ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
Following are the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, of First Merchants Corporation (hereinafter referred to
as the "Corporation"), a corporation existing pursuant to the provisions of the Indiana Business Corporation Law,
as amended (hereinafter referred to as the "Act"):
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the Corporation is First Merchants Corporation.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSES
The purposes for which the Corporation is formed are:
SECTION 1. To acquire control of The Merchants National Bank of Muncie and to operate as a bank holding
company.
SECTION 2. GENERAL POWERS. To possess, exercise, and enjoy all rights, powers and privileges conferred
upon bank holding companies by the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 as amended and as hereafter
amended or supplemented, and all other rights and powers authorized by the laws of the State of Indiana, and the
laws of the United States of America applicable to bank holding companies and the regulations of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
SECTION 3. TO DEAL IN REAL PROPERTY. Subject to the limitations of
Section 2 above, to acquire by purchase, exchange, lease or otherwise, and to hold, own, use, construct,
improve, equip, manage, occupy, mortgage, sell, lease, convey, exchange or otherwise dispose of, alone or in
conjunction with others, real estate and leaseholds of every kind, character and description whatsoever and
wheresoever situated, and any other interests therein, including, but without limiting the generality thereof,
buildings, factories, warehouses, offices and structures of all kinds.
SECTION 4. CAPACITY TO ACT. Subject to the limitations of Section 2 above, to have the capacity to act
possessed by natural persons and to perform such acts as are necessary and advisable to accomplish the
purposes, activities and business of the Corporation.
SECTION 5. TO ACT AS AGENT. Subject to the limitations of Section 2 above, to act as agent or
representative for