Exhibit 23(c)

                         Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the inclusion in this  Registration  Statement on Form S-4 and
Prospectus for  First  Merchants  Corporation,   relating  to  the  issuance  of
securities  in  the  proposed  merger  of  CNBC  Bancorp  into  First  Merchants
Corporation,  of our  report,  dated  February  6,  2002,  on  the  consolidated
financial  statements  of CNBC  Bancorp as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and for
each of the two years in the period ended  December 31, 2001. We also consent to
the  reference  to  our  firm  appearing  under  the  heading  "Experts"  in the
Prospectus.


CROWE, CHIZEK AND COMPANY LLP
December 6, 2002
Columbus, Ohio

                                   Ex. 23(c)-1