Subsequent Events	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	SUBSEQUENT EVENTS On July 14, 2017, Independent Alliance Banks, Inc., an Indiana corporation ("IALB"), merged with and into the Corporation, whereupon the separate corporate existence of IALB ceased and the Corporation survived. Immediately following the merger, IALB's wholly-owned subsidiary, iAB Financial Bank, merged with and into the Bank, with the Bank continuing as the surviving bank. Shareholders of IALB received 1.653 shares of the Corporation's common stock for each share of IALB common stock held, resulting in the issuance of approximately 6.0 million shares of the Corporation's common stock. On November 21, 2016, the Corporation purchased 495,112 shares, or 12.1 percent of IALB's outstanding common stock, for $19.8 million. The Corporation utilized a market value approach to value the 12.1 percent equity interest, which included an analysis of current trading values and historical acquisition multiples of comparable entities. A minority discount was applied to the valuation due to the purchase being a non-controlling equity interest instead of a whole bank acquisition. ASC 805-10 - Business Combinations, requires the Corporation to remeasure the 12.1 percent equity interest in IALB’s common stock and recognize any resulting gain or loss in earnings. In the third quarter of 2017, the Corporation remeasured the 12.1 percent equity interest based upon the closing price of IALB’s common stock immediately prior to the acquisition announcement, and prior to the Corporation obtaining control of IALB. The trading price of IALB’s common stock subsequent to the acquisition announcement includes a control or acquisition premium and is not indicative of the fair value of the Corporation’s pre-existing equity interest immediately prior to the acquisition announcement. As a result of the remeasurement, the Corporation will recognize a loss of $50,000 in the third quarter of 2017. Based on the closing price of the Corporation's common stock on July 14, 2017 of $40.05 per share, the transaction value for the remaining shares of common stock, not owned by the Corporation, was approximately $238.9 million. The combined Corporation has 122 banking centers in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio and expands the Corporation's Indiana footprint into the Ft. Wayne market. Full integration of IALB under the First Merchants brand is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2017. As of June 30, 2017, IALB had total assets of $1.1 billion, total loans of $754.2 million and deposits of $863.5 million. Certain fair value measurements and the purchase price allocation have not been completed due to the timing of the acquisition and the number of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Review of the estimated fair values of loans, property and equipment, intangible assets, other assets, deposits and other liabilities, and the evaluation of the assumed tax positions will occur during the measurement period.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On July 14, 2017, Independent Alliance Banks, Inc., an Indiana corporation ("IALB"), merged with and into the Corporation, whereupon the separate corporate existence of IALB ceased and the Corporation survived. Immediately following the merger, IALB's wholly-owned subsidiary, iAB Financial Bank, merged with and into the Bank, with the Bank continuing as the surviving bank. Shareholders of IALB received 1.653 shares of the Corporation's common stock for each share of IALB common stock held, resulting in the issuance of approximately 6.0 million shares of the Corporation's common stock.

On November 21, 2016, the Corporation purchased 495,112 shares, or 12.1 percent of IALB's outstanding common stock, for $19.8 million. The Corporation utilized a market value approach to value the 12.1 percent equity interest, which included an analysis of current trading values and historical acquisition multiples of comparable entities. A minority discount was applied to the valuation due to the purchase being a non-controlling equity interest instead of a whole bank acquisition.

ASC 805-10 - Business Combinations, requires the Corporation to remeasure the 12.1 percent equity interest in IALB’s common stock and recognize any resulting gain or loss in earnings. In the third quarter of 2017, the Corporation remeasured the 12.1 percent equity interest based upon the closing price of IALB’s common stock immediately prior to the acquisition announcement, and prior to the Corporation obtaining control of IALB. The trading price of IALB’s common stock subsequent to the acquisition announcement includes a control or acquisition premium and is not indicative of the fair value of the Corporation’s pre-existing equity interest immediately prior to the acquisition announcement. As a result of the remeasurement, the Corporation will recognize a loss of $50,000 in the third quarter of 2017.

Based on the closing price of the Corporation's common stock on July 14, 2017 of $40.05 per share, the transaction value for the remaining shares of common stock, not owned by the Corporation, was approximately $238.9 million. The combined Corporation has 122 banking centers in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio and expands the Corporation's Indiana footprint into the Ft. Wayne market. Full integration of IALB under the First Merchants brand is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2017.

As of June 30, 2017, IALB had total assets of $1.1 billion, total loans of $754.2 million and deposits of $863.5 million. Certain fair value measurements and the purchase price allocation have not been completed due to the timing of the acquisition and the number of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Review of the estimated fair values of loans, property and equipment, intangible assets, other assets, deposits and other liabilities, and the evaluation of the assumed tax positions will occur during the measurement period.