<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR FIRST MERCHANTS
CORPORATION FOR QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 RESTATED AS A RESULT OF POOLING OF
INTEREST TRANSACTIONS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                          26,739
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             360
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                13,575
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    229,658
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          56,700
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            56,967
<LOANS>                                        565,045
<ALLOWANCE>                                      6,554
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 916,480
<DEPOSITS>                                     753,458
<SHORT-TERM>                                    40,324
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              7,864
<LONG-TERM>                                      9,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           821
<OTHER-SE>                                     105,031
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 916,480
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 12,498
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                4,201
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   311
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                17,010
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               7,365
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               8,037
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            8,973
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      280
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  17
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  5,822
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  4,843
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       3,187
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,187
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .49
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                     0
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                        0
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                    0
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0