Exhibit 23(b)

                         Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on
Form S-4 and Prospectus of First Merchants Corporation, relating to the issuance
of securities in the proposed merger of CNBC Bancorp into First Merchants
Corporation, of our report dated January 24, 2002, on the consolidated financial
statements of Lafayette Bancorporation as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001, included in First
Merchants Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 2, 2002,
announcing the consummation of the merger of Lafayette Bancorporation with First
Merchants.


CROWE, CHIZEK AND COMPANY LLP
December 5, 2002
Indianapolis, Indiana


                                   Ex. 23(b)-1