UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
______________________________
DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported): January 24, 2008
______________________________
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
_______________________________
INDIANA 0-17071 35-1544218
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
200 East Jackson Street
P.O. Box 792
Muncie, IN 47305-2814
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
(765) 747-1500
(Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of
Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.
(c) On January 24, 2008, the Corporation appointed Michael J.
Stewart to serve as its Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer. Most
recently, Mr. Stewart served as the Executive Vice President of Corporate
Banking for National City Bank. A copy of the Corporation's press release, dated
January 24, 2008, announcing the appointment of Mr. Stewart is attached hereto
as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) (99.1) Press Release dated January 24, 2008.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
DATE: January 24, 2008
By: /s/ Mark K. Hardwick
--------------------------------------------
Mark K. Hardwick
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and
Principal Accounting Officer)
EXHIBIT INDEX
99.1 Press Release dated January 24, 2008
Exhibit 99.1
January 24, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Karen Evens, Director of Marketing, 765/747-1477
http://www.firstmerchants.com
SOURCE: First Merchants Corporation, Muncie, Indiana
Banking Veteran to Join First Merchants as Executive Vice President and Chief
Banking Officer
First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ - FRME) announced today that Michael J.
Stewart will be joining the company as Executive Vice President and Chief
Banking Officer.
Stewart most recently was Executive Vice President, Corporate Banking for
National City Bank, with direct oversight of the Upper Middle Market Banking
segment in Indiana and Ohio. He held various leadership positions at National
City in a career that spanned 17 years. Prior to his current responsibility,
Stewart acted as Chief Credit Officer of the National City affiliate. Prior to
his management of the credit function, Stewart managed a middle market calling
effort across the state of Indiana. He began his career with Summit Bank in
1988.
First Merchants Chief Executive, Michael C. Rechin, stated, "Mike Stewart is an
exciting addition to our First Merchants team. I have firsthand experience in
working with Mike and know his talent is additive to us in many areas. His
approach to driving revenue and meeting customer needs will create great
chemistry with the Bank executives managing our markets."
Stewart is a graduate of Millikin University of Decatur, Illinois, with a
Bachelors Degree in Finance and an MBA in Business Administration from Butler
University.
As an active leader in the Indianapolis community, Stewart is Chairman of Bosma
Enterprises, a non-profit organization, which employs and rehabilitates the
blind and visually impaired. He also serves on the board of directors of Junior
Achievement of Greater Indianapolis. He previously served as chairman of the
Seton Society, a St. Vincent Hospital and Foundation Committee, and a director
of Ballet Internationale.
About First Merchants Corporation:
First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in
Muncie, Indiana. Subsidiaries of the Corporation include First Merchants Bank,
N.A., First Merchants Bank of Central Indiana, N.A., Lafayette Bank & Trust
Company, N.A., Commerce National Bank and First Merchants Trust Company, N.A.
The Corporation also operates First Merchants Insurance Services, a full-service
property casualty, personal lines, and healthcare insurance agency and is a
majority member of Indiana Title Insurance Company, LLC, a title insurance
agency.
First Merchants Corporation's common stock is traded over-the-counter on the
NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol FRME. Quotations are carried in
daily newspapers and can be found on the company's Internet Web page
(http://www.firstmerchants.com).