491 in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Indiana against Ameriana Bancorp, its Board of Directors and First Merchants Corporation. The complaint generally alleges various claims of federal securities law violations and that the Directors of Ameriana Bancorp breached their fiduciary duties by providing materially inadequate disclosures and material disclosure omissions with respect to the proposed Merger. The plaintiff seeks (1) class certification, (2) to enjoin the Merger or, in the event the Merger is completed before entry of an injunction, to rescind the Merger or be awarded an unspecified amount of rescissory damages, (3) compensatory damages in an unspecified amount, and (4) costs and expenses, including attorneys' and expert fees. At this early stage of the litigation, it is not possible to assess the probability of a material adverse outcome or reasonably estimate any potential financial impact of the lawsuit on Ameriana Bancorp. Ameriana Bancorp, its Board of Directors and First Merchants Corporation believe the claims against them are without merit and intend to contest the matter vigorously. The Corporation is also subject to other claims and lawsuits that arise primarily in the ordinary course of business. Additionally, the Corporation is subject to periodic examinations by various regulatory agencies. It is the opinion of management that the disposition or ultimate resolution of such claims, lawsuits, and examinations will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flow of the Corporation.

GENERAL LITIGATION AND REGULATORY EXAMINATIONS

On July 8, 2015, a purported shareholder of Ameriana Bancorp filed a putative class action lawsuit captioned Shiva Stein, individually and on behalf of other similarly situated vs. Ameriana Bancorp et al., Cause No. 49D10-1507-PL-022566 in the Marion County, Indiana Superior Court 10 against Ameriana Bancorp, its Board of Directors and First Merchants Corporation. Plaintiff amended the complaint on September 23, 2015. The amended complaint alleges direct and derivative claims for breach of fiduciary duties by the members of the Board of Directors regarding the proposed Merger and claims against First Merchants Corporation for allegedly aiding and abetting those alleged breaches. The plaintiff seeks (1) class certification, (2) to enjoin the merger, (3) a declaration that the Merger Agreement is unlawful and unenforceable, (4) an order directing the members of Ameriana Bancorp's Board of Directors to commence a new sales process, (5) an order rescinding the Merger Agreement, and (6) compensatory damages, expert fees, attorneys' fees, and costs in an unspecified amount. At this early stage of the litigation, it is not possible to assess the probability of a material adverse outcome or reasonably estimate any potential financial impact of the lawsuit on Ameriana Bancorp. Ameriana Bancorp, its Board of Directors and First Merchants Corporation believe the claims against them are without merit and intend to contest the matter vigorously.

On September 22, 2015, a purported shareholder of Ameriana Bancorp filed a putative class action lawsuit captioned Darrell F. Ewing v. Ameriana, et al., No. 1:15-CV-01491 in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Indiana against Ameriana Bancorp, its Board of Directors and First Merchants Corporation. The complaint generally alleges various claims of federal securities law violations and that the Directors of Ameriana Bancorp breached their fiduciary duties by providing materially inadequate disclosures and material disclosure omissions with respect to the proposed Merger. The plaintiff seeks (1) class certification, (2) to enjoin the Merger or, in the event the Merger is completed before entry of an injunction, to rescind the Merger or be awarded an unspecified amount of rescissory damages, (3) compensatory damages in an unspecified amount, and (4) costs and expenses, including attorneys' and expert fees. At this early stage of the litigation, it is not possible to assess the probability of a material adverse outcome or reasonably estimate any potential financial impact of the lawsuit on Ameriana Bancorp. Ameriana Bancorp, its Board of Directors and First Merchants Corporation believe the claims against them are without merit and intend to contest the matter vigorously.

The Corporation is also subject to other claims and lawsuits that arise primarily in the ordinary course of business. Additionally, the Corporation is subject to periodic examinations by various regulatory agencies. It is the opinion of management that the disposition or ultimate resolution of such claims, lawsuits, and examinations will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flow of the Corporation.