First Merchants completes Ameriana deal

First Merchants Corp., Muncie, Ind., has completed its acquisition of Ameriana Bancorp, New Castle, Ind., for $70.4 million..The combined First Merchants Bank now has 117 banking centers in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, and $6.7 billion in assets, $4.6 billion in loans, $5.2 billion in deposits, and total shareholders' equity of $809 million. Full integration is expected in the first quarter.."The merger will add five locations to our 13 banking centers in Hamilton County, the fastest growing Indiana market," said Michael C. Rechin. "We are also excited about the addition of four new communities that we don't currently serve: New Castle, Knightstown, New Palestine and Greenfield, all suburbs of Indianapolis..First Merchants was assisted in the transaction by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., and Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP served as legal counsel..River Branch Capital advised Ameriana Bancorp's board of directors in this transaction, and Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP served as legal advisor to Ameriana Bancorp.