Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  FLUHLER STEPHAN
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
05/12/2014		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP [FRME]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
200 E JACKSON STREET		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) __X__ Other (specify below)
Chief Information Officer / Senior Vice President
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

MUNCIE, IN 47305		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 2,582.365
I
401(k) Plan
Common Stock 9,215.949 (1)
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock   (2)   (2) Common Stock 700 $ (2) D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 02/11/2013 02/11/2021 Common Stock 500 $ 9.2 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 07/01/2006 07/01/2014 Common Stock 2,500 $ 25.595 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 09/01/2007 09/01/2015 Common Stock 3,200 $ 26.7 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
FLUHLER STEPHAN
200 E JACKSON STREET
MUNCIE, IN 47305		       Chief Information Officer Senior Vice President

Signatures

Amanda C. Williams (Confirming Statement on File) 05/16/2014
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Includes Restricted Stock Awards totaling 4,204.882 shares
(2) Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of FRME common stock. The shares of phantom stock will be settled in cash or shares of FRME common stock, at the reporting person's election, upon separation from First Merchants.
 
Remarks:
Exhibit 24; Confirming Statement

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