<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001608347</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000712534</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>FIRST MERCHANTS CORP</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-41342</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>200 E Jackson Street</com:street1>
        <com:city>Muncie</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>IN</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>47305</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>7653788762</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Stephan H. Fluhler</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Chief Information Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>E*TRADE FINANCIAL CORPORATION</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3 Edison Drive</com:street1>
          <com:city>Alpharetta</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30005</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>5689</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>203381.75</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>57192497</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>11/04/2025</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>08/10/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Vested Restricted Stock Awards</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Merchants Corporation</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2428</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>08/10/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Grant</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>08/03/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Vested Restricted Stock Awards</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Merchants Corporation</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>3261</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>08/03/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Grant</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>11/03/2025</noticeDate>
      <signature>Jacob Burkett (Confirming Statement on File)</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
