FIRST MERCHANTS CORP

First Merchants Bank and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) announced a new $2.02 billion Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). This five-year agreement, effective from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2030, reinforces the bank's commitment to financial wellness across its footprint in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The CBA includes significant allocations for mortgage lending, small business lending, community development, and philanthropy, aiming to expand access to financial prosperity and support underserved communities.

First Merchants Corporation's Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program. The program authorizes the repurchase of up to 3,125,000 shares of the Company's common stock, with a total aggregate investment not exceeding $100,000,000. This represents approximately 5% of the outstanding shares and replaces a previous program from March 2025.

First Merchants Bank, a $21 billion-asset financial institution, has been recognized on Forbes World Best Banks 2026 list. This annual ranking, developed with Statista, evaluates banks based on customer trust, service quality, and overall experience, drawing from over 54,000 customer responses across 34 countries. The recognition highlights First Merchants' long-standing commitment to balancing digital innovation with meaningful in-person service and community-based decision making, reinforcing its reputation as a high-performing institution with deep local ties.

First Merchants Corporation has announced the appointment of Paul Fultz to its Boards of Directors for both the Corporation and First Merchants Bank. Mr. Fultz, a retired Audit and Business Unit Professional Practice Partner from KPMG LLP, brings over 30 years of experience in financial reporting, risk oversight, and governance. His addition is expected to strengthen the board's strategic decision-making and provide valuable perspective on complex transactions. With this appointment, First Merchants' board will expand to 13 members, including 10 independent outside directors.

First Merchants Corporation announced a cash dividend of $0.37 per common share. The dividend is scheduled to be paid on June 19, 2026, to shareholders of record as of June 5, 2026. First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana.

FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION completed its acquisition of First Savings Financial Group, Inc. on February 1, 2026, issuing 6.1 million common shares for a total purchase price of approximately $243.2 million. The acquisition significantly increased total assets and deposits, but the company reported a decline in Q1 2026 net income available to common stockholders to $27.687 million, or $0.45 diluted EPS, compared to $54.870 million, or $0.94 diluted EPS, in Q1 2025. This decline was partly due to $17.0 million in integration and transaction-related expenses and a $29.755 million net loss on mortgage loans reclassified to held for sale.

First Merchants Corporation released its Investor Update for the first quarter of 2026. The filing includes standard forward-looking statements and disclosures regarding non-GAAP financial measures. Specific financial results for the quarter were not detailed in the provided text snippet.

First Merchants Corporation reported Q1 2026 net income available to common stockholders of $27.7 million, or $0.45 per diluted share. On an adjusted basis, net income was $63.1 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, an increase from the prior quarter. The company successfully completed the acquisition of First Savings Financial Group, Inc. on February 1, 2026, adding $2.4 billion in assets. The quarter's results included $17.0 million in acquisition costs and a $29.8 million mark-to-market loss on mortgage loans moved to held-for-sale, impacting reported earnings.

First Merchants Corporation announced a quarterly cash dividend of $46.88 per share on its 7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock Series A. Holders of depositary shares (NASDAQ: FRMEP), representing a 1/100th interest, will receive $0.4688 per depositary share. The dividend is scheduled for payment on May 15, 2026, to stockholders of record as of April 30, 2026.