<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FIRST 
MERCHANTS CORPORATION'S CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) 
FOR QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY 
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          30,860
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             261
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    212,374
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          36,846
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            36,851
<LOANS>                                        700,045
<ALLOWANCE>                                      6,785
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,007,711
<DEPOSITS>                                     789,366
<SHORT-TERM>                                    72,802
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              7,129
<LONG-TERM>                                     18,700
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           832
<OTHER-SE>                                     118,882
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,007,711
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 44,091
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               11,580
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   235
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                55,906
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              23,487
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              26,376
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           29,530
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      952
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 (3)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 19,104
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 16,229
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      10,672
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,672
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.61
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.61
<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