Welcome to our dedicated page for First Merchants news (Ticker: FRME), a resource for investors and traders seeking the latest updates and insights on First Merchants stock.
First Merchants Corporation reports developments for a financial holding company built around First Merchants Bank, its single full-service bank charter, and First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors. News commonly covers community banking results, deposit and loan activity, investment securities, mortgage lending, cash management, wealth management, and capital actions involving common stock and Series A preferred depositary shares.
Company updates also include board and executive governance matters, cash dividend declarations, earnings-call materials, digital banking partnerships, and completed acquisition activity such as the First Savings Financial Group merger that expanded its southern Indiana presence.
First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ: FRME) declared a cash dividend of $0.37 per common share on August 14, 2026. The dividend will be paid on September 18, 2026 to shareholders of record as of September 4, 2026. First Merchants is a Muncie, Indiana-based financial holding company operating First Merchants Bank and its private wealth division.
First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ: FRME) reported second quarter 2026 net income available to common stockholders of $43.5 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, versus $56.4 million, or $0.98, a year earlier and $27.7 million, or $0.45, in the first quarter of 2026. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.74, compared to $1.03 in the prior quarter and $0.98 in the prior-year quarter. Net interest income rose to $158.9 million, with fully taxable equivalent net interest margin at 3.38%, up 3 basis points sequentially and 13 basis points year-over-year. Loans reached $15.5 billion after $268.8 million linked-quarter growth, including $221.7 million organic growth on a 5.8% annualized basis, while deposits increased to $16.8 billion, up $267.8 million sequentially. Provision for credit losses rose to $33.0 million as two commercial relationships totaling $41.8 million were placed on nonaccrual and associated reserves of $29.7 million were recorded. Capital remained strong with a common equity tier 1 ratio of 11.16%, and the company repurchased 976,631 common shares year-to-date for $38.3 million.
First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ: FRME) declared a quarterly cash dividend of $46.88 per share on its 7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock Series A, represented by depositary shares (NASDAQ: FRMEP). Holders will receive $0.4688 per depositary share, payable on August 14, 2026 to stockholders of record on July 30, 2026.
First Merchants Corporation (Nasdaq: FRME) will release its second quarter 2026 financial results on July 22, 2026, and host an earnings conference call and webcast on July 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. ET. A webcast replay will be available until July 23, 2027.
First Merchants (NASDAQ:FRME) and NCRC announced a new $2.02 billion, five-year Community Benefits Agreement running from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2030.
The plan targets Indiana, Michigan and Ohio with:
- $650M LMI mortgage lending
- $464M small-business lending
- $700M community development lending
- $200M community development investments
- $6M philanthropy
First Merchants Bank (NASDAQ: FRME), a $21 billion-asset financial institution, was named to Forbes’ World’s Best Banks 2026 list. The ranking, developed with Statista, is based on survey responses from more than 54,000 customers across 34 countries, assessing trust, service, digital offerings and transparency.
Only banks with the highest satisfaction scores in their markets were selected. First Merchants’ inclusion highlights its relationship-driven model, combining digital tools with local, in-person service and community-based decision making.
First Merchants (NASDAQ: FRME), a $21 billion financial holding company, appointed Paul Fultz, former KPMG Audit and Business Unit Professional Practice Partner, to the Boards of First Merchants Corporation and First Merchants Bank.
With his addition, the board will have 13 members, including 10 independent directors, and he will stand for continuing terms at the 2027 Annual Shareholders Meeting.
First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ: FRME) declared a cash dividend of $0.37 per common share on May 19, 2026. The dividend will be paid on June 19, 2026 to shareholders of record as of June 5, 2026.
First Merchants is a financial holding company based in Muncie, Indiana, operating First Merchants Bank and First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors.
First Merchants (NASDAQ:FRME) reported Q1 2026 net income available to common stockholders of $27.7M ($0.45 diluted EPS) and adjusted net income of $63.1M ($1.03 adjusted EPS). The company closed the First Savings acquisition (Feb 1, 2026), adding $2.4B in assets. Total assets were $21.1B, loans $15.3B, deposits $16.5B, CET1 ratio 11.22%, adjusted efficiency ratio 54.21%, and nonperforming assets 0.43%. Repurchases year-to-date totaled 708,856 shares for $27.6M.
First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ:FRME) declared a quarterly cash dividend on its 7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (depositary shares traded as NASDAQ:FRMEP).
Holders of depositary shares will receive $0.4688 per depositary share (equivalent to $46.88 per full preferred share). The dividend is payable on May 15, 2026 to holders of record on April 30, 2026.