<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000354869
<NAME> FirstMerit Corporation 
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         196,785
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                21,564
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 2,636
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,305,137
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         1,305,137
<LOANS>                                      4,412,475
<ALLOWANCE>                                     65,151
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,258,608
<DEPOSITS>                                   4,818,743
<SHORT-TERM>                                   656,931
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             87,940
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       110,197
<OTHER-SE>                                     584,797
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               6,258,608
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 96,531
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                3,141
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   339
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               117,111
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              37,698
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              45,466
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           71,645
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    5,151
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               1,788
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 56,599
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 37,094
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      37,094
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    25,575
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.39
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.39
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.05
<LOANS-NON>                                     15,515
<LOANS-PAST>                                    14,258
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                    86
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 38,205
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                65,749
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    8,749
<RECOVERIES>                                     3,000
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               65,151
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            65,151
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0