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



    </own:filerInfo>
  </own:headerData>
  <own:formData>
    <own:issuerInfo>
      <own:issuerCik>0000712534</own:issuerCik>
      <own:issuerName>First Merchants Corporation</own:issuerName>
      <own:issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>200 E. Jackson Street</com:street1>
        <com:city>Muncie</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>IN</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>47305</com:zipCode>
      </own:issuerAddress>
      <own:issuerContactPhone>7657471378</own:issuerContactPhone>
      <own:nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Stephan H. Fluhler</own:nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <own:relationshipsToIssuer>
        <own:relationshipToIssuer>Chief Information Officer</own:relationshipToIssuer>
      </own:relationshipsToIssuer>
    </own:issuerInfo>
    <own:securitiesInformation>
      <own:securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</own:securitiesClassTitle>
      <own:brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <own:name>E*TRADE FINANCIAL CORPORATION</own:name>
        <own:address>
          <com:street1>3 Edison Drive</com:street1>
          <com:city>Alpharetta</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30005</com:zipCode>
        </own:address>
      </own:brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <own:noOfUnitsSold>4080</own:noOfUnitsSold>
      <own:aggregateMarketValue>176256</own:aggregateMarketValue>
      <own:noOfUnitsOutstanding>62205528</own:noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <own:approxSaleDate>08/19/2026</own:approxSaleDate>
      <own:securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</own:securitiesExchangeName>
    </own:securitiesInformation>
    <own:securitiesToBeSold>
      <own:securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</own:securitiesClassTitle>
      <own:acquiredDate>08/02/2026</own:acquiredDate>
      <own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Vested Restricted Stock Awards</own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Merchants Corporation</own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <own:isGiftTransaction>N</own:isGiftTransaction>
      <own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>4080</own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <own:paymentDate>08/02/2026</own:paymentDate>
      <own:natureOfPayment>Grant</own:natureOfPayment>
    </own:securitiesToBeSold>
    <own:nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</own:nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <own:noticeSignature>
      <own:noticeDate>08/19/2026</own:noticeDate>
      <own:signature>Paul Cento (Conforming Statement on File)</own:signature>
    </own:noticeSignature>
  </own:formData>
</own:edgarSubmission>
