---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000712534-26-000011"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FRME"
cik: "0000712534"
company_name: "FIRST MERCHANTS CORP"
filed_at: "2026-01-26T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T08:11:58.914123+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# First Merchants Q4 EPS $0.99, adj $0.98; record full-year net income $224.1M; First Savings acquisition close Feb 1

## Summary
- Net income available to common $56.6M ($0.99 diluted EPS); adjusted EPS $0.98; full-year record $224.1M ($3.88 EPS).
- Loans grew $197.4M linked qtr (5.8% annualized) to $13.8B; deposits +$424.9M (11.4% annualized) to $15.3B.
- NIM (FTE) 3.29% +5bps linked qtr; efficiency ratio 54.52%; nonperforming assets 0.38% of total assets.
- Regulatory approval obtained for First Savings Financial Group acquisition (~$2.4B assets); closing expected Feb 1, 2026.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000712534-26-000011
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FRME
- cik: 0000712534
- company_name: FIRST MERCHANTS CORP
- filed_at: 2026-01-26T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/712534/000071253426000011/0000712534-26-000011-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/712534/000071253426000011/frme-20260126.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000712534-26-000011
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000712534-26-000011.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000712534-26-000011.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.