<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000354869 <NAME> FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 218,967 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 2,446 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,357,062 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 1,357,062 <LOANS> 3,786,300 <ALLOWANCE> 47,474 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,501,163 <DEPOSITS> 4,373,535 <SHORT-TERM> 524,072 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 66,284 <LONG-TERM> 0 <COMMON> 91,127 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 446,145 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 5,501,163 <INTEREST-LOAN> 80,309 <INTEREST-INVEST> 21,091 <INTEREST-OTHER> 227 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 101,627 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 35,062 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,175 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 60,390 <LOAN-LOSSES> 2,957 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 267 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 48,249 <INCOME-PRETAX> 28,817 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 28,817 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,253 <EPS-PRIMARY> .58 <EPS-DILUTED> .58 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.80 <LOANS-NON> 10,350 <LOANS-PAST> 6,297 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 1,368 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 13,579 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 46,840 <CHARGE-OFFS> 3,530 <RECOVERIES> 1,207 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 47,474 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 47,474 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0