<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000354869 <NAME> FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 203,276 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 3,590 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,072,734 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 1,072,734 <LOANS> 3,877,685 <ALLOWANCE> 50,893 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,317,118 <DEPOSITS> 4,202,816 <SHORT-TERM> 514,680 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 82,462 <LONG-TERM> 0 <COMMON> 18,796 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 498,364 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 5,317,118 <INTEREST-LOAN> 85,165 <INTEREST-INVEST> 17,041 <INTEREST-OTHER> 9 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 102,215 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 31,949 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 37,974 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 64,241 <LOAN-LOSSES> 5,033 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 477 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 47,579 <INCOME-PRETAX> 31,447 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 31,447 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21,319 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.67 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.67 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 5.35 <LOANS-NON> 2,418 <LOANS-PAST> 6,222 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 90 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 23,043 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 49,637 <CHARGE-OFFS> 6,323 <RECOVERIES> 2,546 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 50,893 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 50,893 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0