First Merchants Bank is committed to investing in our communities, reducing inequalities and promoting positive economic mobility. Check out our Teammates in Action stories to learn how some of our employees are making a difference.
Read the stories of our communities
This is much more than a responsibility - it is our passion. Our social impact is deeply connected to who we are.
We strengthen our team and our community by encouraging and enabling our employees to become involved in meaningful volunteer opportunities. Our teammates actively engage with our community by serving on the boards of nonprofits, conducting financial wellness workshops, and volunteering throughout the community.
By offering substantial college tuition reimbursement, ongoing training, and professional development opportunities, we further invest in our employees' education and personal growth.
We provide financial support for community causes that positively impact those in need - focusing on financial and economic inclusion, affordable housing, economic development, neighborhood redevelopment, and workforce training.
Before investing in new bank sites, we take a listen-first approach, engaging with local residents and business-owners to assess local impact and need.
We believe in economic opportunity for all. To that end, we are invested in helping to address racial wealth disparity across our markets. And we support organizations with inclusive Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) leadership.
Financial education and financial advice are the first steps towards increasing financial wellness, home ownership, and economic prosperity across our communities. With this in mind, we offer financial wellness programs, resources, and online tools designed to help individuals, small businesses, and community groups achieve their financial goals. We offer targeted outreach in schools and workplaces, hosting workshops and providing mentorship to both students and employees. We teach them how to manage money, plan ahead, and position themselves for long-term prosperity.
First Merchants envisions a future where affordable living and home ownership are possible for everyone. Across the communities we serve, we have experts available to help navigate the complexities of homebuying.
Our team actively extends credit to provide affordable housing, economic development, revitalization, and services for our neighbors in low· and moderate-income (LMI) geographies.
Our Next Horizon Mortgage and Down Payment Assistance programs are designed to make homeownership more accessible to all.
We are committed to establishing a diverse, dynamic workforce. Building a team that reflects our communities' needs makes us better problem-solvers and innovators. It enables us to forge strong customer relationships and provide insightful service. Guiding our diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) efforts are the members of our DE&I Council and Steering committee, who work to encourage diversity, raise awareness of bias, and help us grow. We also have several Employee Resource Groups that promote multicultural awareness, offer leadership development, and provide learning and networking opportunities for our team.
Our efforts to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive company extend outward as well. We are working to improve the diversity of our supplier network by aligning with minority-owned businesses.
POSITIVELY LOOKING AHEAD
We are proud of all that we're building at First Merchants Bank. Our team is on a journey of meaningful impact, and we know this is only the beginning. Going forward, we will continue to listen, learn, and refine our efforts to optimize our impact. We will be proactive in our approach, but responsive and engaged with community issues and opportunities. As a bank that has survived through panics, depressions, and wars, we know it's important for all of us to support each and every member of our communities through good times and in hardship. That's being a true partner. Our hope is that we exist not only as a system of support for our communities, but also one of inspiration. Positive impact has a ripple effect, and our actions today can inspire others to make a difference of their own. This is our most important work, because it's bigger than us.
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In communities big and small in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and now Michigan, First Merchants gives individuals and business owners the financial tools they need to grow and thrive. We are here to help you. Your success is First Merchants’ success. While what we offer may be products and transactions, and while these traditional banking products certainly assist each community, our mission goes beyond the transactional.
In each of our regions, we give our time and finances in efforts to reinvest in our neighborhoods and improve financial outcomes. Just like when we started in 1893, we don’t wait for solutions. Working together, we create them.