    <SEC-DOCUMENT>0000712534-20-000262-index.html : 20200929
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    <ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20200929080256
    ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000712534-20-000262
    CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
    PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		20
    CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20200925
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Other Events
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
    FILED AS OF DATE:		20200929
    DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20200929

    FILER:

    	COMPANY DATA:
    		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST MERCHANTS CORP
    		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000712534
    		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
    		IRS NUMBER:				351544218
    		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
    		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

    	FILING VALUES:
    		FORM TYPE:		8-K
    		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
    		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17071
    		FILM NUMBER:		201206098

    	BUSINESS ADDRESS:
    		STREET 1:		200 E JACKSON ST
    		STREET 2:		PO BOX 792
    		CITY:			MUNCIE
    		STATE:			IN
    		ZIP:			47308-0792
    		BUSINESS PHONE:		7657471500

    	MAIL ADDRESS:
    		STREET 1:		200 EAST JACKSON STREET
    		CITY:			MUNCIE
    		STATE:			IN
    		ZIP:			47305
    </SEC-HEADER>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>8-K
    <SEQUENCE>1
    <FILENAME>frme-20200925.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>8-K
    <TEXT>
    Document 1 - file: frme-20200925.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-10.1
    <SEQUENCE>2
    <FILENAME>exhibit101.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>EX-10.1
    <TEXT>
    Document 2 - file: exhibit101.htm

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-99.1
    <SEQUENCE>3
    <FILENAME>pressrelease.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>EX-99.1
    <TEXT>
    Document 3 - file: pressrelease.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-101.SCH
    <SEQUENCE>4
    <FILENAME>frme-20200925.xsd
    <DESCRIPTION>XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 4 - file: frme-20200925.xsd

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-101.CAL
    <SEQUENCE>5
    <FILENAME>frme-20200925_cal.xml
    <DESCRIPTION>XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-101.DEF
    <SEQUENCE>6
    <FILENAME>frme-20200925_def.xml
    <DESCRIPTION>XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-101.LAB
    <SEQUENCE>7
    <FILENAME>frme-20200925_lab.xml
    <DESCRIPTION>XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 7 - file: frme-20200925_lab.xml

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-101.PRE
    <SEQUENCE>8
    <FILENAME>frme-20200925_pre.xml
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    <TEXT>
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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>9
    <FILENAME>exhibit101001.jpg
    <DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
    <TEXT>
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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>10
    <FILENAME>exhibit101002.jpg
    <DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
    <TEXT>
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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>11
    <FILENAME>exhibit101003.jpg
    <DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
    <TEXT>
    Document 11 - file: exhibit101003.jpg

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>12
    <FILENAME>exhibit101004.jpg
    <DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
    <TEXT>
    Document 12 - file: exhibit101004.jpg

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>13
    <FILENAME>frme-20200925_htm.xml
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
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    Document 13 - RAW XML: frme-20200925_htm.xml

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    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>14
    <FILENAME>R1.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EXCEL
    <SEQUENCE>15
    <FILENAME>Financial_Report.xlsx
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 15 - file: Financial_Report.xlsx

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>16
    <FILENAME>Show.js
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 16 - file: Show.js

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>17
    <FILENAME>report.css
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>18
    <FILENAME>FilingSummary.xml
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    <TEXT>
    Document 18 - file: FilingSummary.html

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>JSON
    <SEQUENCE>20
    <FILENAME>MetaLinks.json
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 20 - file: MetaLinks.json

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>ZIP
    <SEQUENCE>21
    <FILENAME>0000712534-20-000262-xbrl.zip
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 21 - file: 0000712534-20-000262-xbrl.zip

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