Regulatory Capital (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Banking and Thrift [Abstract]

Schedule of Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations

Actual and required capital amounts and ratios are listed below.

	2012								2011
					Required For								Required For
	Actual				Adequate Capital				Actual				Adequate Capital
December 31,	Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio
Total Capital (to Risk-weighted Assets)
First Merchants Corporation	$	526,792	16.34	%	$	257,927	8.00	%	$	487,393	16.54	%	$	235,781	8.00	%
First Merchants Bank	515,337		16.01		257,446		8.00		477,805		16.26		235,089		8.00
Tier I Capital (to Risk-weighted Assets)
First Merchants Corporation	$	456,132	14.15	%	$	128,964	4.00	%	$	410,132	13.92	%	$	117,890	4.00	%
First Merchants Bank	474,782		14.75		128,723		4.00		440,909		15.00		117,545		4.00
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets)
First Merchants Corporation	$	456,132	11.03	%	$	165,460	4.00	%	$	410,132	10.17	%	$	161,350	4.00	%
First Merchants Bank	474,782		11.50		165,124		4.00		440,909		10.96		160,848		4.00