FIRST MERCHANTS CORP (FRME)

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

From time to time, we include forward-looking statements in our oral and written communication. We may include forward-looking statements in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in other written materials and in oral statements made by senior management to analysts, investors, representatives of the media and others. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we are including this statement for purposes of these safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by the use of words like “believe”, “continue”, “pattern”, “estimate”, “project”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “expect” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will”, “would”, “should”, “could”, “might”, “can”, “may”, or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include:

•statements of the Corporation's goals, intentions and expectations;

•statements regarding the Corporation's business plan and growth strategies;

•statements regarding the asset quality of the Corporation's loan and investment portfolios; and

•estimates of the Corporation's risks and future costs and benefits.

These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including, among other things, the following important factors which could affect the actual outcome of future events:

•fluctuations in market rates of interest and loan and deposit pricing, which could negatively affect our net interest margin, asset valuations and expense expectations;

•adverse changes in the economy, which might affect our business prospects and could cause credit-related losses and expenses;

•the impacts of epidemics, pandemics or other infectious disease outbreaks;

•the impacts related to or resulting from recent bank failures or adverse developments at other banks on general investor sentiment regarding the stability and liquidity of banks;

•adverse developments in our loan and investment portfolios;

•competitive factors in the banking industry, such as the trend towards consolidation in our market;

•changes in the banking legislation or the regulatory requirements of federal and state agencies applicable to bank holding companies and banks like our affiliate bank;

•acquisitions of other businesses by us and integration of such acquired businesses;

•changes in market, economic, operational, liquidity, credit and interest rate risks associated with our business; and

•the continued availability of earnings and excess capital sufficient for the lawful and prudent declaration and payment of cash dividends.

Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements. In addition, our past results of operations do not necessarily indicate our anticipated future results.

BUSINESS SUMMARY

First Merchants Corporation (the “Corporation”) is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana and was organized in September 1982. The Corporation’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq’s Global Select Market System under the symbol FRME. The Corporation conducts its banking operations through First Merchants Bank (the “Bank”), a wholly-owned subsidiary that opened for business in Muncie, Indiana in March 1893. The Bank also operates First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors (a division of First Merchants Bank). The Bank operates 126 banking locations in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. In addition to its branch network, the Corporation offers comprehensive electronic and mobile delivery channels to its customers. The Corporation’s business activities are currently limited to one reportable business segment, which is community banking.

Through the Bank, the Corporation offers a broad range of commercial and consumer banking services to meet the diverse needs of our customers. Our commercial banking team offers a full spectrum of debt capital, treasury management services and depository products. The consumer banking group offers a variety of consumer deposit and lending products. The mortgage banking team offers consumer mortgage solutions to assist with the purchase, refinance, construction or renovation of residential properties. Private Wealth Advisors offers personal wealth management services with expertise in investment management, private banking, fiduciary estate and financial planning.

Acquisitions

On February 1, 2026, the Corporation completed the acquisition of First Savings Financial Group, Inc., an Indiana corporation, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 24, 2025, by and between the Corporation and First Savings. Immediately following the Merger, First Savings Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Savings, merged with and into the Bank with the Bank surviving the merger and continuing its corporate existence.

First Savings was headquartered in Jeffersonville, Indiana and had 16 banking centers serving the southern Indiana market. The Corporation engaged in this transaction with the objective that the transaction would be accretive to earnings and add to the existing market area in Indiana that has a demographic profile consistent with many of the current Midwest markets served by the Bank.

The Corporation acquired total assets of $2.4 billion, total loans of $1.8 billion, and total deposits of $1.7 billion. The total purchase price of approximately $243.2 million consisted primarily of equity consideration issued by the Corporation and was measured at fair value based on the Corporation’s common stock price as of the acquisition date. The purchase price also included cash paid in lieu of fractional shares. The purchase price represented the fair value of consideration transferred in accordance with ASC 805. Immediately following the acquisition of First

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PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Savings, the Corporation sold substantially all of the acquired investment securities portfolio. The sale was executed as part of the Corporation’s balance sheet repositioning strategy, with the resulting liquidity used to pay down wholesale funding following the acquisition.

For additional information regarding the acquisition, see NOTE 2. ACQUISITIONS of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") are complex and require us to apply significant judgment in the application of accounting, reporting, and disclosure requirements. Management uses estimates and assumptions where actual amounts are not reasonably available, including assumptions based on historical experience and other factors management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because of this inherent uncertainty in these estimates and assumptions, actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could be material to the financial condition and results of operations.

There have been no significant changes during the six months ended June 30, 2026 to the items disclosed as our critical accounting policies and estimates in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. For a complete discussion of our significant accounting policies, see “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. However, due to the First Savings acquisition on February 1, 2026, the Corporation has expanded its discussion below of accounting practices and valuation methodologies related to business combinations, which involve significant judgment and estimation uncertainty.

Business Combinations

Business combinations are accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Under this method, the acquired assets and liabilities assumed are recorded at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date, with the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired recorded as goodwill. The Corporation uses significant estimates and assumptions to value such items, including projected cash flows, repayment rates, default rates and losses assuming default, discount rates and realizable collateral values.

In connection with the acquisition, and consistent with the guidance in ASU 2025‑08, loans acquired through business combinations that meet the definition of PSL are recorded using the gross-up method. PCD loans continue to be accounted for under existing PCD guidance, which also applies the gross‑up method; however, PCD loans represent loans that experienced more‑than‑insignificant credit deterioration since origination, while PSLs did not. Under this method, the Corporation recognizes an allowance for credit losses on loans at the acquisition date, with a corresponding increase to the loan's amortized cost basis. The establishment of the ACL - Loans at acquisition did not result in a provision for credit losses or earnings impact on the acquisition date. Expected credit losses as of the acquisition date are recognized through the acquisition‑date allowance for credit losses, while the non‑credit discount reflects all other valuation factors, including differences between contractual interest rates and prevailing market rates, liquidity considerations, and other non‑credit‑related assumptions. The non‑credit discount is accreted into interest income over the remaining life of the loans using the effective interest method. Subsequent changes in expected credit losses for PSLs are recognized through the provision for credit losses in the period in which the estimate changes, consistent with the Corporation's methodology for originated loans measured at amortized cost.

The acquisition date valuations, as well as any measurement period adjustments recognized subsequent to the acquisition date, determine the amount of goodwill recorded. Measurement period adjustments are recorded if new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date and are reflected as adjustments to goodwill. Because these adjustments affect the fair values of acquired assets and liabilities, including loans and identifiable intangible assets, changes in these estimates could materially affect the amount of goodwill recorded.

The fair value determinations are based on valuation methodologies that incorporate management's assumptions regarding future growth rates, attrition, discount rates, and other relevant factors. In certain circumstances, third party valuation specialists are engaged to assist in the development of these fair value estimates. The valuation of acquired assets and assumed liabilities often requires a significant degree of judgment, particularly when observable market data is limited or unavailable. Changes in these estimates or in economic or market conditions could require adjustments to the carrying values of acquired assets and liabilities, including the recognition of impairment where applicable.

Results of operations of First Savings are included in the income statement from the date of acquisition. Details of the Corporation's acquisitions are included in NOTE 2. ACQUISITIONS of the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

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PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The historical consolidated financial data discussed below reflects historical results of operations and financial condition and should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes thereto presented in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical financial data, this discussion includes certain forward-looking statements regarding events and trends that may affect our future results. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially. See our cautionary “Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” For a more complete discussion of the factors that could affect our future results, see “Risk Factors” under Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

OVERVIEW

The Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana and was organized in September 1982. The Corporation’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq’s Global Select Market System under the symbol FRME. The Corporation conducts its banking operations through First Merchants Bank (the “Bank”), a wholly-owned subsidiary that opened for business in Muncie, Indiana, in March 1893. The Bank also operates First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors (a division of First Merchants Bank). The Bank includes 111 banking locations in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. In addition to its branch network, the Corporation offers comprehensive electronic and mobile delivery channels to its customers. The Corporation’s business activities are currently limited to one significant business segment, which is community banking.

Through the Bank, the Corporation offers a broad range of commercial and consumer banking services to meet the diverse needs of our customers. Our commercial banking team offers a full spectrum of debt capital, treasury management services and depository products. The consumer banking group offers a variety of consumer deposit and lending products. The mortgage banking team offers consumer mortgage solutions to assist with the purchase, refinance, construction or renovation of residential properties. Private Wealth Advisors offers personal wealth management services with expertise in investment management, private banking, fiduciary estate and financial planning.

ACQUISITION AND DIVESTITURE

On February 1, 2026, the Corporation completed the acquisition of First Savings Financial Group, Inc., an Indiana corporation (“First Savings”), pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 24, 2025, by and between the Corporation and First Savings (the “Merger Agreement”). Immediately following the Merger, First Savings Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Savings, merged with and into the Bank with the Bank surviving the merger and continuing its corporate existence.

First Savings was headquartered in Jeffersonville, Indiana and had 16 banking centers serving the southern Indiana market and had total assets of $2.4 billion (unaudited), total loans of $1.9 billion (unaudited), and total deposits of $1.7 billion (unaudited) as of December 31, 2025. The Corporation engaged in this transaction with the objective that the transaction would be accretive to earnings and add to the existing market area in Indiana that has a demographic profile consistent with many of the current Midwest markets served by the Bank. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Corporation recorded merger-related expenses of $0.8 million related to the First Savings acquisition.

For additional information regarding the acquisition, see NOTE 2. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, the Merger Agreement is filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Generally accepted accounting principles require management to apply significant judgment to certain accounting, reporting and disclosure matters. Management must use assumptions and estimates to apply those principles where actual measurement is not possible or practical. The judgments and assumptions made are based upon historical experience or other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because of the nature of the judgments and assumptions, actual results could differ from estimates, which could have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations. For a complete discussion of the Corporation’s significant accounting policies see NOTE 1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans

As discussed in NOTE 5. LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the allowance for credit losses on loans is a contra-asset valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans to present the net amount expected to be collected. The amount of the allowance represents management’s best estimate of current expected credit losses on loans considering available information obtained from internal and external sources that is relevant to assessing exposure to credit loss over the contractual term of the instrument. Relevant available information includes historical credit loss experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts. While historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses, the Corporation qualitatively adjusts model results for risk factors that are not inherently considered in the quantitative modeling process but are nonetheless relevant in assessing the expected credit losses within the loan portfolio. These adjustments may either increase or decrease the estimate of expected credit losses based upon the assessed level of risk for each qualitative factor. The various risks that may be considered in making qualitative adjustments include, among other things, the impact of (i) changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, (ii) changes in the existence, growth and effect of any concentrations in credit, (iii) changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and practices for collections, write-offs, and recoveries, (iv) changes in the quality of the credit review function, (v) changes in the experience, ability and depth of lending management and staff, and (vi) other environmental factors such as regulatory, legal and technological considerations, as well as competition.

While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond management’s control, including the performance of the loan portfolio, the economy, changes in interest rates and the view of the regulatory authorities toward classification of assets.

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PART II: ITEM 7. AND ITEM 7A. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The table below includes certain financial data of the Corporation for the previous 3 years:

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PART II: ITEM 7. AND ITEM 7A. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - 2025

The Corporation reported net income available to common stockholders and diluted earnings per common share for the year ended 2025 of $224.1 million and $3.88 per diluted common share, respectively, compared to $199.5 million and $3.41 per diluted common share, respectively, for the year ended 2024.

When adjusting for certain non-recurring items, adjusted net income available to common stockholders was $224.7 million and adjusted diluted earnings per common share totaled $3.89 for the year ended 2025, compared to $203.3 million and $3.47, respectively, for the year ended 2024. These adjusted net income and earnings per share amounts are non-GAAP measures. For reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to their most comparable GAAP measures, see “NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES” within the “Results of Operations” section of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

As of December 31, 2025, total assets equaled $19.0 billion, an increase of $713.1 million, or 3.9 percent, from December 31, 2024.

Cash and due from banks and interest-bearing deposits decreased $106.0 million from December 31, 2024. Total investment securities decreased $82.1 million from December 31, 2024, primarily due to $164.9 million in maturities and redemptions of available for sale securities and held to maturity securities and $10.0 million related to amortization of purchase premiums during the year ended December 31, 2025.

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