The Board of Directors of First Merchants Corp. declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share on its common stock. The cash dividend is payable December 18, 2009, to stockholders of record December 4, 2009. For purposes of broker trading, the ex-date of the cash dividend is December 2, 2009.

First Merchants Corp. announced that at its meeting on October 28, 2009, the Board of Directors adopted an amendment to Article V, Section 12 of the Corporation's Bylaws reflecting the addition of the Risk and Credit Policy Committee and eliminating the requirement to have an Executive Committee.

First Merchants Corp. reported consolidated unaudited earnings results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009. For the quarter, total interest Income was $57,173,000 against $54,978,000 a year ago. Net interest income was $38,848,000 against $33,254,000 a year ago. Net interest income after provision for loan losses was $14,608,000 against $26,160,000 a year ago. Loss before income tax was $8,704,000 against income before income tax of $8,265,000 a year ago. Net loss was $4,930,000 against net income of $5,749,000 a year ago. Net loss available to common stockholders was $6,380,000 or $0.30 per basic and diluted share against $5,749,000 or $0.32 per basic and diluted share a year ago. Return on average assets was negative 0.55% against return on average assets of 0.60% a year ago. Return on average stockholders' equity was 5.35% against 6.58% a year ago. For the nine months, total interest Income was $176,370,000 against $165,737,000 a year ago. Net interest income was $115,781,000 against $96,236,000 a year ago. Net interest income after provision for loan losses was $19,625,000 against $78,249,000 a year ago. Loss before income tax was $50,632,000 against income before income tax of $28,538,000 a year ago. Net loss was $30,542,000 against net income of $20,417,000 a year ago. Net loss available to common stockholders was $34,070,000 or $1.62 per basic and diluted share against $20,417,000 or $1.13 per basic and diluted share a year ago. Return on average assets was negative 0.96% against return on average assets of 0.72% a year ago. Return on average stockholders' equity was negative 9.49% against return on average stockholders' equity of 7.81% a year ago.