<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000354869 <NAME> FIRST MERIT CORP. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 253,292 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 7,098 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,274,464 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 1,274,464 <LOANS> 3,855,897 <ALLOWANCE> 47,772 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,536,716 <DEPOSITS> 4,371,092 <SHORT-TERM> 577,848 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 61,917 <LONG-TERM> 0 <COMMON> 74,655 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 451,204 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 525,859 <INTEREST-LOAN> 82,989 <INTEREST-INVEST> 20,131 <INTEREST-OTHER> 265 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 103,385 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 33,419 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 39,880 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 63,505 <LOAN-LOSSES> 3,170 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (55) <EXPENSE-OTHER> 49,340 <INCOME-PRETAX> 28,679 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 28,679 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,221 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.59 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.59 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 5.06 <LOANS-NON> 9,327 <LOANS-PAST> 7,806 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 1,367 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 24,481 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 47,474 <CHARGE-OFFS> 4,435 <RECOVERIES> 1,564 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 47,772 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 47,772 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0