Larry Myers appointed to First Merchants boards, enhancing leadership after First Savings merger, effective February 1, 2026.
Quiver AI Summary
First Merchants Corporation has appointed Larry Myers to its Boards of Directors following the recent merger with First Savings Bank, which was finalized on February 1, 2026. Myers, who has nearly 20 years of experience as President and CEO of First Savings Bank and has held various leadership roles in banking associations, is expected to enhance First Merchants' strategic capabilities and governance. His extensive knowledge of the southern Indiana market aligns with the company's growth priorities. Both CEO Mark K. Hardwick and Board Chair Jean Wojtowicz expressed confidence that Myers' insights and experience will support the organization's disciplined growth and commitment to shareholder value.
Potential Positives
- Larry Myers' appointment to the Boards of Directors is expected to enhance the strategic and governance capabilities of First Merchants Corporation, bringing extensive banking experience.
- The recent merger with First Savings Bank strengthens First Merchants' presence in southern Indiana, aligning with their long-term growth priorities.
- Myers’ deep knowledge of the southern Indiana market is anticipated to support First Merchants' focus on creating shareholder value and disciplined growth.
Potential Negatives
- Appointment of Larry Myers from First Savings Bank may raise concerns about leadership changes and potential cultural integration challenges following the merger.
- The transition period after the merger could lead to operational disruptions as both organizations align their strategies and cultures.
- Potential for skepticism from investors regarding the effectiveness of the new board member, especially given that he is coming from a recently merged entity.
FAQ
Who has been appointed to the First Merchants Boards?
Larry Myers has been appointed to the Boards of Directors of First Merchants Corporation and First Merchants Bank.
What was Larry Myers' previous role?
He was the President and Chief Executive Officer of First Savings Bank and First Savings Financial Group, Inc.
When did the merger between First Merchants and First Savings Bank occur?
The merger was completed on February 1, 2026.
What will Larry Myers contribute to First Merchants?
His extensive banking experience and leadership will enhance the Boards’ strategic and governance capabilities.
How can I find more information about First Merchants Corporation?
More information is available on their website at www.firstmerchants.com.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$FRME Insider Trading Activity
$FRME insiders have traded $FRME stock on the open market 1 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 0 have been purchases and 1 have been sales.
Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $FRME stock by insiders over the last 6 months:
- STEPHAN FLUHLER (Chief Information Officer) sold 5,689 shares for an estimated $202,243
To track insider transactions, check out Quiver Quantitative's insider trading dashboard.
$FRME Revenue
$FRME had revenues of $172.2M in Q4 2025. This is an increase of 11.12% from the same period in the prior year.
You can track FRME financials on Quiver Quantitative's FRME stock page.
$FRME Hedge Fund Activity
We have seen 139 institutional investors add shares of $FRME stock to their portfolio, and 117 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.
Here are some of the largest recent moves:
- NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT CO added 15,165,815 shares (+27081812.5%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $568,414,746
- PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC removed 646,425 shares (-91.0%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $24,228,008
- AMERICAN CENTURY COMPANIES INC removed 538,704 shares (-47.8%) from their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $20,309,140
- CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS added 527,545 shares (+64.4%) to their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $19,888,446
- SCHRODER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT GROUP removed 331,163 shares (-100.0%) from their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $12,484,845
- FJ CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC added 294,718 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $11,110,868
- HOTCHKIS & WILEY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC added 230,192 shares (+252.0%) to their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $8,678,238
To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.
$FRME Analyst Ratings
Wall Street analysts have issued reports on $FRME in the last several months. We have seen 2 firms issue buy ratings on the stock, and 0 firms issue sell ratings.
Here are some recent analyst ratings:
- Piper Sandler issued a "Overweight" rating on 10/27/2025
- Keefe, Bruyette & Woods issued a "Outperform" rating on 09/26/2025
To track analyst ratings and price targets for $FRME, check out Quiver Quantitative's $FRME forecast page.
$FRME Price Targets
Multiple analysts have issued price targets for $FRME recently. We have seen 3 analysts offer price targets for $FRME in the last 6 months, with a median target of $49.0.
Here are some recent targets:
- Nathan Race from Piper Sandler set a target price of $49.0 on 02/04/2026
- Terry McEvoy from Stephens & Co. set a target price of $46.0 on 09/29/2025
- Damon Delmonte from Keefe, Bruyette & Woods set a target price of $50.0 on 09/26/2025
Full Release
MUNCIE, Ind., Feb. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Merchants Corporation, a $21.4 billion financial holding company, announced that Larry Myers has been appointed to the Boards of Directors of First Merchants Corporation and First Merchants Bank. Myers recently announced plans to transition from his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of First Savings Bank and First Savings Financial Group, Inc., positions he has held for nearly 20 years. The two organizations completed their merger on February 1, 2026, further strengthening First Merchants’ presence in southern Indiana.
“Mr. Myers brings extensive banking experience and a proven leadership record that will enhance our Boards’ strategic and governance capabilities,” said Jean Wojtowicz, Board Chair. “His deep knowledge of the southern Indiana market aligns well with our long-term growth priorities and will support our continued focus on creating shareholder value.”
Chief Executive Officer Mark K. Hardwick added, “Larry’s perspective as a seasoned community bank executive will be an important addition to our boardroom. His insights will support disciplined growth, operational execution, and our commitment to delivering strong financial performance. We are pleased that southern Indiana will continue to have a significant voice as part of our expanded footprint.”
During Myers’ tenure at First Savings, he served as Chairman of the Indiana Bankers Association and on the board of the American Bankers Association. He earned both his Bachelor of Science and MBA from the University of Kentucky and joined the Federal Home Loan Bank Board of Directors in 2018. Myers’ career includes decades of experience in community banking, credit management, and regional economic development.
“I am honored to join the First Merchants Boards at such an important time for the organization,” said Myers. The merger underscores a strong alignment in culture, strategy, and customer focus. First Merchants has demonstrated a disciplined performance trajectory and a clear growth strategy, and I look forward to contributing my expertise as the company continues to build long-term value for shareholders.”
About
First
Merchants
Corporation:
First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. The Corporation has one full-service bank charter, First Merchants Bank. The Bank also operates as First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors and First Savings Bank (as divisions of First Merchants Bank). First Merchants Corporation’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System under the symbol FRME. Quotations are carried in daily newspapers and can be found on the company’s website (
www.firstmerchants.com
). FIRST MERCHANTS and the Shield Logo are federally registered trademarks of First Merchants Corporation.
For more information, contact:
Nicole Weaver, First Vice President/Director of Corporate Administration
765-521-7619
http://www.firstmerchants.com/
