Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership (Form 3)

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Scurlock Eva A. 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 01/01/2026 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol FIRST MERCHANTS CORP [FRME] (Last) (First) (Middle) 200 EAST JACKSON ST 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chief Risk Officer 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (Month/Day/Year) (Street) MUNCIE, IN 47305 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5) Common Stock 23,290.128(1) D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.			SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option - Right to Buy	08/18/2016	02/18/2026	Common Stock	5,986	$21.79	D
Employee Stock Option - Right to Buy	02/18/2019	02/18/2026	Common Stock	681	$21.79	D
Employee Stock Option - Right to Buy	02/15/2021	02/15/2028	Common Stock	4,762	$26.04	D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Scurlock Eva A. 200 EAST JACKSON ST MUNCIE, IN 47305			Chief Risk Officer

Signatures

Jacob Burkett (Confirming Statement on File)		01/14/2026
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Includes Restricted Stock Awards totaling 2,223.109 shares.

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