Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement of First Merchants Corporation on Form S-8 (File Number 333-50484) of our report dated June 9, 2017, of our audit on the financial statements of First Merchants Corporation Retirement Income and Savings Plan for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, which report is included in this Annual Report on Form 11-K

/s/ BKD, LLP

Indianapolis, Indiana

June 9, 2017