content: <?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>0001344155</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000712534</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>First Merchants Corporation</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>7657471378</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Michael C. Rechin</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>PNC Investments</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>11405 North Pennsylvania Street</com:street1>
            <com:city>Carmel</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>IN</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>46032</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>10000</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>375400</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>59398022</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>12/14/2023</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>08/16/2021</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Vested Restricted Stock Awards plus Dividends Paid and Reinvested Quarterly</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Merchants Corporation</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>7833</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>08/16/2021</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Grant</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>11/29/2016</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Options Exercise.</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Merchants Corporation</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>13300</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>11/29/2016</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Options</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>12/14/2023</noticeDate>
        <signature>Jacob Burkett</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3386}]
text: 144
  0001344155
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000712534
  First Merchants Corporation
  001-41342
  200 E Jackson Street
  Muncie
  IN
  47305
  7657471378
  Michael C. Rechin
  Director
  Common Stock
  PNC Investments
  11405 North Pennsylvania Street
  Carmel
  IN
  46032
  10000
  375400
  59398022
  12/14/2023
  NASDAQ
  Common Stock
  08/16/2021
  Vested Restricted Stock Awards plus Dividends Paid and Reinvested Quarterly
  First Merchants Corporation
  N
  7833
  08/16/2021
  Grant
  Common Stock
  11/29/2016
  Stock Options Exercise.
  First Merchants Corporation
  N
  13300
  11/29/2016
  Options
  Y
  12/14/2023
  Jacob Burkett