<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION FOR QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
RESTATES AS A REQUEST OF POOLING OF INTEREST TRANSACTIONS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          43,391
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             444
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 2,250
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    229,297
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          51,809
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            52,285
<LOANS>                                        605,960
<ALLOWANCE>                                      6,747
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 959,409
<DEPOSITS>                                     749,733
<SHORT-TERM>                                    83,677
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              7,030
<LONG-TERM>                                      9,150
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           825
<OTHER-SE>                                     108,994
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 959,409
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 38,385
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               12,454
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   674
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                51,513
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              21,713
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              24,094
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           27,419
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      875
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  50
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 17,887
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 14,678
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       9,681
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,681
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.48
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.48
<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