ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS

On February 17, 2008, First Merchants Corporation issued a press release announcing the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.23 per share. The cash dividend is payable on March 20, 2009 to stockholders of record as of March 6, 2009. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information in this Form 8-K and the attached exhibit shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.