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>Cetera Investment Services LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>400 First Steet South</com:street1>
            <com:street2>Suite 300</com:street2>
            <com:city>St. Cloud</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>MN</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>56301</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>23936</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>778063.62</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>58564819</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>05/30/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>05/30/2024</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Option Exercise</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Merchants Corporation</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>23936</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>05/30/2024</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Excercised Option</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>05/30/2024</noticeDate>
        <signature>Jacob Burkett</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
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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
  Cetera Investment Services LLC
  400 First Steet South
  Suite 300
  St. Cloud
  MN
  56301
  23936
  778063.62
  58564819
  05/30/2024
  NASDAQ
  Common Stock
  05/30/2024
  Stock Option Exercise
  First Merchants Corporation
  N
  23936
  05/30/2024
  Excercised Option
  Y
  05/30/2024
  Jacob Burkett