<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FIRST
MERCHANTS CORPORATION'S CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
FOR PERIOD ENDING JUNE 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE 
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                          36,072
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             481
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    226,319
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          39,794
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            39,833
<LOANS>                                        680,406
<ALLOWANCE>                                      6,710
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,010,435
<DEPOSITS>                                     821,068
<SHORT-TERM>                                    49,120
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              6,636
<LONG-TERM>                                     16,700
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           829
<OTHER-SE>                                     116,082
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,010,435
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 28,775
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                7,928
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   161
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                36,864
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              15,330
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              17,244
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           19,620
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      577
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   1
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 12,618
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 10,889
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       7,136
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,136
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.08
<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