Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement of First Merchants

Corporation on Form S-8 (File Number 333-50484) of our report dated June 5, 2018, on our audits of

the financial statements of First Merchants Corporation Retirement Income and Savings Plan for the

years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, which report is included in this Annual Report on

Form 11-K.

/s/ BKD, LLP

Indianapolis, Indiana

June 5, 2018