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>0001736608</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>Patrick J. Fehring</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES INC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>34 FOUNTAIN SQUARE PLAZA</com:street1>
            <com:city>CINCINNATI</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>OH</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>45202</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>26437</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>1137319.74</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>58117115</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>11/07/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>01/05/2018</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Option</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Merchants Corporation</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>22603</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>01/05/2018</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Grant</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/16/2020</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSA</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Merchants Corporation</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2508</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/16/2020</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Grant</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/15/2021</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSA</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Merchants Corporation</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1326</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/15/2021</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Grant</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>11/07/2024</noticeDate>
        <signature>Jacob Burkett (Confirming Statement on File)</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3882}]
text: 144
  0001736608
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000712534
  First Merchants Corporation
  001-41342
  200 E Jackson Street
  Muncie
  IN
  47305
  7657471378
  Patrick J. Fehring
  Director
  Common Stock
  FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES INC
  34 FOUNTAIN SQUARE PLAZA
  CINCINNATI
  OH
  45202
  26437
  1137319.74
  58117115
  11/07/2024
  NASDAQ
  Common Stock
  01/05/2018
  Stock Option
  First Merchants Corporation
  N
  22603
  01/05/2018
  Grant
  Common Stock
  02/16/2020
  RSA
  First Merchants Corporation
  N
  2508
  02/16/2020
  Grant
  Common Stock
  02/15/2021
  RSA
  First Merchants Corporation
  N
  1326
  02/15/2021
  Grant
  Y
  11/07/2024
  Jacob Burkett (Confirming Statement on File)