SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
   
þ QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED September 30, 2009March 31, 2010
   
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                    to                    
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-10161
FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
   
OHIO
34-1339938
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 34-1339938
(IRS Employer Identification
incorporation or organization)Number)
III CASCADE PLAZA, 7TH FLOOR, AKRON, OHIO
44308-1103
(Address of principal executive offices)

(330) 996-6300
(Telephone Number)
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YESþNOo
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer þAccelerated filer oNon-accelerated fileroSmaller reporting companyo
(Do not check if smaller reporting company)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YESo NOþ
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YesoNoo
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filerþAccelerated filero
Non-accelerated filero
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting companyo
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YESoNOþ
     As of October 28, 2009, 85,844,862May 6, 2010, 91,184,700 shares, without par value, were outstanding.
 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
SIGNATURES
EX-3.1
EX-3.2
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-32.1
EX-32.2


PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ITEM 1.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                        
(In thousands) September 30, December 31, September 30,        
(Unaudited, except December 31, 2008, which is derived from the audited financial statements) 2009 2008 2008 
(Unaudited, except December 31, 2009, which is derived from the March 31, December 31, March 31, 
audited financial statements) 2010 2009 2009 
ASSETS
  
Cash and due from banks $193,060 $178,406 $186,087  $721,938 $161,033 $179,397 
Investment securities  
Held-to-maturity 166,663 158,273 161,722  67,256 50,686 30,588 
Available-for-sale 2,584,414 2,614,575 2,288,511  3,102,407 2,565,943 2,576,637 
Other investments 131,376 128,209 128,007 
Loans held for sale 12,519 11,141 9,126  16,009 16,828 22,408 
Loans: 
Noncovered Loans: 
Commercial loans 4,097,252 4,352,730 4,273,065  4,389,859 4,066,522 4,344,915 
Mortgage loans 481,336 547,125 559,276  447,575 463,416 524,909 
Installment loans 1,481,200 1,574,587 1,613,481  1,382,522 1,425,373 1,533,885 
Home equity loans 761,553 733,832 717,887  766,073 753,112 741,073 
Credit card loans 147,767 149,745 148,179  145,029 153,525 141,597 
Leases 60,540 67,594 69,704  59,464 61,541 64,384 
              
Total loans 7,029,648 7,425,613 7,381,592 
Less allowance for loan losses  (116,352)  (103,757)  (102,007)
Total noncovered loans 7,190,522 6,923,489 7,350,763 
Less: allowance for loan losses  (117,806)  (115,092)  (106,257)
       
Net noncovered loans 7,072,716 6,808,397 7,244,506 
Covered loans (includes loss share receivable of $108 million) 277,315   
              
Net loans 6,913,296 7,321,856 7,279,585  7,350,031 6,808,397 7,244,506 
Premises and equipment, net 126,416 133,184 128,570  164,408 125,205 130,920 
Goodwill 139,245 139,245 139,245  187,945 139,598 139,245 
Intangible assets 1,143 1,403 1,490  5,659 1,158 1,316 
Other real estate covered by FDIC loss share 11,415   
Accrued interest receivable and other assets 624,599 541,943 490,509  565,004 542,845 519,152 
              
Total assets $10,761,355 $11,100,026 $10,684,845  $12,323,448 $10,539,902 $10,972,176 
              
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  
Deposits:  
Demand-non-interest bearing $1,898,913 $1,637,534 1,540,523  $2,217,714 $2,069,921 1,848,200 
Demand-interest bearing 644,121 666,615 663,924  686,503 677,448 669,789 
Savings and money market accounts 3,035,922 2,512,331 2,386,453  4,103,657 3,408,109 2,763,058 
Certificates and other time deposits 1,692,318 2,781,199 2,839,656  2,362,135 1,360,318 2,397,166 
              
Total deposits 7,271,274 7,597,679 7,430,556  9,370,009 7,515,796 7,678,213 
   ��          
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 1,350,475 921,390 1,244,200 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase 896,330 996,345 804,525 
Wholesale borrowings 749,397 1,344,195 898,720  677,715 740,105 1,134,152 
Accrued taxes, expenses, and other liabilities 331,000 298,919 185,291  224,041 222,029 271,017 
              
Total liabilities 9,702,146 10,162,183 9,758,767  11,168,095 9,474,275 9,887,907 
              
Commitments and contingencies  
Shareholders’ equity:  
Preferred stock, without par value: 
authorized and unissued 7,000,000 shares    
Preferred stock, Series A, without par value: 
designated 800,000 shares; none outstanding    
Convertible preferred stock, Series B, without par value: 
designated 220,000 shares; none outstanding    
Preferred stock, without par value: authorized and unissued 7,000,000 shares    
Preferred stock, Series A, without par value: designated 800,000 shares; none outstanding    
Convertible preferred stock, Series B, without par value: designated 220,000 shares; none outstanding    
Fixed-Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, $1,000 liquidation preference; authorized and issued 125,000 shares        120,622 
Common stock, without par value: 
authorized 300,000,000 shares; issued 92,635,910, 92,026,350 and 92,026,350 at September 30, 2009, December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2008, respectively. 127,937 127,937 127,937 
Common stock, without par value: authorized 300,000,000 shares; issued 97,521,571, 93,633,871 and 92,026,350 at March 31, 2010, December 31, 2009 and March 31, 2009, respectively 127,937 127,937 127,937 
Common stock warrant   4,582 
Capital surplus 68,694 94,802 93,387  171,330 88,573 84,876 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (7,437)  (54,080)  (59,190)  (20,983)  (25,459)  (38,634)
Retained earnings 1,042,752 1,053,435 1,047,781  1,047,827 1,043,625 1,057,681 
Treasury stock, at cost, 6,767,053, 11,066,108 and 11,052,155 shares at September 30, 2009, December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2008, respectively  (172,737)  (284,251)  (283,837)
Treasury stock, at cost, 6,711,936, 6,629,995 and 10,609,284 shares at March 31, 2010, December 31, 2009 and March 31, 2009, respectively  (170,758)  (169,049)  (272,795)
              
Total shareholders’ equity 1,059,209 937,843 926,078  1,155,353 1,065,627 1,084,269 
              
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $10,761,355 $11,100,026 $10,684,845  $12,323,448 $10,539,902 $10,972,176 
              
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

2


FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
                        
 Quarters ended Nine months ended  Quarters ended 
(Unaudited) September 30, September 30,  March 31, 
(In thousands except per share data) 2009 2008 2009 2008  2010 2009 
Interest income:  
Interest and fees on loans, including held for sale $84,283 $107,927 258,329 $330,731  $83,150 $87,799 
Interest and dividends on investment securities and federal funds sold 29,388 29,223 90,857 87,714 
Investment securities 
Taxable 24,870 28,295 
Tax-exempt 3,339 3,262 
     
Total investment securities interest 28,209 31,557 
Other earning assets 495  
              
Total interest income 113,671 137,150 349,186 418,445  111,854 119,356 
              
Interest expense:  
Interest on deposits:  
Demand-interest bearing 137 589 451 2,144  152 155 
Savings and money market accounts 5,763 6,932 16,592 23,075  7,601 5,377 
Certificates and other time deposits 12,284 23,463 46,197 82,037  6,406 18,588 
Interest on securities sold under agreements to repurchase 1,286 8,244 3,496 28,105  1,127 999 
Interest on wholesale borrowings 6,824 6,801 21,064 20,133  6,174 7,343 
              
Total interest expense 26,294 46,029 87,800 155,494  21,460 32,462 
              
Net interest income 87,377 91,121 261,386 262,951  90,394 86,894 
Provision for loan losses 23,887 15,531 68,473 41,617  25,493 18,065 
              
Net interest income after provision for loan losses 63,490 75,590 192,913 221,334  64,901 68,829 
              
Other income:  
Trust department income 5,081 5,562 15,309 16,836  5,281 4,790 
Service charges on deposits 16,782 16,648 46,798 47,412  15,366 14,163 
Credit card fees 11,711 12,084 34,463 35,387  11,558 11,084 
ATM and other service fees 2,935 2,717 8,380 8,281  2,509 2,606 
Bank owned life insurance income 3,216 3,139 9,216 9,557  5,652 3,015 
Investment services and insurance 2,498 2,899 7,686 8,554  1,928 2,918 
Investment securities gains, net 2,925  4,103 571 
Loan sales and servicing income 3,881 1,370 10,007 4,646  3,237 2,335 
Gain on Visa Inc. redemption    7,898 
Gain on acquistion 5,090  
Gain on post medical retirement curtailment   9,543    9,543 
Other operating income 2,538 2,610 12,095 9,499  3,328 4,734 
              
Total other income 51,567 47,029 157,600 148,641  53,949 55,188 
              
Other expenses:  
Salaries, wages, pension and employee benefits 43,351 45,043 130,158 132,472  48,156 42,682 
Net occupancy expense 5,739 5,741 18,468 18,699  7,140 6,871 
Equipment expense 5,847 5,962 17,856 17,998  6,050 5,797 
Stationery, supplies and postage 2,167 2,347 6,493 6,914  2,693 2,275 
Bankcard, loan processing and other costs 7,548 7,497 23,252 22,097  7,818 7,842 
Professional services 3,980 3,966 10,316 8,434  5,237 3,480 
Amortization of intangibles 86 86 260 486  234 87 
FDIC expense 3,765 2,556 
Other operating expense 15,447 9,967 51,129 35,293  12,920 11,613 
              
Total other expenses 84,165 80,609 257,932 242,393  94,013 83,203 
              
Income before federal income tax expense 30,892 42,010 92,581 127,582  24,837 40,814 
Federal income tax expense 8,129 12,257 24,889 37,233  6,816 11,380 
              
Net income $22,763 $29,753 67,692 $90,349  $18,021 $29,434 
              
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes  
Unrealized securities’ holding gain (loss), net of taxes $28,172 $(8,978) 50,235 $(19,488)
Unrealized hedging gain (loss), net of taxes  347  (94) 1,133 
Unrealized securities’ holding gain, net of taxes $4,476 $15,817 
Unrealized hedging loss, net of taxes   (94)
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of taxes  (277) 875  (831) 2,621    (277)
Less: reclassification adjustment for securities’ gain realized in net income, net of taxes 1,901  2,667 371 
              
Total other comprehensive gain (loss), net of taxes 25,994  (7,756) 46,643  (16,105)
Total other comprehensive gain, net of taxes 4,476 15,446 
              
Comprehensive income $48,757 $21,997 114,335 $74,244  $22,497 $44,880 
              
Net income applicable to common shares $22,763 $29,753 61,321 $90,349  $18,021 $27,563 
              
Net income used in diluted EPS calculation $22,763 $29,753 61,321 $90,354  $18,021 $27,563 
              
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — basic * 85,872 82,090 84,182 82,015 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — basic* 87,771 82,514 
              
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — diluted * 85,880 82,117 84,190 82,062 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — diluted* 87,777 82,523 
              
Basic earnings per share * $0.27 $0.36 0.73 $1.10  $0.21 $0.33 
              
Diluted earnings per share * $0.27 $0.36 0.73 $1.10  $0.21 $0.33 
              
Stock dividend per share  0.72%   0.73%  
         
Dividend per share $0.16 $0.29 0.61 $0.87  $0.16 $0.29 
              
 
* Average outstanding shares and per share data as of March 31, 2009 are restated to reflect the effect of stock dividends declared April 28, 2009 and August 20, 2009.
The accompanyingaccompaning notes are an integral part of the consolidatedconsoldiated financial statements.

3


FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
                                                                
 Accumulated    Accumulated   
 Common Other Total  Common Other Total 
 Preferred Common Stock Capital Comprehensive Retained Treasury Shareholders’ 
 Stock Stock Warrant Surplus Income Earnings Stock Equity 
Balance at December 31, 2007 $ $127,937 $ $100,028 $(43,085) $1,027,775 $(295,678) $916,977 
Net income      90,349  90,349 
Cash dividends — common stock ($0.87 per share)       (70,343)   (70,343)
Options exercised (125,662 shares)     (963)   3,027 2,064 
Nonvested (restricted) shares granted (405,653 shares)     (10,083)   10,084 1 
Debentures converted (2,841 shares)     (38)   63 25 
Treasury shares purchased (42,429 shares)    213    (900)  (687)
Deferred compensation trust (23,718 shares)    433    (433)  
Share-based compensation    3,797    3,797 
Net unrealized gains on investment securities, net of taxes      (19,859)    (19,859)
Unrealized hedging gain, net of taxes     1,133   1,133 
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of taxes     2,621   2,621 
                 
Balance at September 30, 2008 $ $127,937 $ $93,387 $(59,190) $1,047,781 $(283,837) $926,078 
                 
 
(Unaudited) Preferred Common Stock Capital Comprehensive Retained Treasury Shareholders’ 
(In thousands) Stock Stock Warrant Surplus Income Earnings Stock Equity 
Balance at December 31, 2008 $ $127,937  $94,802 $(54,080) $1,053,435 $(284,251) $937,843  $ $127,937 $ $94,802 $(54,080) $1,053,435 $(284,251) $937,843 
Net income      67,692  67,692       67,692  67,692 
Cash dividends — preferred stock       (1,789)   (1,789)       (1,789)   (1,789)
Cash dividends — common stock ($0.61 per share)       (50,286)   (50,286)       (50,286)   (50,286)
Stock dividend    5,765   (21,718) 15,953      5,765   (21,718) 15,953  
Options exercised (2,400 shares)     (18)   58 40      (18)   58 40 
Nonvested (restricted) shares granted (536,058 shares)     (13,154)   13,151  (3)     (13,154)   13,151  (3)
Debentures converted         
Treasury shares purchased (118,736 shares)    500    (2,197)  (1,697)    500    (2,197)  (1,697)
Deferred compensation trust (29,597 shares)     (32)   32       (32)   32  
Share-based compensation    6,270    6,270     6,270    6,270 
Issuance of common stock (3,267,751 shares)     (24,561)   84,517 59,956      (24,561)   84,517 59,956 
Issuance of Fixed-Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock 120,622  4,582    (204)  125,000  120,622  4,582    (204)  125,000 
Redemption of Fixed-Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock  (120,622)      (4,378)   (125,000)
Repurchase of warrants    (4,582)  (443)     (5,025)
Net unrealized gains on investment securities, net of taxes     47,568   47,568      47,568   47,568 
Unrealized hedging gain, net of taxes      (94)    (94)      (94)    (94)
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of taxes      (831)    (831)      (831)    (831)
Other     (435)     (435)
                                  
Balance at September 30, 2009 $ $127,937 $ $69,129 $(7,437) $1,042,752 $(172,737) $1,059,644 
Balance at March 31, 2009 $120,622 $127,937 $4,582 $69,572 $(7,437) $1,047,130 $(172,737) $1,189,669 
                                  
 
Balance at December 31, 2009 $ $127,937 $ $88,573 $(25,459) $1,043,625 $(169,049) $1,065,627 
Net income      18,021  18,021 
Cash dividends — common stock ($0.16 per share)       (13,819)   (13,819)
Options exercised (29,161 shares)     (185)   677 492 
Nonvested (restricted) shares granted (4,375 shares)     (99)   99  
Treasury shares purchased (115,477 shares)    523    (2,509)  (1,986)
Deferred compensation trust (8,828 shares)     (24)   24  
Share-based compensation    2,543    2,543 
Issuance of common stock (3,887,700 shares)    79,999    79,999 
Net unrealized gains on investment securities, net of taxes     4,476   4,476 
                 
Balance at March 31, 2010 $ $127,937 $ $171,330 $(20,983) $1,047,827 $(170,758) $1,155,353 
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

4


FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
        
 Nine months         
 ended  Three months ended 
(Unaudited) September 30,  March 31, 
(In thousands) 2009 2008  2010 2009 
 
Operating Activities
  
Net income $67,692 $90,349  $18,021 $29,434 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:  
Provision for loan losses 68,473 41,617  25,493 18,065 
Provision for depreciation and amortization 14,536 13,835 
Depreciation and amortization 5,277 4,938 
Accretion  (3,116)  (889)
Amortization of investment securities premiums, net 3,482 799  1,971 851 
Accretion of income for lease financing  (2,584)  (3,047)
Gains on sales and calls of investment securities, net  (4,103)  (571)
Decrease in interest receivable 2,843 5,673 
Decrease in interest payable  (8,453)  (12,730)
(Decrease) increase in employee pension liability  (6,068) 19,664 
(Decrease) increase in prepaid expenses  (6,017) 397 
Post medical retirement curtailment gain  (9,543)     (9,543)
Increase in bank owned life insurance  (9,001)  (9,557)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable  (13,899) 7,142 
Gain on acquisition  (5,090)  
Originations of loans held for sale  (409,752)  (232,501)  (79,771)  (130,899)
Proceeds from sales of loans, primarily mortgage loans sold in the secondary mortgage markets 411,792 238,207  81,893 120,558 
(Gains) losses on sales of loans, net  (3,418) 830 
Amortization of intangible assets 260 486 
Other decreases  (7,928)  (15,809)
Gains on sales of loans, net  (1,303)  (926)
Net change in assets and liabilities 
(Increase) decrease in interest receivable  (1,633) 2,589 
Increase (decrease) in interest payable 1,415  (421)
Increase in prepaid assets  (719)  (5,175)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable  2,114   (9,616)
(Decrease) increase in taxes payable (4,297 6,243 
Decrease (increase) in other receivables 741  (24)
(Increase) decrease in other assets  (5,688) 68 
Other increases (decreases)  8,203   (8,394)
          
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 88,312 144,784  43,511 16,859 
Investing Activities
  
Dispositions of investment securities:  
Available-for-sale — sales 102,564 77,985  12,161 16,552 
Available-for-sale — maturities 506,976 450,538  153,567 158,998 
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities  (509,493)  (516,606)  (714,255)  (97,745)
Net decrease (increase) in loans and leases, excluding sales 324,985  (377,609)
Net (increase) decrease in loans and leases  (12,299) 55,776 
Purchases of premises and equipment  (7,855)  (12,052)  (2,266)  (2,619)
Sales of premises and equipment 87 116   32 
Net cash acquired from acquisitions 931,060  
          
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 417,264  (377,628)
NET CASH PROVIDED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 367,968 130,994 
Financing Activities
  
Net increase (decrease) in demand accounts 238,885  (5,999)
Net (decrease) increase in demand accounts  (3,671) 213,840 
Net increase in savings and money market accounts 523,591 91,306  232,767 250,727 
Net (decrease) increase in certificates and other time deposits  (1,088,881) 13,510 
Net increase (decrease) in securities sold under agreements to repurchase 429,085  (11,880)
Net (decrease) increase in wholesale borrowings  (594,798) 193,599 
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock 125,000  
Repurchase of preferred stock  (125,000)  
Repurchase of common stock warrant  (5,025)  
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 59,956  
Net increase (decrease) in certificates and other time deposits 18,049  (384,033)
Net decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase  (100,015)  (116,865)
Net decrease in wholesale borrowings  (62,390)  (210,043)
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock  125,000 
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock 79,999  
Cash dividends — preferred  (1,789)     (1,667)
Cash dividends — common  (50,286)  (70,343)  (13,819)  (23,317)
Purchase of treasury shares  (1,697)  (687)  (1,986)  (542)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options, conversion of debentures or conversion of preferred stock 37 2,090  492 38 
          
NET CASH (USED) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
  (490,922) 211,596 
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 149,426  (146,862)
          
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 14,654  (21,248)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 560,905 991 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 178,406 207,335  161,033 178,406 
          
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $193,060 $186,087  $721,938 $179,397 
          
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION:
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES
 
Cash paid during the period for:  
Interest, net of amounts capitalized $44,721 $78,909  $12,908 $13,162 
          
Federal income taxes $21,822 $38,652  $797 $ 
          
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

5


FirstMerit Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2009March 31, 2010(Unaudited)(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation— FirstMerit Corporation (“Corporation”the Parent Company”) is a bank holding company whose principal asset is the common stock of its wholly-owned subsidiary, FirstMerit Bank, N. A. The Corporation’sParent Company’s other subsidiaries include Citizens Savings Corporation of Stark County, FirstMerit Capital Trust I, FirstMerit Community Development Corporation, FMT, Inc., Realty Facility Holdings XV, L.L.C, and FirstMerit Risk Management, Inc., and FMT, Inc. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
     The accounting and reporting policies of FirstMerit Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Corporation”) conform to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and to general practices within the financial services industry. Effective July 1, 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) became the single source of authoritative nongovernmental generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America.GAAP. Other than resolving certain minor inconsistencies in current GAAP, the ASC is not intended to change GAAP, but rather to make it easier to review and research GAAP applicable to a particular transaction or specific accounting issue. Technical references to GAAP included in these Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements are provided under the new ASC structure.
     The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 20082009 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date. The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normally recurring accruals) that are, in the opinion of management,Management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. In preparing these financial statements, subsequent events were evaluated through October 30, 2009, the date the financial statements were issued. Financial statements are considered issued when they are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In conjunction with applicable accounting standards, allNo material subsequent events have been either recognizedoccurred requiring recognition in the financial statements or discloseddisclosure in the notes to the financial statements. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been omitted in accordance with the rules of the SEC.Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The consolidated financial statements of the Corporation as of September 30,March 31, 2010 and 2009 and 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full fiscal year or for any future period. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.2009.
     Certain previously reportedreclassifications of prior year’s amounts have been reclassifiedmade to conform to the current reportingyear presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on net earnings.
2.Accounting Policies Recently Adopted and PendingIssued Accounting PronouncementsStandardsASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share. Effective January 1, 2009, the accounting and reporting standards for earnings per share were amended. This amendment clarifies that unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents are considered participating securities and should be included in the calculation of basic earnings per share using the two-class method prescribed by existing GAAP. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material effect on the Corporation’s consolidated results of operations or earnings per share.

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ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations.This accounting guidance requires all businesses acquired after January 1, 2009 to be measured at the fair value of the consideration paid. It requires an entity to recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date, at their fair values as of that date. An entity is not permitted to recognize a separate valuation allowance as of the acquisition date for loans and other assets acquired in a business combination. Acquisition and restructuring costs are required to be expensed and are not to be included in the cost of the acquisition. The Corporation will apply these accounting standards to business combinations with acquisition dates on or after January 1, 2009.
ASC Topic 810, Consolidation.Effective January 1, 2009, the accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary were amended. The amendment clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as a component of equity in the consolidated financial statements. Prior to this amendment, such noncontrolling interests were reported in the consolidated statement of financial position as liabilities or in the mezzanine section between liabilities and equity. This amendment also requires expanded disclosures that identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent’s owner and the interests of the noncontrolling owners of an entity. This amendment did not have an impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging.Effective March 31, 2009, the accounting and reporting standards for derivatives and hedging requires the Corporation to present specific disclosures which provide greater transparency as to the use of derivative instruments and hedging activity. In accordance with this guidance, the Corporation discloses in Note 8 (Accounting for Derivatives and Hedging Activities) how and why it uses derivative instruments; how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for; and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.
ASC Topic 320, Investments — Debt and Equity Securities.Effective June 30, 2009, the Corporation adopted the amendment to the accounting and reporting standards regarding recognition and disclosure of other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”). This amendment requires recognition of only the credit portion of OTTI in current earnings for those debt securities where there is no intent to sell or it is more likely than not the Corporation would not be required to sell the security prior to expected recovery. The remaining portion of the OTTI is to be included in other comprehensive income. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations. See Note 3 (Investment Securities) for additional information regarding the application of this guidance to the Corporation’s investment securities.
ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.In April 2009, an amendment to the accounting and reporting standards of fair value measurements and disclosures was issued. The amendment provides additional guidance for estimating fair value when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased. This amendment also provides guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. The Corporation adopted this additional guidance on June 30, 2009 and such adoption did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial condition or results of

7


operations. See Note 10 (Fair Value Measurements) for additional information on how the Corporation determines fair value.
ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments.Effective June 30, 2009, the Corporation adopted the amendment to the accounting and reporting standards for disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments which requires such disclosures for all interim and annual reporting periods of publically traded companies. See Note 10 (Fair Value Measurements) for disclosures about fair value of the Corporation’s financial instruments.
ASC Topic 855, Subsequent Events.Effective June 30, 2009, the accounting and reporting standards for subsequent events requires the Corporation to disclose the date through which it has evaluated events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued as well as the basis for that date, that is, whether that date represents the date the financial statements were issued.
Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-05, Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value.This ASU allows for the use of specific valuation techniques to measure the fair value of a liability, within the scope of ASC 820,Fair Value Measurements, when a quoted price in an active market for a similar asset is not available. These specific valuation techniques should maximize the use of relevant observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The guidance in this ASU is effective for the Corporation as of October 1, 2009. The Corporation does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations.
  ��  ASC Topic 715, Compensation—Retirement Benefits.In December 2008, an amendment to the accounting and reporting standards of postretirement benefit plan assets was issued.This amendment requires expanded disclosures about the plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan to provide users of financial statements with an understanding of: how investment allocation decisions are made; the major categories of plan assets; the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets; the effect of fair-value measurements using significant unobservable inputs on changes in plan assets for the period; and significant concentrations of risk within plan assets. These expanded disclosures will be effective for the Corporation’s December 31, 2009 consolidated financial statements.
In June 2009, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) 166, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 140 (“SFAS 166”which has been codified into ASC 860,Transfers and Servicing(“ASC 860”). (The FASB has yet to incorporate SFAS 166 in the ASC.) SFAS 166This guidance removes the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity from existing GAAP and removes the exception from applying the accounting and reporting standards within ASC 810,Consolidation(“ASC 810”), to

6


qualifying special purpose entities. SFAS 166This guidance also establishes conditions for accounting and reporting of a transfer of a portion of a financial asset, modifies the asset sale/ derecognitionde-recognition criteria, and changes how retained interests are initially measured. SFAS 166This guidance is expected to provide greater transparency about transfers of financial assets and a transferor’s continuing involvement, if any, with the transferred assets. This guidance will bewas effective for the Corporation beginningas of January 1, 2010. The Corporation does2010 and it not expect its adoption to have a material effectan impact on the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations.

8


     In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R) (“SFAS 167”). (The FASB has yet to incorporate SFAS 167which was codified in the ASC.) The newASC 810. This guidance removes the scope exception for qualifying special-purpose entities, contains new criteria for determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity and increases the frequency of required reassessments to determine whether an entity is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. Enhanced disclosures wouldare also be required. This guidance will bewas effective forthe Corporation beginningas of January 1, 2010. The Corporation is in the process of analyzing the potential2010 and it did not have an impact of the new guidance, however, it does not expect the adoption to have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations.
3.Investment SecuritiesFASB ASU 2010-06, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.ASU 2010-06 amends ASC 820 to require additional disclosures regarding fair value measurements. Specifically, the ASU requires disclosure of the amounts of significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and the reasons for these transfers; the reasons for any transfers in or out of Level 3; and information in the reconciliation of recurring Level 3 measurements about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis. In addition to these new disclosure requirements, the ASU also amends ASC 820 to clarify certain existing disclosure requirements. For example, the ASU clarifies that reporting entities are required to provide fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities. Previously, separate fair value disclosures were required for each major category of assets and liabilities. ASU 2010-06 also clarifies the requirement to disclose information about both the valuation techniques and inputs used in estimating Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements. Except for the requirement to disclose information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the reconciliation of recurring Level 3 measurements on a gross basis, these disclosures are effective for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and are incorporated into Note 10 (Fair Value Measurement). The requirement to separately disclose purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements of recurring Level 3 measurements becomes effective for the Corporation for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.
2. Business Combinations
Asset Based Loans
     On December 16, 2009, FirstMerit Bank, N.A. (the “Bank”), acquired $102.0 million in outstanding principal of asset based lending loans (“ABL Loans”), as well as the staff to service and build new business, from First Bank Business Capital, Inc., (“FBBC”) for $93.2 million in cash. FBBC is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Bank, a Missouri state chartered bank. This acquisition expands the Corporation’s market presence and asset based lending business into the Midwest.
     The purchase was accounted for under the acquisition method in accordance with ASC 805,Business Combinations(“ASC 805”). Accordingly, the ABL Loans and a non-compete

7


agreement acquired were recorded at their fair values, $92.7 million and $0.1 million, respectively, on the date of acquisition. The Bank recorded goodwill of $0.4 million relating to the ABL Loans and non-compete agreement it acquired. Additional information can be found in Note 5 (Goodwill and Intangible Assets).
     All ABL Loans acquired were performing as of the acquisition date and as of March 31, 2010. The shortfall between the fair value of the ABL Loans acquired and the outstanding principal balance of these loans at the date of acquisition was a $9.3 million discount and will be accreted into interest income over their estimated useful life in accordance with ASC 310,Receivables.
First Bank Branches
     On February 19, 2010, the Bank completed the acquisition of certain assets and the assumption of certain liabilities with respect to 24 branches of First Bank located in the greater Chicago, Illinois area. This acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method in accordance with ASC 805. The Bank recognized $1.4 million of acquisition related costs that were expensed in the current period. These costs are included in the line item entitled professional services in the consolidated income statement. Excluding the purchase accounting adjustments, the acquisition included the assumption of approximately $1.2 billion in deposits and the purchase of $301.2 million of loans and $23.0 million in real and personal property associated with the acquired branch locations. The Bank received cash of $832.5 million to assume the net liabilities.
     The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition:
             
  Acquired  Fair Value  As Recorded by 
  Book Value  Adjustments  FirstMerit Bank, N.A. 
Assets
            
Cash and due from banks $3,725  $  $3,725 
Loans  301,236   (25,624)  275,612 
Premises and equipment  22,992   18,963   41,955 
Goodwill     48,347   48,347 
Core deposit intangible     3,154   3,154 
Other assets  941   3,115   4,056 
          
Total assets acquired
 $328,894  $47,955  $376,849 
          
Liabilities
            
Deposits $1,199,279  $7,134  $1,206,413 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities  4,192   (1,271)  2,921 
          
Total liabilities assumed
 $1,203,471  $5,863  $1,209,334 
          
     All loans acquired in the First Bank acquisition were performing as of the acquisition date and as of March 31, 2010. The shortfall between the fair value and the outstanding principal balance of these loans at the date of acquisition was a $25.6 million discount and will be accreted into interest income over their estimated useful life in accordance with ASC 310,Receivables.

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     Additional information regarding the goodwill and core deposit intangible acquired in the First Bank acquisition can be found in Note 5 (Goodwill and Intangible Assets).
     Pro forma financial statement information is not presented because the historical results of the First Bank branches acquired are not meaningful or significant to the Corporation’s results.
George Washington Savings Bank — FDIC Assisted Acquisition
     On February 19, 2010 the Bank acquired certain assets and assumed substantially all of the deposits and certain liabilities of the failed George Washington Savings Bank (“George Washington”), the subsidiary of George Washington Savings Bancorp, through a purchase and assumption agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations, Division of Banking, declared George Washington closed on February 19, 2010 and appointed the FDIC as receiver.
     The Bank did not acquire the real estate, banking facilities, furniture and equipment of George Washington as part of the purchase and assumption agreement but has the option to purchase these assets at fair market value from the FDIC. This purchase option expires 90 days after acquisition date, but was extended by the FDIC. Fair market values for the real estate, facilities, furniture and equipment will be based on current appraisals and determined at a later date. The Bank is leasing these facilities and equipment from the FDIC until current appraisals are received and a final purchase decision is made.
     The acquisitions of the net assets of George Washington constitute a business combination as defined by ASC 805 and, accordingly were recorded at their estimated fair value on the date of acquisition. The Bank recognized $0.3 million of acquisition related costs that were expensed in the current period. These costs are included in the line item entitled professional services in the consolidated income statement. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values on the date of acquisition. The estimated fair value of assets acquired exceeded the estimated fair value of liabilities assumed, resulting in a bargain purchase gain of $5.1 million. The Bank and the FDIC are engaged in on-going discussions that may impact which assets and liabilities are ultimately acquired or assumed by the Bank and/or the purchase price. In addition, the tax treatment of FDIC assisted acquisitions is complex and subject to interpretations that may result in future adjustments of deferred taxes as of the acquisition date.
     In connection with the George Washington acquisition, the Bank entered into loss sharing agreements with the FDIC that collectively cover $327.1 million of assets including single family residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate and commercial and industrial loans, and other real estate (collectively referred to as “Covered Assets”). The Bank acquired other George Washington assets that are not covered by the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC including investment securities purchased at fair market value and other tangible assets.
     Pursuant to the terms of the loss sharing agreements, the FDIC is obligated to reimburse the Bank for 80% of losses of up to $172.0 million with respect to the Covered Assets and will reimburse the Bank for 95% of losses that exceed $172.0 million. The Bank will reimburse the FDIC for 80% of recoveries with respect to losses for which the FDIC paid the Bank 80% reimbursement under the loss sharing agreements, and for 95% of recoveries with respect to losses for which the FDIC paid the Bank 95% reimbursement under the loss sharing agreements.
     The amounts covered by the loss sharing agreements are the pre-acquisition book values of the underlying Covered Assets, the contractual balance of acquired unfunded commitments,

9


and certain future net direct costs incurred in the collection and settlement process. The loss sharing agreements applicable to single family residential mortgage loans provides for FDIC loss sharing and the Bank reimbursement to the FDIC, in each case as described above, for ten years. The loss sharing agreements applicable to commercial loans and securities provides for FDIC loss sharing for five years and the Bank reimbursement to the FDIC for eight years, in each case as described above. The Bank will service the Covered Assets. The expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements were recorded on the balance sheet as part of the covered loans acquired at their estimated fair values of $107.6 million on the acquisition date.
     The table below presents a summary of the assets and liabilities purchased in the George Washington acquisition recorded at estimated fair value on the acquisition date. The Bank received a cash payment from the FDIC of approximately $40.2 million to assume the net liabilities. The estimated fair value of assets acquired and cash payment received from the FDIC exceeded the estimated fair value of the liabilities assumed, resulting in a bargain purchase gain of $5.1 million.
             
  As Recorded  Fair Value  As Recorded by 
  by FDIC  Adjustments  FirstMerit Bank, N.A. 
Assets
            
Cash and due from banks $57,984  $  $57,984 
Investment securities  15,410      15,410 
Covered Loans            
Commercial Loan  256,832   (119,404)  137,428 
Mortgage Loan  24,078   (9,952)  14,126 
Installment Loan  27,218   (7,339)  19,879 
          
Total covered loans  308,128   (136,695)  171,433 
Loss share receivable     107,550   107,550 
          
Total covered loans and loss share receivable          278,983 
Core deposit intangible     962   962 
Covered other real estate  19,021   (7,561)  11,460 
Other assets  3,340      3,340 
          
Total assets acquired
 $403,883  $(35,744) $368,139 
          
             
Liabilities
            
Deposits            
Noninterest-bearing deposit accounts $54,242  $  $54,242 
Savings deposits  62,737      62,737 
Time deposits  278,755   4,921   283,676 
          
Total deposits
  395,734   4,921   400,655 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities  2,569      2,569 
          
Total liabilities assumed
 $398,303  $4,921  $403,224 
          
     The operating results of the Corporation for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 include the operating results produced by the George Washington acquisition for the period of February 19, 2010 to March 31, 2010. Due primarily to the Bank acquiring only certain assets and liabilities in the George Washington acquisition, the significant amount of fair value adjustments,

10


the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC, and on-going discussions with the FDIC that may impact which assets and liabilities are ultimately acquired or assumed by the Bank, historical results from George Washington are not meaningful or significant to the Corporation’s results, and thus no 2010 and 2009 pro forma information is presented.
     The Corporation evaluated loans purchased in conjunction with the acquisition of George Washington for impairment in accordance with the provisions of ASC 310-30,Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality(“ASC 310-30”). Purchased loans are considered impaired if there is evidence of credit deterioration since origination and if it is probable that not all contractually required payments will be collected. In the assessment of credit quality deterioration, Management made numerous assumptions, interpretations and judgments, using internal and third-party credit quality information to determine whether it is probable that the Corporation will be able to collect all contractually required payments. This is a point in time assessment and inherently subjective due to the nature of the available information and judgment involved.
     The Corporation has elected to recognize the accretion of the purchase discount for purchased nonimpaired loans, excluding those with revolving privileges, based on the acquired loan’s expected cash flows, as described in the ASC 310-30. All purchased impaired and nonimpaired loans, excluding those with revolving privileges, are included in the ASC 310-30 financial statement disclosures to these consolidated financial statements. Revolving loans are excluded from purchased impaired loans accounting.
     The outstanding balance of all purchased loans accounted for in accordance with ASC 310-30 in the George Washington acquisition was $268.8 million and $267.2 million, as of February 19, 2010 and March 31, 2010, respectively. As of the acquisition date, the preliminary estimate of contractually required payments receivable, including interest, for all loans accounted for in accordance with ASC 310-30 acquired in the George Washington transaction was $349.4 million. The cash flows expected to be collected as of the acquisition date for these loans were $173.9 million, including interest. These amounts were determined based upon the estimated remaining life of the underlying loans, which includes the effects of estimated prepayments. The fair value of these loans as of the acquisition date was $150.9 million. Interest income, through accretion of the difference between the carrying amount of the loans and the expected cash flows, is being recognized on all purchased impaired and nonimpaired loans accounted for in accordance with ASC 310-30.
     Changes in the carrying amount of accretable yield for purchased loans accounted for in accordance with ASC 310-30 were as follows for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 for George Washington.

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      Carrying 
  Accretable  Amount of 
  Yield  Loans 
Balance at the date of acquisition $22,999  $150,870 
Accretion  (1,044)  1,044 
Payments, received, net     (3,742)
       
Balance at end of period $21,955  $148,172 
       
     As of the acquisition date, the estimate of contractually required payments receivable, including interest, for all loans with revolving privileges acquired in the George Washington transaction was $46.3 million. The cash flows expected to be collected as of the acquisition dates for all loans with revolving privileges acquired in the George Washington transaction were $24.8 million, including interest. The fair value at acquisition date of loans with revolving privileges was $20.5 million. The difference between the fair value of the purchased loans with revolving privileges and the outstanding balance is being accreted to interest income over the remaining period the revolving lines are in effect.
3. Investment Securities
     The following tables provide the amortized cost and fair value for the major categories of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities. Held-to-maturity securities are carried at amortized cost, which reflects historical cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value with net unrealized gains or losses reported on an after-tax basis as a component of cumulative other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity. The fair value of investment securities is impacted by interest rates, credit spreads, market volatility and illiquidity.
                 
  September 30, 2009 
      Gross  Gross    
  Amortized  Unrealized  Unrealized  Fair 
  Cost  Gains  Losses  Value 
Securities available for sale
                
Debt securities                
U.S. Treasury and government agency $11,995  $5  $  $12,000 
U.S States and political subdivisions  287,882   15,868   (22)  303,728 
Residential mortgage-backed securities:                
U.S. government agencies  1,565,762   60,340   (4)  1,626,098 
Residential collateralized mortgage securities:                
U.S. government agencies  578,604   20,056   (13)  598,647 
Non-agency  20         20 
Corporate debt securities  61,372      (21,870)  39,502 
Other debt securities  692         692 
             
Total debt securities $2,506,327  $96,269  $(21,909) $2,580,687 
Marketable equity securities  3,727         3,727 
             
Total securities available for sale $2,510,054  $96,269  $(21,909) $2,584,414 
             
                 
Securities held to maturity
                
Debt securities                
U.S States and political subdivisions $38,454  $  $  $38,454 
Non-marketable equity securities  128,209         128,209 
             
Total securities held to maturity $166,663  $  $  $166,663 
             

912


                                
 December 31, 2008  March 31, 2010 
 Gross Gross    Gross Gross   
 Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair  Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair 
 Cost Gains Losses Value  Cost Gains Losses Value 
Securities available for sale
  
Debt securities 
U.S. Treasury and government agency $20,000 $38 $ $20,038 
U.S States and political subdivisions 286,758 2,726  (3,580) 285,904 
Debt Securities 
U.S. government agency debentures $280,333 $50 $(743) $279,640 
U.S. States and political subdivisions 288,439 4,964  (417) 292,986 
Residential mortgage-backed securities:  
U.S. government agencies 1,681,378 29,643  (2,795) 1,708,226  1,653,689 56,189  (299) 1,709,579 
Residential collateralized mortgage securities: 
Residential collateralized mortgage-backed securities: 
U.S. government agencies 539,382 7,071  (1,159) 545,294  752,443 20,103  (228) 772,318 
Non-agency 20,450   (787) 19,663  20   (1) 19 
Corporate debt securities 61,335   (29,979) 31,356  61,397   (17,603) 43,794 
Other debt securities 730   730  667   667 
                  
Total debt securities $2,610,033 $39,478 $(38,300) $2,611,211  3,036,988 81,306  (19,291) 3,099,003 
Marketable equity securities  3,364     3,364  3,404   3,404 
                  
Total securities available for sale $2,613,397 $39,478 $(38,300) $2,614,575  $3,040,392 $81,306 $(19,291) $3,102,407 
                  
  
Securities held to maturity
  
Debt securities 
U.S States and political subdivisions $30,266 $ $ $30,266 
Non-marketable equity securities  128,007      128,007 
Debt Securities 
U.S. States and political subdivisions $67,256 $ $ $67,256 
                  
Total securities held to maturity $158,273 $ $ $158,273  $67,256 $ $ $67,256 
                  
                 
  December 31, 2009 
      Gross  Gross    
  Amortized  Unrealized  Unrealized  Fair 
  Cost  Gains  Losses  Value 
Securities available for sale
                
Debt Securities                
U.S. government agency debentures $32,029  $  $(132) $31,897 
U.S. States and political subdivisions  289,529   4,984   (394)  294,119 
Residential mortgage-backed securities:                
U.S. government agencies  1,557,754   55,325   (1,852)  1,611,227 
Residential collateralized mortgage-backed securities:    
U.S. government agencies  566,151   16,394   (238)  582,307 
Non-agency  22         22 
Corporate debt securities  61,385      (18,957)  42,428 
Other debt securities  679         679 
             
Total debt securities  2,507,549   76,703   (21,573)  2,562,679 
Marketable equity securities  3,264         3,264 
             
Total securities available for sale $2,510,813  $76,703  $(21,573) $2,565,943 
             
                 
Securities held to maturity
                
Debt Securities                
U.S. States and political subdivisions $50,686  $  $  $50,686 
             
Total securities held to maturity $50,686  $  $  $50,686 
             

1013


                                
 September 30, 2008  March 31, 2009 
 Gross Gross    Gross Gross   
 Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair  Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair 
 Cost Gains Losses Value  Cost Gains Losses Value 
Securities available for sale
  
Debt securities 
U.S. Treasury and government agency $501 $ $ $501 
U.S States and political subdivisions 282,998 566  (18,135) 265,429 
Debt Securities 
U.S. States and political subdivisions $288,470 $3,722 $(2,416) $289,776 
Residential mortgage-backed securities:  
U.S. government agencies 1,588,237 7,077  (11,179) 1,584,135  1,655,231 44,634  (405) 1,699,460 
Residential collateralized mortgage securities: 
Residential collateralized mortgage-backed securities:Residential collateralized mortgage-backed securities: 
U.S. government agencies 374,203 1,419  (3,550) 372,072  522,930 15,106  (164) 537,872 
Non-agency 21,157   (26) 21,131  19,480   (404) 19,076 
Corporate debt securities 61,321   (20,049) 41,272  61,347   (34,561) 26,786 
Other debt securities 743   743  717   717 
                  
Total debt securities $2,328,659 $9,062 $(52,939) $2,285,283  2,548,175 63,462  (37,950) 2,573,687 
Marketable equity securities  3,228      3,228  2,950   2,950 
                  
Total securities available for sale $2,331,887 $9,062 $(52,939) $2,288,511  $2,551,125 $63,462 $(37,950) $2,576,637 
                  
  
Securities held to maturity
  
Debt securities 
U.S States and political subdivisions $33,791 $ $ $33,791 
Non-marketable equity securities  127,931      127,931 
Debt Securities 
U.S. States and political subdivisions $30,588 $ $ $30,588 
                  
Total securities held to maturity $161,722 $ $ $161,722  $30,588 $ $ $30,588 
                  
     The Corporation is a member ofOther investments on the balance sheet include Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) and Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) of Cincinnati. Members are required to ownstock.
             
  March 31,  December 31,  March 31, 
  2010  2009  2009 
FRB stock $9,064  $9,064  $8,862 
FHLB stock  122,312   119,145   119,145 
          
Total other investments $131,376  $128,209  $128,007 
          
     FRB and FHLB stock is classified as a certain amount of stockrestricted investment, carried at cost and valued based on the levelultimate recoverability of borrowings and other factors. Stock in the FHLB is non-marketable and is redeemable at the discretion of the FHLB. The Corporation is also member of the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) and owns FRB stock. FHLB and FRB stock are carried at cost, classified as non-marketable equity securities, and periodically evaluated for impairment. Both cashpar value. Cash and stock dividends received on the stock are reported as interest income. There are no identified events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect on these investments carried at cost.

11

     At March 31, 2009, securities totaling $2.0 billion were pledged to secure trust and public deposits and securities sold under agreements to repurchase and for other purposes required or permitted by law.


Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Value
     The following table presents the gross unrealized losses and fair value of securities in the securities available-for-sale portfolio by length of time that individual securities in each category had been in a continuous loss position.

14


                                                                
 At September 30, 2009  At March 31, 2010 
 Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Total  Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Total 
 Number of Number of    Number of Number of   
 Unrealized impaired Unrealized impaired Unrealized  Unrealized Imparied Unrealized Imparied Unrealized 
Securities available for sale Fair Value Losses securities Fair Value Losses securities Fair Value Losses 
Debt securities 
U.S States and political subdivisions $1,697 $(22) 2 $ $  $1,697 $(22)
 Fair Value Losses Securities Fair Value Losses Securities Fair Value Losses 
Debt Securities 
U.S. government agency debentures $232,571 $(743) 15 $ $  $232,571 $(743)
U.S. States and political subdivisions 39,342  (417) 63    39,342  (417)
Residential mortgage-backed securities:  
U.S. government agencies securities:    306  (4) 3 306  (4)
U.S. government agencies 131,708  (296) 9 238  (3) 1 131,946  (299)
Residential collateralized mortgage-backed securities: 
U.S. government agencies 6,200  (13) 1    6,200  (13) 164,827  (228) 13    164,827  (228)
Non-agency          4  (1) 1    4  (1)
Corporate debt securities    39,502  (21,870) 8 39,502  (21,870)    43,794  (17,603) 8 43,794  (17,603)
                                  
Total temporarily impaired securities $7,897 $(35) 3 $39,808 $(21,874) 11 $47,705 $(21,909) $568,452 $(1,685) 101 $44,032 $(17,606) 9 $612,484 $(19,291)
                                  
                                                                
 At December 31, 2008  At December 31, 2009 
 Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Total  Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Total 
 Number of Number of    Number of Number of   
 Unrealized impaired Unrealized impaired Unrealized  Unrealized Imparied Unrealized Imparied Unrealized 
Securities available for sale Fair Value Losses securities Fair Value Losses securities Fair Value Losses 
Debt securities 
U.S States and political subdivisions $121,040 $(3,333) 197 $6,188 $(247) 8 $127,228 $(3,580)
 Fair Value Losses Securities Fair Value Losses Securities Fair Value Losses 
Debt Securities 
U.S. government agency debentures $31,897 $(132) 3 $ $  $31,897 $(132)
U.S. States and political subdivisions 39,059  (394) 65    39,059  (394)
Residential mortgage-backed securities:  
U.S. government agencies securities: 246,741  (2,668) 29 15,942  (127) 4 262,683  (2,795)
U.S. government agencies 216,014  (1,849) 15 271  (3) 2 216,285  (1,852)
Residential collateralized mortgage-backed securities: 
U.S. government agencies 68,630  (483) 7 28,221  (676) 3 96,851  (1,159) 68,513  (238) 6    68,513  (238)
Non-agency 19,638  (787) 1    19,638  (787) 5  1    5  
Corporate debt securities    31,356  (29,979) 8 31,356  (29,979)   42,428  (18,957) 8 42,428  (18,957)
                                  
Total temporarily impaired securities $456,049  (7,271) 234 $81,707 $(31,029) 23 $537,756 $(38,300) $355,488 $(2,613) 90 $42,699 $(18,960) 10 $398,187 $(21,573)
                                  

15


                                                                
 At September 30, 2008  At March 31, 2009 
 Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Total  Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Total 
 Number of Number of    Number of Number of   
 Unrealized impaired Unrealized impaired Unrealized  Unrealized Imparied Unrealized Imparied Unrealized 
Securities available for sale Fair Value Losses securities Fair Value Losses securities Fair Value Losses 
Debt securities 
U.S. Treasury and government agency $   $ $  $ $ 
U.S States and political subdivisions 236,903  (18,135) 396    236,903  (18,135)
 Fair Value Losses Securities Fair Value Losses Securities Fair Value Losses 
Debt Securities 
U.S. States and political subdivisions $61,369 $(1,430) 104 $24,427 $(986) 39 $85,796 $(2,416)
Residential mortgage-backed securities:  
U.S. government agencies 744,044  (10,421) 54 49,200  (758) 5 793,244  (11,179) 63,876  (401) 10 347  (4) 3 64,223  (405)
securities: 
Residential collateralized mortgage-backed securities: 
U.S. government agencies 248,152  (3,550) 23    248,152  (3,550) 10,679  (2) 1 25,606  (162) 3 36,285  (164)
Non-agency    21,105  (26) 1 21,105  (26) 19,052  (404) 1    19,052  (404)
Corporate debt securities 19,300  (7,430) 4 21,980  (12,619) 4 41,280  (20,049)    26,786  (34,561) 8 26,786  (34,561)
                                  
Total temporarily impaired securities $1,248,399 $(39,536) 477 $92,285 $(13,403) 10 $1,340,684 $(52,939) $154,976 $(2,237) 116 $77,166 $(35,713) 53 $232,142 $(37,950)
                                  
     At least quarterly the Corporation conducts a comprehensive security-level impairment assessment on all securities in an unrealized loss position to determine if OTTI exists. An unrealized loss exists when the current fair value of an individual security is less than its amortized cost basis. Under the current OTTI accounting model for debt securities, which was amended by the FASB and adopted by the Corporation in the second quarter of 2009, an OTTI loss must be recognized for a debt security in an unrealized loss position if the Corporation intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Corporation will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. In this situation, the amount of loss

12


recognized in income is equal to the difference between the fair value and the amortized cost basis of the security. Even if the Corporation does not expect to sell the security, the Corporation must evaluate the expected cash flows to be received to determine if a credit loss has occurred. In the event of a credit loss, only the amount of impairment associated with the credit loss is recognized in income. The portion of the unrealized loss relating to other factors, such as liquidity conditions in the market or changes in market interest rates, is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss.income. Equity securities are also evaluated to determine whether the unrealized loss is expected to be recoverable based on whether evidence exists to support a realizable value equal to or greater than the amortized cost basis. If it is probable that the Corporation will not recover the amortized cost basis, taking into consideration the estimated recovery period and its ability to hold the equity security until recovery, OTTI is recognized.
     The security-level assessment is performed on each security, regardless of the classification of the security as available for sale or held to maturity. The assessments are based on the nature of the securities, the financial condition of the issuer, the extent and duration of the securities, the extent and duration of the loss and the intent and whether managementManagement intends to sell or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell a security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, which may be maturity. For those securities for which the assessment shows the Corporation will recover the entire cost basis, managementManagement does not intend to sell

16


these securities and it is not more likely than not that the Corporation will be required to sell them before the anticipated recovery of the amortized cost basis, the gross unrealized losses are recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax.
     As of September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, gross unrealized losses are concentrated within corporate debt securities which is composed of eight, single issuer, trust preferred securities with stated maturities. Such investments are less than 1%2% of the fair value of the entire investment portfolio. None of the corporate issuers have deferred paying dividends on their issued trust preferred shares in which the Corporation is invested. The fair values of these investments have been impacted by the recent market conditions which have caused risk premiums to increase markedly, resulting in the significant decline in the fair value of the trust preferred securities. Management believes the Corporation will fully recover the cost of these securities and it does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell them before the anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis, which may be maturity. As a result, managementManagement concluded that these securities were not other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 and has recognized the total amount of the impairment in other comprehensive income, net of tax.

13


Realized Gains and Losses
     The following table shows the proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities and the gross realized gains and losses on the sales of those securities that have been included in earnings as a result of those sales.     Gains or losses on the sales of available-for-sale securities are recognized upon sale and are determined byusing the specific identification method.
                 
  Quarter ended  Nine months ended 
  September 30,  September 30, 
  2009  2008  2009  2008 
Proceeds $17,327  $  $102,564  $77,985 
             
                 
Realized gains $2,925  $  $4,103  $571 
Realized losses            
             
Net securities gains $2,925  $  $4,103  $571 
             
There were no material gains or losses on sales of available-for-sale securities for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.
Contractual Maturity of Debt Securities
     The following table shows the remaining contractual maturities and contractual yields of debt securities held-to-maturity and available-for-sale as of September 30, 2009.
                                     
                  Residential               
              Residential  collateralized               
              collateralized  mortgage               
  U.S.      Residential  mortgage  obligations -               
  Treasury and  U.S. States  mortgage backed  obligations - U.S.  non U.S.               
  government  and  securities - U.S.  Government  Government  Corporate          Weighted 
  agency  political  Government  agency  agency  debt  Other      Average 
  obligations  subdivisions  agency obligations  obligations  obligations  securities  securities  Total  Yield 
Securities Available for Sale
                                    
Remaining maturity:                                    
One year or less $  $5,475  $34,355  $17,901  $  $  $51  $57,782   4.03%
Over one year through five years     15,060   1,505,040   567,166   22      203   2,087,491   4.45%
Over five years through ten years     41,193   86,703   13,580         252   141,728   5.58%
Over ten years  12,000   242,000            39,500   186   293,686   4.96%
                            
Fair Value $12,000  $303,728  $1,626,098  $598,647  $22  $39,500  $692  $2,580,687   4.58%
                             
Amortized Cost $11,995  $287,882  $1,565,762  $578,604  $22  $61,370  $692  $2,506,329     
                             
Weighted-Average Yield  3.13%  6.06%  4.55%  4.27%  4.67%  1.18%  0.00%  4.58%    
Weighted-Average Maturity  13.7   11.0   3.5   2.5   4.1   18.1   13.7   4.5     
                                     
Securities Held to Maturity
                                    
Remaining maturity:                                    
One year or less $  $21,588  $  $  $  $  $  $21,588   5.66%
Over one year through five years     3,782                  3,782   5.66%
Over five years through ten years     10,769                  10,769   5.66%
Over ten years     2,315                  2,315   5.66%
                            
Fair Value $  $38,454  $  $  $  $  $  $38,454   5.66%
                             
Amortized Cost $  $38,454  $  $  $  $  $  $38,454     
                             
Weighted-Average Yield      5.66%                      5.66%    
Weighted-Average Maturity      4.5                       4.5     
March 31, 2010. Estimated lives on mortgage-backed securities may differ from contractual maturities as issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

1417


                                     
                  Residential               
              Residential  collateralized               
              collateralized  mortgage               
          Residential  mortgage  obligations -               
  U.S.      mortgage backed  obligations - U.S.  non U.S.               
  Government  U.S. States  securities - U.S.  Government  Government  Corporate          Weighted 
  agency  and political  Government  agency  agency  debt  Other      Average 
  debentures  subdivisions  agency obligations  obligations  obligations  securities  securities  Total  Yield 
Securities Available for Sale
                                    
Remaining maturity:                                    
One year or less $40,053  $11,477  $22,709  $22,302  $  $  $51  $96,592   2.62%
Over one year through five years  227,554   14,157   1,686,870   750,017   20      203   2,678,821   3.61%
Over five years through ten years     59,542               253   59,795   5.97%
Over ten years  12,026   207,810            43,794   160   263,790   4.86%
                            
Fair Value $279,633  $292,986  $1,709,579  $772,319  $20  $43,794  $667  $3,098,998   3.82%
                             
Amortized Cost $280,327  $288,439  $1,653,689  $752,443  $20  $61,397  $667  $3,036,982     
                             
Weighted-Average Yield  0.95%  6.07%  4.15%  3.41%  3.93%  0.96%  0.00%  3.82%    
Weighted-Average Maturity  2.4   10.4   3.3   2.5   4.0   17.6   13.2   4.0     
                                     
Securities Held to Maturity
                                    
Remaining maturity:                                    
One year or less $  $19,163  $  $  $  $  $  $19,163   5.97%
Over one year through five years     3,417                  3,417   5.97%
Over five years through ten years     9,619                  9,619   5.97%
Over ten years     35,057                  35,057   7.46%
                            
Fair Value $  $67,256  $  $  $  $  $  $67,256   6.74%
                             
Amortized Cost $  $67,256  $  $  $  $  $  $67,256     
                             
Weighted-Average Yield      6.74%                      6.74%    
Weighted-Average Maturity      9.6                       9.6     
4.Allowance for loan losses (“ALL”)
     The Corporation’s Credit Policy Division manages credit risk by establishing common credit policies for its subsidiary bank, participating in approval of its loans, conducting reviews of loan portfolios, providing centralized consumer underwriting, collections and loan operation services, and overseeing loan workouts. The Corporation’s objective is to minimize losses from its commercial lending activities and to maintain consumer losses at acceptable levels that are stable and consistent with growth and profitability objectives.
     Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 4 (Allowance for Loan Losses) in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20082009 (the “2008“2009 Form 10-K”) more fully describe the components of the allowance for loan loss model.
     There was no further credit detioriation requiring an allowance for loan losses related to the $523.3 million of acquired loans at March 31, 2010.
The activity within the ALLallowance for loan loss for the quarters and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2010 and 2009 and 2008 and fullthe year ended December 31, 2008,2009, is shown in the following table:
                     
  Quarter ended  Nine months ended  Year ended 
  September 30,  September 30,  December 31, 
  2009  2008  2009  2008  2008 
Allowance for loan losses-beginning of period $111,222  $98,239  $103,757  $94,205  $94,205 
Loans charged off:                    
Commercial  7,208   3,556   21,892   10,727   16,318 
Mortgage  1,455   1,162   3,693   3,671   4,696 
Installment  7,135   5,840   23,060   17,464   24,740 
Home equity  1,911   1,154   4,943   3,446   4,153 
Credit cards  3,384   2,522   10,047   7,315   9,821 
Leases     20   3   20   26 
Overdrafts  726   703   1,843   1,813   2,634 
                
Total charge-offs  21,819   14,957   65,481   44,456   62,388 
                
Recoveries:                    
Commercial  90   232   521   1,986   2,388 
Mortgage  41   2   260   41   76 
Installment  2,104   1,757   6,527   5,598   7,071 
Home equity  99   484   295   726   851 
Credit cards  514   439   1,289   1,455   1,831 
Manufactured housing  37   44   122   170   247 
Leases  6   28   53   97   104 
Overdrafts  171   208   536   568   769 
                
Total recoveries  3,062   3,194   9,603   10,641   13,337 
                
Net charge-offs  18,757   11,763   55,878   33,815   49,051 
Provision for loan losses  23,887   15,531   68,473   41,617   58,603 
                
Allowance for loan losses-end of period $116,352  $102,007  $116,352  $102,007  $103,757 
                
5.Intangible Assets — At September 30, 2009, December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2008, the balance of the Corporation’s intangible assets, which consisted of deposit base intangibles, were as follows:

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  Gross Carrying Accumulated Net Carrying
  Amount Amortization Amount
             
September 30, 2008 $10,137  $(8,646) $1,491 
December 31, 2008 $10,137  $(8,734) $1,403 
September 30, 2009 $10,137  $(8,994) $1,143 
             
  Three months ended  Year ended 
  March 31,  December 31, 
  2010  2009  2009 
Allowance for loan losses-beginning of period $115,092  $103,757  $103,757 
Loans charged off:            
Commercial  8,895   4,554   39,685 
Mortgage  1,646   923   4,960 
Installment  8,805   8,438   31,622 
Home equity  2,070   1,535   7,200 
Credit cards  4,168   2,967   13,558 
Leases  20      97 
Overdrafts  591   519   2,591 
          
Total charge-offs  26,195   18,936   99,713 
          
Recoveries:            
Commercial  372   224   890 
Mortgage  25   26   270 
Installment  2,017   2,401   8,329 
Home equity  257   85   494 
Credit cards  473   387   1,710 
Manufactured housing  31   53   171 
Leases  9   5   57 
Overdrafts  232   190   694 
          
Total recoveries  3,416   3,371   12,615 
          
 
Net charge-offs  22,779   15,565   87,098 
Provision for loan losses  25,493   18,065   98,433 
          
Allowance for loan losses-end of period $117,806  $106,257  $115,092 
          
5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill
     Amortization expenseChanges in the carrying amount of goodwill for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 are as follows:
                 
  Commercial  Retail  Wealth  Total 
Balance at January 1, 2010 $73,827  $59,038  $6,733  $139,598 
Goodwill acquired:                
First Bank branches  46,414   1,933      48,347 
             
Balance at March 31, 2010 $120,241  $60,971  $6,733  $187,945 
             
     On February 19, 2010 the Bank completed the acquisition of certain assets and the transfer of certain liabilities with respect to 24 branches of First Bank located in the greater Chicago, Illinois area and recognized $48.3 million of goodwill. $45.3 million of this goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. Goodwill associated with this acquisition was

19


allocated to the Corporation’s reporting units based on the composition of the assets acquired.
     These acquisitions are more fully described in Note 2 (Business Combinations).
Other Intangible Assets
     The following tables show the gross carrying amount and the amount of accumulated amortization of intangible assets subject to amortization.
             
  March 31, 2010 
  Gross Carrying  Accumulated  Net Carrying 
  Amount  Amortization  Amount 
Core deposit intangibles $9,326  $(4,380) $4,946 
Non-compete covenant  102   (6)  96 
Lease intangible  617      617 
          
  $10,045  $(4,386) $5,659 
          
             
  December 31, 2009 
  Gross Carrying  Accumulated  Net Carrying 
  Amount  Amortization  Amount 
Core deposit intangibles $5,210  $(4,154) $1,056 
Non-compete covenant  102      102 
          
  $5,312  $(4,154) $1,158 
          
             
  March 31, 2009 
  Gross Carrying  Accumulated  Net Carrying 
  Amount  Amortization  Amount 
Core deposit intangibles $5,210  $(3,894) $1,316 
          
     As a result of the ABL Loan acquisition on December 15, 2009, a non-compete asset was $0.09recognized at its acquisition date fair value of $0.1 million. This non-compete asset will be amortized on an accelerated basis over its estimated useful life of ten years.
     As a result of the acquisition of the First Bank branches on February 19, 2010, a core deposit intangible asset was recognized at its acquisition date fair value of $3.2 million and a lease intangible asset was recognized at its acquisition date fair value of $0.6 million. The core deposit intangible asset will be amortized on an accelerated basis over its useful life of ten years, and the lease intangible asset will be amortized over the remaining weighted average lease terms.

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     A core deposit intangible asset with an acquisition date fair value of $1.0 million was recognized as a result of the George Washington acquisition on February 19, 2010. The core deposit intangible asset will be amortized on an accelerated basis over its useful life of ten years.
     These acquisitions are more fully described in Note 2 (Business Combinations).
     Intangible asset amortization expense was $0.2 million and $0.1 for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for each of the three-month periods ended September 30, 2009next five years is as follows: 2010 — $1.4 million; 2011 — $1.2 million; 2012 — $1.0 million; 2013 — $0.4 million; and 2008. The following table shows the estimated future amortization expense for deposit base intangible assets as of September 30, 2009.2014 — $0.4 million.
For the years ended:
     
December 31, 2009 $88 
December 31, 2010  347 
December 31, 2011 and beyond  708 
    
  $1,143 
    
6.Earnings per share
     The reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated using the treasury stock method and presented as follows:

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 Quarter ended Quarter ended Nine months ended Nine months ended  Quarter ended Quarter ended 
 September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,  March 31, March 31, 
 2009 2008 2009 2008  2010 2009 
BASIC EPS:
  
  
Net income $22,763 $29,753 $67,692 $90,349  $18,021 $29,434 
Less: preferred dividend    (6,167)     (1,667)
Less: accretion of preferred stock discount    (204)     (204)
              
 
Net income available to common shareholders $22,763 $29,753 $61,321 $90,349  $18,021 $27,563 
              
  
Average common shares outstanding * 85,872 82,090 84,182 82,015 
Average common shares outstanding (*) 87,771 82,514 
              
  
Net income per share — basic $0.27 $0.36 $0.73 $1.10  $0.21 $0.33 
              
  
DILUTED EPS:
  
  
Net income available to common shareholders $22,763 $29,753 $61,321 $90,349  $18,021 $27,563 
Add: interest expense on convertible bonds    5    
              
 $22,763 $29,753 $61,321 $90,354  $18,021 $27,563 
              
Avg common shares outstanding * 85,872 82,090 84,182 82,015 
Avg common shares outstanding (*) 87,771 82,514 
Add: Equivalents from stock options and restricted stock 8 27 8 28  6 9 
Add: Equivalents-convertible bonds    19    
              
Average common shares and equivalents outstanding * 85,880 82,117 84,190 82,062 
Average common shares and equivalents outstanding (*) 87,777 82,523 
              
 
Net income per common share — diluted $0.27 $0.36 $0.73 $1.10  $0.21 $0.33 
              
 
* Average common shares outstanding have been restated as of March 31, 2009 to reflect stock dividends of 611,582 shares declared April 28, 2009.2009 and 609,560 shares declared on August 20, 2009.

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     For the quarters ended September 30,March 31, 2010 and 2009 and 2008 options to purchase 4.84.6 million and 6.35.5 million shares, respectively, were outstanding, but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were antidilutive.
     On January 9, 2009, the Corporation completed the sale to the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”(“Treasury”) of $125.0 million of newly issued FirstMerit non-voting preferred shares as part of the Treasury’s Troubled Assets Relief Program (“TARP”) Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”).Program. The Corporation issued and sold to the Treasury for an aggregate purchase price of $125.0 million in cash (1) 125,000 shares of FirstMerit’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Shares, Series A, each without par value and having a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, and (2) a warrant to purchase 952,260 FirstMerit common shares, each without par value, at an exercise price of $19.69 per share. At March 31, 2009, the warrant was outstanding, but not included in the computation of diluted earning per share because it was antidilutive.

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     On April 22, 2009, the Corporation repurchasedcompleted the repurchase of all of 125,000 shares of its Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A for $126.2 million, which included all accrued and unpaid dividends as well as the unamortized discount on the preferred stock.
A. On May 27, 2009, the Corporation completed the repurchase of the warrant held by the Treasury. The Corporation paid $5.0 million to the Treasury to repurchase the warrant.
     On May 6, 2009,March 3, 2010, the Corporation entered into a Distribution Agency Agreementtwo distribution agency agreements with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“Credit Suisse”and RBC Capital Markets Corporation (collectively, the “Sales Agents”), pursuant to which the Corporation may, from time to time, may offer and sell shares of the Corporation’s common stock. Sales of the common stock are made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the Nasdaq Global Select Market at market prices, in block transactions or as otherwise agreed with Credit Suisse.the Sales Agents. During the quarter ended June 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, the Corporation sold 3.33.9 million shares with an average value of $18.36$20.91 per share. No shares were sold during the quarter ended September 30, 2009.
7.Segment Information
     Management monitors the Corporation’s results by an internal performance measurement system, which provides lines of business results and key performance measures. The profitability measurement system is based on internal managementManagement methodologies designed to produce consistent results and reflect the underlying economics of the businesses. The development and application of these methodologies is a dynamic process. Accordingly, these measurement tools and assumptions may be revised periodically to reflect methodological, product, and/or management organizational changes. Further, these tools measure financial results that support the strategic objectives and internal organizational structure of the Corporation. Consequently, the information presented is not necessarily comparable with similar information for other financial institutions.
     A description of each business, selected financial performance, and the methodologies used to measure financial performance are presented below.
 Commercial —The commercial line of business provides a full range of lending, depository, and related financial services to middle-market corporate, industrial, financial, business banking (formerly known as small business, governmentbusiness), public entities, and leasing clients. Commercial also includes the personal business offrom commercial loan clients as well asin coordination with the “micro business” lines.Wealth Management segment. Products and services offered include commercial loans such as term loans, revolving

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credit arrangements, inventory and accounts receivable financing,asset-based lending, leasing, commercial mortgages, real estate construction lending, and letters of credit.credit, cash management services and other depository products.
 
 Retail —The retail line of business includes consumer lending and deposit gathering, and residential mortgage loan origination and servicing.servicing, and branch-based small business banking (formerly known as the “micro business” line). Retail offers a variety of retail financial products and services including consumer direct and indirect installment loans, debit and credit cards, debit gift cards, residential mortgage loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, residential mortgage loans, deposit products, fixed and variable annuities and ATM network services. Deposit products include checking, savings, money market accounts and certificates of deposit.
 
 Wealth —The wealth line of business offers a broad array of asset management, private banking, financial planning, estate settlement and administration, credit and deposit

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products and services. Trust and investment services include personal trust and planning, investment management, estate settlement and administration services. Retirement plan services focus on investment management and fiduciary activities. Brokerage and insurance delivers retail mutual funds, other securities, variable and fixed annuities, personal disability and life insurance products and brokerage services. Private banking provides credit, deposit and asset management solutions for affluent clients.
 
 Other —The other line of business includes activities that are not directly attributable to one of the three principal lines of business. Included in the otherOther category are the parent company, eliminations companies, community development operations, the treasury group,Treasury Group, which includes the securities portfolio, wholesale funding and asset liability management activities, and the economic impact of certain assets, capital and support function not specifically identifiable with the three primary lines of business.
     The accounting policies of the lines of businesses are the same as those of the Corporation described in Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to the 20082009 Form 10-K. Funds transfer pricing is used in the determination of net interest income by assigning a cost for funds used or credit for funds provided to assets and liabilities within each business unit. Assets and liabilities are match-funded based on their maturity, prepayment and/or repricingre-pricing characteristics. As a result, the three primary lines of business are generally insulated from changes in interest rates. Changes in net interest income due to changes in rates are reported in the other categoryOther by the treasury group.Treasury Group. Capital has been allocated on an economic risk basis. Loans and lines of credit have been allocated capital based upon their respective credit risk. Asset management holdings in the wealthWealth segment have been allocated capital based upon their respective market risk related to assets under management. Normal business operating risk has been allocated to each line of business by the level of noninterest expense. Mismatch between asset and liability cash flow as well as interest rate risk for mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”) and the origination business franchise value have been allocated capital based upon their respective asset/liability management risk. The provision for loan lossesloss is allocated based upon the actual net charge-offs of each respective line of business, adjusted for loan growth and changes in risk profile. Noninterest income and expenses directly attributable to a line of business are assigned to that line of business. Expenses for centrally provided services are allocated to the business line by various activity based cost formulas.

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     The Corporation’s business is conducted solely in the United States of America. The following tables present a summary of financial results for the quartersthree-month period ended March 31, 2010 and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008:2009:

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                  FirstMerit
March 31, 2010 Commercial Retail Wealth Other Consolidated
OPERATIONS:
                    
Net interest income $42,649  $48,074  $4,704  $(5,033) $90,394 
Provision for loan losses  8,354   9,725   782   6,632   25,493 
Other income  10,212   24,764   7,719   11,254   53,949 
Other expenses  25,097   51,951   9,352   7,613   94,013 
Net income  12,621   7,197   1,488   (3,285)  18,021 
                     
AVERAGES :
                    
Assets $4,144,987  $2,841,569  $294,010  $4,076,544  $11,357,110 
                                                            
 Commercial Retail Wealth Other Consolidated FirstMerit
September 30, 2009 3rd Qtr YTD 3rd Qtr YTD 3rd Qtr YTD 3rd Qtr YTD 3rd Qtr YTD
March 31, 2009 Commercial Retail Wealth Other Consolidated
OPERATIONS:
  
Net interest income $39,034 $115,748 $46,639 $141,021 $4,566 $12,986 $(2,862) $(8,369) $87,377 $261,386  $37,647 $46,857 $4,046 $(1,656) $86,894 
Provision for loan losses 7,041 21,934 13,159 35,624 138 4,753 3,549 6,162 23,887 68,473  4,500 9,761 2,613 1,191 18,065 
Other income 10,108 30,748 26,561 77,326 7,989 24,206 6,909 25,320 51,567 157,600  10,400 23,976 8,064 12,748 55,188 
Other expenses 21,826 68,586 46,736 146,331 9,452 28,055 6,151 14,960 84,165 257,932  23,582 50,662 9,335  (376) 83,203 
Net income 13,180 36,384 8,648 23,654 1,927 2,849  (992) 4,805 22,763 67,692  12,977 6,767 106 9,584 29,434 
 
AVERAGES :
 
Assets $4,199,534 $2,900,257 $313,109 $3,702,142 $11,115,042 
                                         
  Commercial Retail Wealth Other Consolidated
September 30, 2008 3rd Qtr YTD 3rd Qtr YTD 3rd Qtr YTD 3rd Qtr YTD 3rd Qtr YTD
OPERATIONS:
                                        
Net interest income $37,300  $112,702  $47,821  $145,047  $4,076  $12,428  $1,924  $(7,226) $91,121  $262,951 
Provision for loan losses  5,568   11,290   9,050   27,570   (346)  449   1,259   2,308   15,531   41,617 
Other income  9,828   29,731   25,604   83,311   8,774   26,309   2,823   9,290   47,029   148,641 
Other expenses  20,822   63,623   47,372   142,663   9,015   27,291   3,400   8,816   80,609   242,393 
Net income  13,480   43,888   11,052   37,781   2,718   7,147   2,503   1,533   29,753   90,349 
8.Derivatives and Hedging Activities
     The Corporation, through its mortgage banking and risk management operations, is party to various derivative instruments that are used for asset and liability management and customers’ financing needs. Derivative instruments are contracts between two or more parties that have a notional amount and underlying variable, require no net investment and allow for the net settlement of positions. The notional amount serves as the basis for the payment provision of the contract and takes the form of units, such as shares or dollars. The underlying variable represents a specified interest rate, index or other component. The interaction between the notional amount and the underlying variable determines the number of units to be exchanged between the parties and influences the market value of the derivative contract. Derivative assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value on the balance sheet and do not take into account the effects of master netting agreements. Master netting agreements allow the Corporation to settle all derivative contracts held with a single counterparty on a net basis, and to offset net derivative positions with related collateral, where applicable.
     The primary derivatives that the Corporation uses arepredominant derivative and hedging activities include interest rate swaps interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”), forward sale contracts, and To Be Announced Mortgage Backed Securities (“TBA Securities”).certain mortgage banking activities. Generally, these instruments help the Corporation manage exposure to market risk, and meet customer financing needs. Market risk represents the possibility that economic value or net interest income will be adversely affected by fluctuations in external factors, such as interest rates, market-driven rates and prices or other economic factors.

19


Derivatives Designated in Hedge Relationships

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     The Corporation uses interest rate swap contractsswaps to modify its exposure to interest rate risk. For example, the Corporation employs fair value hedging strategies to convert specific fixed-rate loans into variable-ratevariable rate instruments. Gains or losses on the derivative instrument as well as the offsetting gains or losses on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in the same line item associated with the hedged item in current earnings. The Corporation also employs cash flow hedging strategies to effectively convert certain floating-rate liabilities into fixed-rate instruments. The effective portion of the gains or losses on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and reclassified into earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The remaining gains or loss on the derivative instrument in excess of the cumulative change in the present value of future cash flows of the hedged item, if any, are recognized in the current earnings.
     At September 30, 2009,As of March 31, 2010, December 31, 20082009 and September 30, 2008,March 31, 2009, the notional values or contractual amounts and fair value of the Corporation’s derivatives designated in hedge relationships were as follows:
                                              
 Asset Derivatives   Liability Derivatives                                               
 September 30, 2009 December 31, 2008 September 30, 2008   September 30, 2009 December 31, 2008 September 30, 2008  Asset Derivatives   Liability Derivatives 
 Notional/ Notional/ Notional/   Notional/ Notional/ Notional/    March 31, 2010 December 31, 2009 March 31, 2009   March 31, 2010 December 31, 2009 March 31, 2009 
 Contract Fair Contract Fair Contract Fair   Contract Fair Contract Fair Contract Fair  Notional/ Notional/ Notional/   Notional/ Notional/ Notional/   
 Amount Value (a) Amount Value (a) Amount Value (a)   Amount Value (b) Amount Value (b) Amount Value (b)  Contract Fair Contract Fair Contract Fair   Contract Fair Contract Fair Contract Fair 
    Amount Value (a) Amount Value (a) Amount Value (a)   Amount Value (b) Amount Value (b) Amount Value (b) 
Interest rate swaps:      
Fair value hedges $ $ $ $ $46,048 $383   $472,720 $38,949 $530,482 $56,635 $505,721 $16,693  $ $ $1,452 $ $640 $   $370,947 $28,762 $398,895 $27,769 $460,159 $45,709 
Cash flow hedges           100,000 875 150,000 1,754 
                           
   
Total $ $ $ $ $46,048 $383   $472,720 $38,949 $630,482 $57,510 $655,721 $18,447 
                           
 
(a) Included in Other Assets on the ConsolidateConsolidated Balance Sheet
 
(b) Included in Other Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet
     Interest Rate Swaps designated as fair value hedges.Through the Corporation’s Fixed Rate Advantage Program (“FRAP Program”) a customer received a fixed interest rate commercial loan and the Corporation subsequently converted that fixed rate loan to a variable rate instrument over the term of the loan by entering into an interest rate swap with a dealer counterparty. The Corporation receives a fixed rate payment from the customer on the loan and pays the equivalent amount to the dealer counterparty on the swap in exchange for a variable rate payment based on the one month London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) index. These interest rate swaps are designated as fair value hedges. Through application of the “short cut method of accounting”, there is an assumption that the hedges are effective. The Corporation discontinued originating interest rate swaps under the FRAP program in February 2008 and subsequently began a new interest rate swap program for commercial loan customers, termed the Back-to-Back Program.
     The Corporation has other interest rate swaps associated with fixed rate commercial loans. These swaps are designated as fair value hedges and have a similar economic effect as the interest rate swaps originated under the FRAP Program. Regression analysis is utilized to assess the effectiveness of these hedges. There was no ineffectiveness of these fair value hedges for the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.

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Interest Rate Swaps designated as cash flow hedges.The Corporation entered into Federal Funds interest rate swaps to lock in a fixed rate to offset the risk of future fluctuations in the variable interest rate on Federal Funds borrowings. The Corporation entered into a swap with the counterparty during which time the Corporation paid a fixed rate and received a floating rate based on the current effective Federal Funds rate. The Corporation then borrowed Federal Funds in an amount equal to at least the outstanding notional amount of the swap(s) which resulted in the Corporation being left with a fixed rate instrument. These instruments were designated as cash flow hedges. Dollar offset analysis was used to assessThe last Federal Funds interest rate swap matured in the effectiveness of these hedges.quarter ended March 31, 2009.

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     There were no outstanding cash flowsflow hedges outstanding as of September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 and there was no activity associated with cash flow hedges for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.March 31, 2010. For the quarter ended September 30, 2008,March 31, 2009, the amount of the hedge effectiveness on cash flow hedges recognized in OCI and reclassified from OCI into other income as well as the amount of hedge ineffectiveness recognized in other income is as follows:
          
Amount of Gain / (Loss) Amount of Gain / (Loss)  Amount of Gain / 
Recognized in OCI on Reclassified from  (Loss) Recognized in 
Derivative (Effective Accumulated OCI into  Income on Derivative 
Portion) Income (Effective Portion)  (Ineffective Portion) 
          
$(115) $(8) $295 
       
           
    Gain Reclassified    
    from Accumulated OCI  Gain Recognized in 
Amount of Gain / (Loss)  into Income  Income on Derivative 
Recognized in OCI  (Effective Portion)  (Ineffective Portion) 
$0  $692  $328 
        
Derivatives Not Designated in Hedge Relationships
     At September 30, 2009,As of March 31, 2010, December 31, 20082009 and September 30, 2008,March 31, 2009, the notional values or contractual amounts and fair value of the Corporation’s derivatives not designated in hedge relationships were as follows:
                                              
 Asset Derivatives   Liability Derivatives                                              ��
 September 30, 2009 December 31, 2008 September 30, 2008   September 30, 2009 December 31, 2008 September 30, 2008  Asset Derivatives   Liability Derivatives 
 Notional/ Notional/ Notional/   Notional/ Notional/ Notional/    March 31, 2010 December 31, 2009 March 31, 2009   March 31, 2010 December 31, 2009 March 31, 2009 
 Contract Fair Contract Fair Contract Fair   Contract Fair Contract Fair Contract Fair  Notional/ Notional/ Notional/   Notional/ Notional/ Notional/   
 Amount Value (a) Amount Value (a) Amount Value (a)   Amount Value (b) Amount Value (b) Amount Value (b)  Contract Fair Contract Fair Contract Fair   Contract Fair Contract Fair Contract Fair 
    Amount Value (a) Amount Value (a) Amount Value (a)   Amount Value (b) Amount Value (b) Amount Value (b) 
Interest rate swaps $637,467 $33,620 $469,133 $42,371 $308,901 $5,346   $637,467 $33,620 $469,133 $42,371 $308,901 $5,346  $694,277 $33,510 $639,285 $26,840 $543,789 $42,385   $694,277 $33,510 $686,947 $30,717 $594,065 $48,914 
IRLCs 57,823 1,586 58,021 591 24,265  (102)        
Mortgage loan commitments 106,894 1,239 55,023 396 82,519 2,408         
Forward sales contracts 66,815  (671) 67,027  (517) 29,201 115          68,290 125 67,085 884 99,565  (1,139)        
TBA Securities     24,793  (31)             211,237  (145)        
Credit contracts         64,491  88,848  77,803           61,876  62,458  62,189  
Other         14,358               18,912  18,171  11,551  
                                                      
      
Total $762,105 $34,535 $594,181 $42,445 $387,160 $5,328   $716,316 $33,620 $557,981 $42,371 $386,704 $5,346  $869,461 $34,874 $761,393 $28,120 $937,110 $43,509   $775,065 $33,510 $767,576 $30,717 $667,805 $48,914 
                                                      
 
(a) Included in Other Assets on the ConsolidateConsolidated Balance Sheet
 
(b) Included in Other Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet
     Interest Rate Swaps.In 2008, the Corporation implemented the Back-to-Back Program, which is an interest rate swap program for commercial loan customers. The Back-to-Back

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Program provides the customer with a fixed rate loan while creating a variable rate asset for the Corporation through the customer entering into an interest rate swap with the Corporation on terms that match the loan. The Corporation offsets its risk exposure by entering into an offsetting interest rate swap with a dealer counterparty. These swaps do not qualify as designated hedges,hedges; therefore, each swap is accounted for as a standalone derivative.
     The Corporation had other interest rate swaps associated with fixed rate commercial loans with a notional value of $47.7 million and $50.3 million as of December 31, 2009 and March 31, 2009, respectively. These swaps were accounted for as standalone derivatives. This portfolio of interest rate swaps was terminated in January 2010.

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Mortgage banking.banking. In the normal course of business, the Corporation sells originated mortgage loans into the secondary mortgage loan markets. During the period of loan origination and prior to the sale of the loans in the secondary market, the Corporation has exposure to movements in interest rates associated with mortgage loans that are in the “mortgage pipeline” and the “mortgage warehouse”. A pipeline loan is one onin which the Corporation has entered into a written mortgage loan commitment with a potential borrower has set the interest ratethat will be held for the loan by entering into an IRLC.resale. Once a mortgage loan is closed and funded, it is included within the mortgage warehouse of loans awaiting sale and delivery into the secondary market.
     IRLCsWritten loan commitments that relate to the origination of mortgage loans that will be held for resale are considered free-standing derivatives and do not qualify for hedge accounting. IRLCsWritten loan commitments generally have a term of up to 60 days before the closing of the loan. During this period, the value of the lock changes with changes in interest rates. The IRLCloan commitment does not bind the potential borrower to entering into the loan, nor does it guarantee that the Corporation will approve the potential borrower for the loan. Therefore, when determining fair value, the Corporation makes estimates of expected “fallout” (locked pipeline loans(loan commitments not expected to close), using models, which consider cumulative historical fallout rates and other factors. Fallout can occur for a variety of reasons including falling rate environments when a borrower will abandon an IRLCinterest rate lock loan commitment at one lender and enter into a new lower interest rate lock loan commitment at another, when a borrower is not approved as an acceptable credit by the lender, or for a variety of other non-economic reasons. In addition, expected net future cash flows related to loan servicing activities are included in the fair value measurement of a written loan commitment.
     DuringWritten loan commitments in which the term ofborrower has locked in an interest rate lock commitment,results in market risk to the Corporation hasto the risk thatextent market interest rates will change from the rate quoted to the borrower. The Corporation economically hedges the risk of changing interest rates associated with its interest rate lock commitments by entering into forward sales contracts.
     The Corporation’s warehouse (mortgage loans held for sale) is subject to changes in fair value, due to fluctuations in interest rates from the loan’s closing date through the date of sale of the loan into the secondary market. Typically, the fair value of the warehouse declines in value when interest rates increase and rises in value when interest rates decrease. To mitigate this risk, the Corporation enters into forward sales contracts on a significant portion of the warehouse to provide an economic hedge against those changes in fair value.
     Effective August 1, 2008, the Corporation elected to fair value, on a prospective basis, newly originated conforming fixed-rate and adjustable-rate first mortgage warehouse loans. Prior to this election, all warehouse loans were carried at the lower of cost or market and a hedging program was utilized on its mortgage loans held for sale to gain protection for the changes in fair value of the mortgage loans held for sale and the forward sales contracts. As such, both the mortgage loans held for sale and the forward sales contracts were recorded at fair value with ineffective changes in value recorded in current earnings as Loan sales and servicing income. Upon the Corporation’s election to prospectively account for substantially all of its

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mortgage loan warehouse products at fair value it discontinued the application of designated hedging relationships for new originations.
     The Corporation periodically enters into derivative contracts by purchasing TBA Securities which are utilized as economic hedges of its MSRs to minimize the effects of loss of

28


value of MSRs associated with increase prepayment activity that generally results from declining interest rates. In a rising interest rate environment, the value of the MSRs generally will increase while the value of the hedge instruments will decline. The hedges are economic hedges only, and are terminated and reestablished as needed to respond to changes in market conditions. The Corporation heldThere were no outstanding TBA Securities contracts as of September 30, 2009 andMarch 31, 2010 or December 31, 2008. One2009. The Corporation held $211.2 million in outstanding TBA contract was outstanding at September 30, 2008.contracts as of March 31, 2009.
     Credit contracts.Prior to implementation of the Back-to-Back Program, certain of the Corporation’s commercial loan customers entered into interest rate swaps with unaffiliated dealer counterparties. The Corporation entered into swap participations with these dealer counterparties whereby the Corporation guaranteed payment in the event that the counterparty experienced a loss on the interest rate swap due to a failure to pay by the Corporation’s commercial loan customer. The Corporation simultaneously entered into reimbursement agreements with the commercial loan customers obligating the customers to reimburse the Corporation for any payments it makes under the swap participations. The Corporation monitors its payment risk on its swap participations by monitoring the creditworthiness of its commercial loan customers, which is based on the normal credit review process the Corporation would have performed had it entered into these derivative instruments directly with the commercial loan customers. At September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, the remaining terms on these swap participation agreements generally ranged from one to nine years. The Corporation’s maximum estimated exposure to written swap participations, as measured by projecting a maximum value of the guaranteed derivative instruments based on interest rate curve simulations and assuming 100% default by all obligors on the maximum values, was approximately $7.8$4.1 million as of September 30, 2009.March 31, 2010. The fair values of the written swap participations were not material at September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, December 31, 20082009 and September 30, 2008.March 31, 2009.
     Gains and losses recognized in income on non-designated hedging instruments for the quarters ended September 30,March 31, 2010 and 2009 and 2008 are as follows:
                    
 Amount of Gain / (Loss)  Amount of Gain / (Loss) 
 Recognized in Income on  Recognized in Income on 
   Derivative  Derivative 
Derivatives not Location of Gain / (Loss) Quarter ended, Quarter ended,  Location of Gain / (Loss)     
designated as hedging Recognized in Income on September 30, September 30,  Recognized in Income on Quarter ended, Quarter ended, 
instruments Derivative 2009 2008  Derivative March 31, 2010 March 31, 2009 
IRLCs Other income $96 $(102) Other income $843  $1,817 
Forward sales contracts Other income  (886) 115  Other income  (758)  (622)
TBA Securities Other income   (31) Other income     (2,106)
Credit contracts Other income    Other income      
Other Other expenses    Other expenses      
               
Total   $(790) $(18)   $85  $(911)
               

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Counterparty Credit Risk
     Like other financial instruments, derivatives contain an element of “credit risk"risk”— the possibility that the Corporation will incur a loss because a counterparty, which may be a bank, a broker-dealer or a customer, fails to meet its contractual obligations. This risk is measured as the expected positive replacement value of contracts. All derivative contracts may be executed only with exchanges or counterparties approved by the Corporation’s Asset and Liability Committee, and only within the Corporation’s Board of Directors Credit Committee approved credit exposure limits. Where contracts have been created for customers, the Corporation enters into derivatives with dealers to offset its risk exposure. To manage the credit exposure to exchanges and counterparties, the Corporation generally enters into bilateral collateral agreements using standard forms published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”).Association. These agreements are to include thresholds of credit exposure or the maximum amount of unsecured credit exposure which the Corporation is willing to assume. Beyond the threshold levels, collateral in the form of securities made available from the investment portfolio or other forms of collateral acceptable under the bilateral collateral agreements are provided. The threshold levels for each counterparty are established by the Corporation’s Asset and Liability Committee. The Corporation generally posts collateral in the form of highly rated Government Agency issued bonds or MBSs. Collateral posted against derivative liabilities was $83.9$73.7 million, $99.4$70.0 million and $44.3$81.9 million as of September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, December 31, 20082009 and September 30, 2008,March 31, 2009, respectively.
9.Benefit Plans
     The Corporation sponsors several qualified and nonqualified pension and other postretirement plans for certain of its employees. The net periodic pension cost is based on estimated values provided by an outside actuary. The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:
                        
 Pension Benefits  Pension Benefits 
 Quarter ended Nine months ended  Three months ended 
 September 30, September 30,  March 31, 
 2009 2008 2009 2008  2010 2009 
Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost  
Service Cost $1,322 $1,355 $3,967 $4,064  $1,480 $1,322 
Interest Cost 2,751 2,580 8,252 7,739  2,800 2,751 
Expected return on assets  (2,805)  (2,923)  (8,416)  (8,770)  (3,015)  (2,805)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service costs 86 40 257 120  98 85 
Cumulative net loss 757 992 2,273 2,978  1,427 758 
              
Net periodic pension cost $2,111 $2,044 $6,333 $6,131  $2,790 $2,111 
              

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 Postretirement Benefits  Postretirement Benefits 
 Quarter ended Nine months ended  Three months ended 
 September 30, September 30,  March 31, 
 2009 2008 2009 2008  2010 2009 
Components of Net Periodic Postretirement Cost  
Service Cost $15 $249 $44 $746  $15 $15 
Interest Cost 299 443 897 1,329  240 299 
Amortization of unrecognized prior service costs   (136)   (406)
Cumulative net loss 9 71 26 211  4 9 
              
Net Postretirement Benefit Cost 323 627 967 1,880  259 323 
Curtailment Gain    (9,543)     (9,543)
              
Net periodic postretirement (benefit)/cost $323 $627 $(8,576) $1,880  $259 $(9,220)
              
     In January 2009, FirstMerit announced to employees that the Corporation’s subsidy for retiree medical coverage for current eligible active employees wouldwill be discontinued effective March 1, 2009. Eligible employees who retired on or prior to March 1, 2009, were offered subsidized retiree medical coverage until age 65. Employees who retire after March 1, 2009 will not receive the Corporation’s subsidy toward retiree medical coverage. The elimination of Corporation subsidized retiree medical coverage resulted in an accounting curtailment gain.curtailment.
     The Corporation maintains a savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, covering substantially all full-time and part-time employees beginning in the quarter followingafter three months of continuous employment. The savings plan was approved for non-vested employees in the defined benefit pension plan and new hires as of January 1, 2007. Effective January 1, 2009, the Corporation has suspended its matching contribution to the savings plan.
10.Fair Value Measurement
     As defined in ASC 820,Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, fair value is defined as the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal market or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value is based on quoted market prices, when available, for identical or similar assets or liabilities. In the absence of quoted market prices, managementManagement determines the fair value of the Corporation’s assets and liabilities using valuation models or third-party pricing services. Both of these approaches rely on market-based parameters when available, such as interest rate yield curves, option volatilities and credit spreads, or unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs may be based on management’sManagement’s judgment, assumptions and estimates related to credit quality, liquidity, interest rates and other relevant inputs.
     GAAP establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for determining fair value that is based on the transparency of the inputs used in the valuation process. The inputs used in determining fair value in each of the three levels of the hierarchy, highest ranking to lowest, are as follow:
Level 1 — Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
follows:

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Level 2 — Valuations of assets and liabilities traded in less active dealer or broker markets. Valuations include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities traded in the same market; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
Level 3 — Valuations based on unobservable inputs significant to the overall fair value measurement.
Level 1 — Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 — Valuations of assets and liabilities traded in less active dealer or broker markets. Valuations include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities traded in the same market; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
Level 3 — Valuations based on unobservable inputs significant to the overall fair value measurement.
     The level in the fair value hierarchy ascribed to a fair value measurement in its entirety is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the overall fair value measurement.
Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value
     The following table presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:basis at March 31, 2010:
                                
  Internal models   
 Quoted market Significant with significant   
 prices in active observable market unobservable   
 markets parameters market parameters   
Quarter ended September 30, 2009 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total 
  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total 
Available-for-sale securities $3,160 $2,541,732 $39,522 $2,584,414  $3,404 $3,054,523 $43,813 $3,101,740 
Residential loans held for sale  12,322  12,322   16,009 16,009 
Derivative assets  34,535  34,535   34,874 34,874 
                  
Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis $3,160 $2,588,589 $39,522 $2,631,271  $3,404 $3,105,406 $43,813 $3,152,623 
                  
  
Derivative liabilities  72,569  72,569   62,272  62,272 
                  
Total liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis $ $72,569 $ $72,569  $ $62,272 $ $62,272 
                  
Note:There were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hiearchy during the quarter ended March 31, 2010.
     AAvailable-for-salevailable-for-sale securities.WhereWhen quoted prices are available in an active market, securities are valued using the quoted price and are classified as Level 1. The quoted prices are not adjusted. Level 1 instruments include money market mutual funds.
     For certain available-for-saleavailable-for sale securities, the Corporation obtains fair value measurements from an independent third party pricing service or independent brokers. The detail by level is shown in the table below.

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 Level 2 Level 3  Level 2 Level 3 
 Independent Independent  Independent Independent 
 # Issues Pricing Service # Issues Broker Quotes  # Issues Pricing Service # Issues Broker Quotes 
 
U.S. Treasury and government agencies 1 $12,000  $ 
U.S. government agency debentures 18 $279,640  $ 
U.S States and political subdivisions 470 303,728    938 292,986   
Residential mortgage-backed securities:  
U.S. government agencies securities: 170 1,626,098   
U.S. government agencies 186 1,709,579   
Residential collateralized mortgage-backed securities: 
U.S. government agencies 56 598,644 1 3  73 772,317 1 1 
Non-agency 1 3 1 17  1 1 1 18 
 
Corporate debt securities   8 39,502    8 43,794 
                  
 698 $2,540,473 10 $39,522  1,216 $3,054,523 10 $43,813 
                  
     Available-for-sale securities classified as Level 2 are valued using the prices obtained from an independent pricing service. The prices are not adjusted. The independent pricing service uses industry-standardindustry standard models to price U.S. Government agency obligationsagencies and MBSs that consider various assumptions, including time value, yield curves, volatility factors, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severity, current market and contractual prices for the underlying financial instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. Securities of obligations of state and political subdivisions are valued using a type of matrix, or grid, pricing in which securities are benchmarked against the treasury rate based on credit rating. For collateralized mortgage securities, depending on the characteristics of a given tranche, a volatility driven multidimensional static model or Option-Adjusted Spread model is generally used. Substantially all assumptions used by the independent pricing service are observable in the marketplace, can be derived from observable data, or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace. On a quarterly basis, the Corporation obtains from the independent pricing service the inputs used to value a sample of securities held in portfolio. The Corporation reviews these inputs to ensure the appropriate classification, within the fair value hierarchy, is ascribed to a fair value measurement in its entirety. In addition, all fair value measurement are reviewed to determine the reasonableness of the measurement relative to changes in observable market data and market information received from outside market participants and analysts.
     Available-for-sale securities classified as level 3 securities are primarily single issuer trust preferred securities. These trust preferred securities, which represent less than 1%2% of the portfolio at fair value, are valued based on the average of two non-binding broker quotes. Since these securities are thinly traded, the Corporation has determined that the using an average of two non-binding broker quotes is a more conservative valuation methodology. The non-binding nature of the pricing results in a classification as Level 3.
     Loans held for sale.Effective August 1, 2008, the Corporation elected to account for residential mortgage loans originated subsequent to such date at fair value. Previously, these residential loans had been recorded at the lower of cost or market value. These loans are regularly traded in active markets through programs offered by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), and observable pricing information is available from market participants. The prices are adjusted

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as necessary to include any embedded servicing value in the loans and to take into consideration

27


the specific characteristics of certain loans. These adjustments represent unobservable inputs to the valuation but are not considered significant to the fair value of the loans. Accordingly, residential real estate loans held for sale are classified as Level 2.
     Derivatives.The Corporation’s derivatives include interest rate swaps and IRLCswritten loan commitments and forward sales contracts related to residential mortgage loan origination activity. Valuations for interest rate swaps are derived from third party models whose significant inputs are readily observable market parameters, primarily yield curves, with appropriate adjustments for liquidity and credit risk. These fair value measurements are classified as Level 2. The fair values of IRLCswritten loan commitments and forward sales contracts on the associated loans are based on quoted prices for similar loans in the secondary market, consistent with the valuation of residential mortgage loans held for sale. Expected net future cash flows related to loan servicing activities are included in the fair value measurement of IRLCs. An IRLCwritten loan commitments. A written loan commitment does not bind the potential borrower to entering into the loan, nor does it guarantee that the Corporation will approve the potential borrower for the loan. Therefore, when determining fair value, the Corporation makes estimates of expected “fallout” (locked pipeline loans not expected to close), using models, which consider cumulative historical fallout rates and other factors. Fallout can occur for a variety of reasons including falling rate environments when a borrower will abandon an IRLCa fixed rate loan commitment at one lender and enter into a new lower interestfixed rate lockloan commitment at another, when a borrower is not approved as an acceptable credit by the lender, or for a variety of other non-economic reasons. Fallout is not a significant input to the fair value of the IRLCswritten loan commitments in their entirety. These measurements are classified as Level 2.
     Derivative assets are typically secured through securities with financial counterparties or cross collateralization with a borrowing customer. Derivative liabilities are typically secured through the Corporation pledging securities to financial counterparties or, in the case of a borrowing customer, by the right of setoff. The Corporation considers factors such as the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties, right of setoff, and remaining maturities in determining the appropriate fair value adjustments. All derivative counterparties approved by the Corporation’s Asset and Liability Committee are regularly reviewed, and appropriate business action is taken to adjust the exposure to certain counterparties, as necessary. Counterparty exposure is evaluated by netting positions that are subject to master netting agreements, as well as considering the amount of marketable collateral securing the position. This approach used to estimate impacted exposures to counterparties is also used by the Corporation to estimate its own credit risk on derivative liability positions. To date, no material losses due to a counterparty’s inability to pay any uncollateralized position have been incurred. There was no significant change in value of derivative assets and liabilities attributed to credit risk infor the three-month periodquarter ended September 30, 2009.March 31, 2010.
     The changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 are summarized follows:
                         
                      Total changes 
      Total  Purchases, sales      Fair value  in fair values 
  Fair Value  unrealized  issuances and      quarter ended  included in current 
Quarter ended September 30, 2009 June 30, 2009  gains/(losses) (a)  settlements, net  Transfers  September 30, 2009  period earnings 
 
Available-for-sale securities $33,279  $6,243  $  $  $39,522  $ 
                   
(a)Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)

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                      Total changes 
      Total  Purchases, sales      Fair value  in fair values 
  Fair Value  unrealized  issuances and      nine months ended  included in current 
Nine months ended September 30, 2009 January 1, 2009  gains/(losses) (a)  settlements, net  Transfers  September 30, 2009  period earnings 
                         
Available-for-sale securities $31,385  $8,137  $  $  $39,522  $ 
                   
                         
                      Total changes 
      Total  Purchases, sales      Fair value  in fair values 
  Fair Value  unrealized  issuances and      quarter ended  included in current 
  January 1, 2010  gains/(losses) (a)  settlements, net  Transfers  March 31, 2010  period earnings 
Other debt securities $42,447  $1,366  $  $  $43,813  $ 
                   
 
(a) Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)
     Certain financial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Generally, nonrecurring valuations are the result of applying accounting standards that require assets or liabilities to be assessed for impairment, or recorded at the lower-of-cost or fair value. The following table presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis:basis at March 31, 2010:
                                
 Internal models Internal models   
 Quoted market with significant with significant   
 prices in active observable market unobservable   
 markets parameters market parameters   
Quarter ended September 30, 2009 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total 
  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total 
Mortgage servicing rights $ $ $21,567 $21,567  $ $ $21,201 $21,201 
Impaired and nonaccrual loans   83,487 83,487    109,645 109,645 
Other property (1)   13,637 13,637    28,850 28,850 
                  
Total assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis $ $ $118,691 $118,691  $ $ $159,696 $159,696 
                  
 
(1) Represents the fair value, and related change in the value, of foreclosed real estate and other collateral owned by the Corporation during the period.
     Mortgage Servicing Rights.The Corporation carries its mortgage servicing rights at lower of cost or marketfair value, and therefore, can be subject to fair value measurements on a nonrecurring basis. Since sales of mortgage servicing rights tend to occur in private transactions and the precise terms and conditions of the sales are typically not readily available, there is a limited market to refer to in determining the fair value of mortgage servicing rights. As such, like other participants in the mortgage banking business, the Corporation relies primarily on a discounted cash flow model, incorporating assumptions about loan prepayment rates, discount rates, servicing costs and other economic factors, to estimate the fair value of its mortgage servicing rights. Since the valuation model uses significant unobservable inputs, the Corporation classifies mortgage servicing rights as Level 3.
     The Corporation utilizes a third party vendor to perform the modeling to estimate the fair value of its mortgage servicing rights. The Corporation reviews the estimated fair values and

29


assumptions used by the third party in the model on a quarterly basis. The Corporation also compares the estimates of fair value and assumptions to recent market activity and against its own experience.
     Prepayment SpeedsSpeeds:: Generally, when market interest rates decline and other factors favorable to prepayments occur there is a corresponding increase in prepayments as customers refinance existing mortgages under more favorable interest rate terms. When a mortgage loan is prepaid the anticipated cash flows associated with servicing that loan are terminated, resulting in a reduction of the fair value of the capitalized mortgage servicing rights. To the extent that actual

35


borrower prepayments do not react as anticipated by the prepayment model (i.e., the historical data observed in the model does not correspond to actual market activity), it is possible that the prepayment model could fail to accurately predict mortgage prepayments and could result in significant earnings volatility. To estimate prepayment speeds, the Corporation utilizes a third-party prepayment model, which is based upon statistically derived data linked to certain key principal indicators involving historical borrower prepayment activity associated with mortgage loans in the secondary market, current market interest rates and other factors, including the Corporation’s own historical prepayment experience. For purposes of model valuation, estimates are made for each product type within the mortgage servicing rights portfolio on a monthly basis.
     Discount Rate: Represents the rate at which expected cash flows are discounted to arrive at the net present value of servicing income. Discount rates will change with market conditions (i.e., supply vs. demand) and be reflective of the yields expected to be earned by market participants investing in mortgage servicing rights.
     Cost to Service: Expected costs to service are estimated based upon the incremental costs that a market participant would use in evaluating the potential acquisition of mortgage servicing rights.
     Float Income: Estimated float income is driven by expected float balances (principal, interest and escrow payments that are held pending remittance to the investor or other third party) and current market interest rates, including the six month average of the three-month LIBOR index, which are updated on a monthly basis for purposes of estimating the fair value of mortgage servicing rights.
     Impaired and nonaccrual loans.Fair value adjustments for these items typically occur when there is evidence of impairment. Loans are designated as impaired when, in the judgment of managementManagement based on current information and events, it is probable that all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement will not be collected. The measurement of loss associated with impaired loans can be based on either the observable market price of the loan or the fair value of the collateral. The Corporation measures fair value based on the value of the collateral securing the loans. Collateral may be in the form of real estate or personal property including equipment and inventory. The vast majority of the collateral is real estate. The value of the collateral is determined based on internal estimates as well as third party appraisals or non-binding broker quotes.price opinions. These measurements were classified as Level 3.
     Other Property.Other property includes foreclosed assets and properties securing residential and commercial loans. Foreclosed assetsAssets acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosures are adjusted to fair value less costs to sell upon transferrecorded initially at the lower of the loans to foreclosed assets. Subsequently, foreclosed assets are carried at the

30


lower of carry valueloan balance or fair value, less estimated selling costs, to sell.upon the date of foreclosure. Fair value is generally based upon internal estimates and third party appraisals or non-binding broker quotesthird-party price opinions and, accordingly, considered a Level 3 classification. Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are updated periodically, and the assets may be marked down further, reflecting a new carrying amount.
Financial Instruments Recorded at Fair Value Option
     The Corporation may elect to report most financial instruments and certain other items at fair value on an instrument-by-instrument basis with changes in fair value reported in net

36


income. ThisAfter the initial adoption, the election can beis made at the acquisition of an eligible financial asset, financial liability or firm commitment or when certain specified reconsideration events occur. The fair value election may not be revoked once an election is made.
     Effective August 1, 2008, the Corporation elected to fair value newly originated conforming fixed-ratefixed rate and adjustable-rate first mortgage loans held for sale. Previously, these loans had been recorded at the lower of cost or market value. The election of the fair value option aligns the accounting for these loans with the related hedges. It also eliminates the requirements of hedge accounting under GAAP. The fair value option was not elected for loans held for investment.
     The following table reflects the differences, as of March 31, 2010, between the fair value carrying amount of residential mortgages held for sale and the aggregate unpaid principal amount the Corporation is contractually entitled to receive at maturity. None of these loans were 90 days or more past due, nor were any on nonaccrual status.
             
          Fair Value 
          Carrying Amount 
  Fair Value  Aggregate Unpaid  Less Aggregate 
September 30, 2009 Carrying Amount  Principal  Unpaid Principal 
             
Loans held for sale reported at fair value $12,322$   11,950  $372 
          
             
          Fair Value 
          Carrying Amount 
  Fair Value  Aggregate Unpaid  Less Aggregate 
  Carrying Amount  Principal  Unpaid Principal 
Loans held for sale reported at fair value $16,009  $15,669  $340 
          
     Interest income on loans held for sale is accrued on the principal outstanding primarily using the “simple-interest” method.
     The assets accountedLoans held for under SFAS 159sale are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in current earnings. The changeschange in fair value included in current period earnings for residential loans held for sale measured at fair value are shown by income statement line item, below:included in earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was not significant.
         
  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
  September 30, 2009  September 30, 2009 
Changes in fair value included in net income:        
Loan sales and servicing income $155  $218 
       

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Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments
     The carrying amount and fair value of the Corporation’s financial instruments are shown below.

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  March 31, 2010 December 31, 2009
  Carrying Fair Carrying Fair
  Amount Value Amount Value
Financial assets:                
Cash and due from banks $721,938  $721,938  $161,033  $161,033 
Investment securities  3,301,039   3,301,039   2,744,838   2,744,838 
Loan held for sale  16,009   16,009   16,828   16,828 
Net noncovered loans  7,072,716   6,673,377   6,808,397   6,362,674 
Covered loans and loss share receivable  277,315   277,315       
Accrued interest receivable  41,763   41,763   39,274   39,274 
Mortgage servicing rights  20,652   21,201   20,784   22,241 
Derivative assets  34,874   34,874   28,120   28,120 
                 
Financial liabilities:                
Deposits $9,370,009  $9,378,490  $7,515,796  $7,519,604 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase  896,330   899,729   996,345   998,645 
Wholesale borrowings  677,715   685,442   740,105   745,213 
Accrued interest payable  15,303   15,303   11,336   11,336 
Derivative liabilities  62,272   62,272   58,486   58,486 
     The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair values of each class of financial instrument presented:
                 
  September 30, 2009 December 31, 2008
  Carrying Fair Carrying Fair
  Amount Value Amount Value
                 
Financial assets:                
Cash and due from banks $193,060  $193,060  $178,406  $178,406 
Investment securities  2,751,077   2,751,077   2,772,848   2,772,848 
Loan held for sale  12,519   12,519   11,141   11,141 
Net loans  6,913,296   6,394,834   7,321,856   6,727,645 
Accrued interest receivable  26,195   26,195   42,481   42,481 
Mortgage servicing rights  20,881   21,567   18,778   18,803 
Derivative assets  34,535   34,535   42,371   42,371 
                 
Financial liabilities:                
Deposits $7,271,274  $7,280,232  $7,597,679  $7,620,870 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase  1,350,475   1,352,896   921,390   921,808 
Wholesale borrowings  749,397   757,489   1,344,195   1,350,942 
Accrued interest payable  20,565   20,565   29,018   29,018 
Derivative liabilities  72,569   72,569   99,882   99,882 

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General —For short-term financial instruments realizable in three months or less, the carrying amount approximates fair value. Unless otherwise stated, the rates used in discounted cash flow analyses are based on market yield curves.
     Cash and due from banks— The carrying amount approximatesis considered a reasonable estimate of fair value primarily due to their short-term nature.value.
     Investment Securities— See Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value above.
     Net noncovered loans— The loan portfolio was segmented based on loan type and repricing characteristics. Carrying values are used to estimate fair values of variable rate loans. A discounted cash flow method was used to estimate the fair value of fixed-rate loans. Discounting was based on the contractual cash flows, and discount rates are based on the year-end yield curve plus a spread that reflects current pricing on loans with similar characteristics. If applicable, prepayment assumptions are factored into the fair value determination based on historical experience and current economic conditions. Loans are presented net of the allowance for loan and lease losses.
     Loans held for sale —The majority of loans held for sale are residential mortgage loans which are recorded at fair value. All other loans held for sale are recorded at the lower of cost or market, less costs to sell. See Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value above.
     Covered loans— Fair values for loans were based on a discounted cash flow methodology that considered factors including the type of loan and related collateral, classification status, fixed or variable interest rate, term of loan and whether or not the loan was amortizing, and current discount rates. Loans were grouped together according to similar characteristics and were treated in the aggregate when applying various valuation techniques. The discount rates used for loans are based on current market rates for new originations of comparable loans and include adjustments for liquidity concerns. The discount rate does not include a factor for credit losses as that has been included in the estimated cash flows.
Loss share receivable— This loss sharing asset is measured separately from the related covered assets as it is not contractually embedded in the covered assets and is not transferable

38


with the covered assets should FirstMerit Bank choose to dispose of them. Fair value was estimated using projected cash flows related to the loss sharing agreements based on the expected reimbursements for losses and the applicable loss sharing percentages. These cash flows were discounted to reflect the uncertainty of the timing and receipt of the loss sharing reimbursement from the FDIC.
Accrued interest receivable— The carrying amount approximatesis considered a reasonable estimate of fair value primarily due to their short-term nature.value.
     Mortgage servicing rights— See Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value above.
     Deposits— The carrying amountsestimated fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, which includes demand deposits, money market accounts and other savings accounts, approximates fairare established at carrying value because of the customers’ ability to withdraw funds immediately. A discounted cash flow method is used to estimate the fair value of fixed rate time deposits. Discounting was based on the contractual cash flows and the current rates at which similar deposits with similar remaining maturities would be issued.
     SecuritiesFederal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase and wholesale borrowings— The carrying amountsamount of Federalvariable rate borrowings including federal funds purchased repurchase agreements and other short term borrowings areis considered to be their fair value because of their short term nature. For all other borrowed funds, quotedvalue. Quoted market prices or the discounted cash flow method werewas used to estimate the fair values.value of the Corporation’s long-term debt. Discounting was based on the contractual cash flows and the current rate at which debt with similar terms could be issued.
     Accrued interest payable— The carrying amount approximatesis considered a reasonable estimate of fair value primarily due to their short-term nature.value.
     Derivative assets and liabilities— See Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value above.

33


11.Mortgage Servicing Rights and Mortgage Servicing Activity
     The Corporation serviced for third parties approximately $2.0 billion and $2.0 billion of residential mortgage loans at September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2008, respectively.2009. Loan servicing fees, not including valuation changes included in loan sales and servicing income, were $1.3 million forand $1.2 million in each of the three-month periodsthree months ended September 30,March 31, 2010 and 2009, and 2008, and $3.8 million for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.respectively.
     Servicing rights are presented within other assets on the balance sheet. The retained servicing rights are initially valued at fair value. Since mortgage servicing rights do not trade in an active market with readily observable prices, the Corporation relies primarily on a discounted cash flow analysis model to estimate the fair value of its mortgage servicing rights. Additional information can be found in Note 10(Fair Value)10 (Fair Value Measurement). Mortgage servicing rights are subsequently measured using the amortization method. Accordingly, the mortgage servicing rights are amortized over the period of, and in proportion to, the estimated net servicing income and is recorded in loan sales and servicing income.

39


     Changes in the carrying amount of mortgage servicing rights are as follows:
                
 Three months ended Nine months ended         
 September 30, September 30,  Three months ended 
 2009 2008 2009 2008  March 31, 
  2010 2009 
Balance at beginning of period $20,828 $19,869 $18,778 $19,354  $20,784 $18,778 
Addition of mortgage servicing rights 968 637 4,161 2,579  717 1,437 
Amortization  (901)  (643)  (2,828)  (2,070)  (849)  (790)
Changes in allowance for impairment  (14)  770     (364)
              
Balance at end of period $20,881 $19,863 $20,881 $19,863  $20,652 $19,061 
              
Fair value at end of period $21,567 $23,198 $21,567 $23,198  $21,201 $19,078 
              
     On a quarterly basis, the Corporation assesses its capitalized servicing rights for impairment based on their current fair value. For purposes of the impairment, the servicing rights are disaggregated based on loan type and interest rate which are the predominant risk characteristics of the underlying loans. A valuation allowance is established through a charge to earnings to the extent the amortized cost of the mortgage servicing rights exceeds the estimated fair value by stratification. If it is later determined that all or a portion of the temporary impairment no longer exists for the stratification, the valuation is reduced through a recovery to earnings. No valuation allowances were required as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. No permanent impairment losses were written off against the allowance during the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009.
     Key economic assumptions and the sensitivity of the current fair value of the mortgage servicing rights related to immediate 10% and 20%25% adverse changes in those assumptions at September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 are presented in the following table below. These sensitivities are hypothetical and should be used with caution. As the figures indicate, changes in the fair value based on a 10% variation in assumptionsthe prepayment speed assumption generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in the prepayment speed assumption to the change in fair value may not be linear. Also, in the below table, below, the effect of a variation in a particularthe discount rate assumption on the fair value of the mortgage servicing rights is calculated independently without changing any other assumption. In reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another (for example, changes in prepayment speed estimates could result in changes in the discount rates), which might magnify or counteract the sensitivities.
     
Prepayment speed assumption (annual CPR)  9.75%
Decrease in fair value from 10% adverse change $776 
Decrease in fair value from 25% adverse change  1,864 
Discount rate assumption  9.71%
Decrease in fair value from 100 basis point adverse change $731 
Decrease in fair value from 200 basis point adverse change  1,409 
Expected weighted-average life (in months)  106.1 

3440


     
Prepayment speed assumption (annual CPR)  11.08%
Decrease in fair value from 10% adverse change $831,906 
Decrease in fair value from 20% adverse change  1,616,784 
Discount rate assumption  9.68%
Decrease in fair value from 100 basis point adverse change $748,699 
Decrease in fair value from 200 basis point adverse change  1,443,269 
Expected weighted-average life (in months)  104.2 
12. Contingencies and Guarantees
     On a quarterly basis, the Corporation assesses its capitalized servicing rights for impairment based on their current fair value. For purposes of the impairment, the serving rights are disaggregated based on loan type and interest rate which are the predominant risk characteristics of the underlying loans. If any impairment results after current market assumptions are applied, the value of the servicing rights is reduced through the use of a valuation allowance, the balance of which is $0.01 million at September 30, 2009, $0.8 million at December 31, 2008 and zero at September 30, 2008.Litigation
12.Contingencies     The nature of the Corporation’s business results in a certain amount of litigation. Accordingly, the Corporation and its subsidiaries are subject to various pending and threatened lawsuits in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, is of the opinion that the ultimate liability of such pending matters will not have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations.
Commitments to Extend Credit
     Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer provided there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Loan commitments to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale and forward commitments to sell residential mortgage loans are considered derivative instruments, and the fair value of these commitments is recorded on the consolidated balance. Additional information is provided in Note 8 (Derivatives and Hedging Activities). Commitments generally are extended at the then prevailing interest rates, have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Loan commitments involve credit risk not reflected on the balance sheet. The Corporation mitigates exposure to credit risk with internal controls that guide how applications for credit are reviewed and approved, how credit limits are established and, when necessary, how demands for collateral are made. Collateral held varies but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, and income-producing commercial properties. Management evaluates the creditworthiness of each prospective borrower on a case-by-case basis and, when appropriate, adjusts the allowance for probable credit losses inherent in all commitments. The allowance for unfunded lending commitments at March 31, 2010 was $6.3 million. Additional information pertaining to this allowance is included under the heading “Allowance for Loan Losses and Reserve for Unfunded Lending Commitments” within Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation of this report.
     The following table shows the remaining contractual amount of each class of commitments to extend credit as of March 31, 2010. This amount represents the Corporation’s maximum exposure to loss if the customer were to draw upon the full amount of the commitment and subsequently default on payment for the total amount of the then outstanding loan.
     
  March 31, 2010 
Loan Commitments    
Commercial $1,435,466 
Consumer  1,652,345 
    
Total loan commitments $3,087,811 
    

3541


Guarantees
     The Corporation is a guarantor in certain agreements with third parties. The following table shows the types of guarantees the Corporation had outstanding as of March 31, 2010.
     
  March 31, 2010 
Financial guarantees    
Standby letters of credit $144,963 
Loans sold with recourse  55,439 
    
Total loan commitments $200,402 
    
     Standby letters of credit obligate the Corporation to pay a specified third party when a customer fails to repay an outstanding loan or debt instrument, or fails to perform some contractual nonfinancial obligation. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as involved in extending loan facilities to customers. Collateral held varies, but may include marketable securities, equipment and real estate. Any amounts drawn under standby letters of credit are treated as loans; they bear interest and pose the same credit risk to the Corporation as a loan. Except for short-term guarantees of $88.4 million at March 31, 2010, the remaining guarantees extend in varying amounts through 2014.
     In recourse arrangements, the Corporation accepts 100% recourse. By accepting 100% recourse, the Corporation is assuming the entire risk of loss due to borrower default. The Corporation uses the same credit policies originating loans which will be sold with recourse as it does for any other type of loan. The Corporation’s exposure to credit loss, if the borrower completely failed to perform and if the collateral or other forms of credit enhancement all prove to be of no value, is represented by the notional amount less any allowance for possible loan losses. An allowance of $3.0 million was established as of March 31, 2010.

42


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
AVERAGE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
Fully-tax EquivalentFully Tax-equivalent Interest Rates and Interest Differential
                                    
 Three months ended Year ended Three months ended                                     
FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND September 30, 2009 December 31, 2008 September 30, 2008        
SUBSIDIARIES Average Average Average Average Average Average  Three months ended Year ended Three months ended 
(Dollars in thousands) Balance Interest Rate Balance Interest Rate Balance Interest Rate  March 31, 2010 December 31, 2009 March 31, 2009 
 Average Average Average Average Average Average 
 Balance Interest Rate Balance Interest Rate Balance Interest Rate 
      
ASSETS
  
Cash and due from banks $159,985 $177,089 $171,370  $521,666 $183,215 $209,922 
Investment securities and federal funds sold:  
U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. 
Government agency obligations (taxable) 2,210,551 24,115  4.33% 1,985,026 94,260  4.75% 1,943,589 23,374  4.78%
U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. Government agency obligations (taxable) 2,377,729 22,909  3.91% 2,222,771 97,871  4.40% 2,251,028 25,954  4.68%
Obligations of states and political subdivisions (tax exempt) 318,853 4,872  6.06% 294,724 17,910  6.08% 301,688 4,575  6.03% 344,899 5,139  6.04% 321,919 19,718  6.13% 320,943 4,914  6.21%
Other securities and federal funds sold 199,028 2,049  4.08% 216,794 11,326  5.22% 216,154 2,780  5.12% 194,991 1,986  4.13% 204,272 8,394  4.11% 212,995 2,341  4.46%
             
              
Total investment securities and federal funds sold 2,728,432 31,036  4.51% 2,496,544 123,496  4.95% 2,461,431 30,729  4.97% 2,917,619 30,034  4.17% 2,748,962 125,983  4.58% 2,784,966 33,209  4.84%
  
Loans held for sale 17,357 230  5.26% 29,419 1,602  5.45% 12,048 178  5.88% 14,538 184  5.13% 19,289 1,032  5.35% 23,248 322  5.62%
Loans 7,057,021 84,107  4.73% 7,203,946 434,704  6.03% 7,282,333 107,781  5.89%
             
Noncovered loans 7,022,381 81,829  4.73% 7,156,983 339,381  4.74% 7,381,019 87,508  4.81%
Covered loans and loss share receivable 126,333 1,761  5.65%       
              
Total earning assets 9,802,810 115,373  4.67% 9,729,909 559,802  5.75% 9,755,812 138,688  5.66% 10,080,871 113,808  4.58% 9,925,234 466,396  4.70% 10,189,233 121,039  4.82%
  
Allowance for loan losses  (111,073)  (96,714)  (98,091)   (115,031)  (108,017)  (102,533) 
Other assets 777,637 739,158 740,405  869,604 793,062 818,420 
              
  
Total assets $10,629,359 $10,549,442 $10,569,496  $11,357,110 $10,793,494 $11,115,042 
              
  
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  
Deposits:  
Demand — non-interest bearing $1,947,359   $1,530,021   $1,545,427    $2,146,969   $1,910,171   $1,767,885   
Demand — interest bearing 647,712 137  0.08% 687,160 2,514  0.37% 678,803 589  0.35% 687,233 152  0.09% 656,367 600  0.09% 655,279 155  0.10%
Savings and money market accounts 2,916,980 5,763  0.78% 2,398,778 29,839  1.24% 2,373,995 6,932  1.16% 3,709,246 7,601  0.83% 2,886,842 23,472  0.81% 2,638,166 5,377  0.83%
Certificates and other time deposits 1,872,456 12,284  2.60% 2,801,623 105,853  3.78% 2,728,139 23,463  3.42% 1,797,348 6,406  1.45% 2,056,208 54,610  2.66% 2,582,788 18,588  2.92%
                          
  
Total deposits 7,384,507 18,184  0.98% 7,417,582 138,206  1.86% 7,326,364 30,984  1.68% 8,340,796 14,159  0.69% 7,509,588 78,682  1.05% 7,644,118 24,120  1.28%
  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 1,087,875 1,286  0.47% 1,343,441 31,857  2.37% 1,504,011 8,244  2.18% 951,927 1,127  0.48% 1,013,167 4,764  0.47% 941,112 999  0.43%
Wholesale borrowings 883,377 6,824  3.06% 663,109 27,574  4.16% 634,226 6,801  4.27% 708,414 6,174  3.53% 952,979 27,317  2.87% 1,151,777 7,343  2.59%
                          
  
Total interest bearing liabilities 7,408,400 26,294  1.41% 7,894,111 197,637  2.50% 7,919,174 46,029  2.31% 7,854,168 21,460  1.11% 7,565,563 110,763  1.46% 7,969,122 32,462  1.65%
 
Other liabilities 234,776 189,222 175,400  262,405 267,835 304,759 
  
Shareholders’ equity 1,038,824 936,088 929,495  1,093,568 1,049,925 1,073,276 
              
  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $10,629,359 $10,549,442 $10,569,496  $11,357,110 $10,793,494 $11,115,042 
              
  
Net yield on earning assets $9,802,810 89,079  3.61% $9,729,909 362,165  3.72% $9,755,812 92,659  3.78% $10,080,871 92,348  3.72% $9,925,234 355,633  3.58% $10,189,233 88,577  3.53%
                                      
  
Interest rate spread  3.26%  3.25%  3.35%  3.47%  3.24%  3.17%
              
 
Note: Interest income on tax-exempt securities and loans has been adjusted to a fully-taxable equivalent basis.

Nonaccrual loans have been included in the average balances.

43


AVERAGE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
Fully-tax Equivalent Interest Rates and Interest DifferentialHIGHLIGHTS OF FIRST QUARTER 2010 PERFORMANCE
                                     
FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND Nine months ended  Year ended  Nine months ended 
SUBSIDIARIES September 30, 2009  December 31, 2008  September 30, 2008 
 Average      Average  Average      Average  Average      Average 
(Dollars in thousands) Balance  Interest  Rate  Balance  Interest  Rate  Balance  Interest  Rate 
ASSETS
                                    
Cash and due from banks $188,010          $177,089          $171,812         
Investment securities and federal funds sold:                                    
U.S. Treasury securities and U.S.                                    
Government agency obligations (taxable)  2,222,119   74,524   4.48%  1,985,026   94,260   4.75%  1,989,648   70,276   4.72%
Obligations of states and political                                    
subdivisions (tax exempt)  318,825   14,696   6.16%  294,724   17,910   6.08%  287,507   13,106   6.09%
Other securities and federal funds sold  207,938   6,594   4.24%  216,794   11,326   5.22%  217,776   8,607   5.28%
                               
                                     
Total investment securities and federal funds sold  2,748,882   95,814   4.66%  2,496,544   123,496   4.95%  2,494,931   91,989   4.93%
                                     
Loans held for sale  20,395   829   5.43%  29,419   1,602   5.45%  36,310   1,501   5.52%
Loans  7,227,077   257,619   4.77%  7,203,946   434,704   6.03%  7,149,451   329,314   6.15%
                               
                                     
Total earning assets  9,996,354   354,262   4.74%  9,729,909   559,802   5.75%  9,680,692   422,804   5.83%
                                     
Allowance for loan losses  (106,190)          (96,714)          (95,309)        
Other assets  794,893           739,158           731,689         
                                  
                                     
Total assets $10,873,067          $10,549,442          $10,488,884         
                                  
                                     
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                                    
Deposits:                                    
Demand — non-interest bearing $1,869,669        $1,530,021        $1,503,871       
Demand — interest bearing  658,048   451   0.09%  687,160   2,514   0.37%  696,881   2,144   0.41%
Savings and money market accounts  2,789,455   16,592   0.80%  2,398,778   29,839   1.24%  2,353,140   23,075   1.31%
Certificates and other time deposits  2,229,694   46,197   2.77%  2,801,623   105,853   3.78%  2,778,077   82,037   3.94%
                               
                                     
Total deposits  7,546,866   63,240   1.12%  7,417,582   138,206   1.86%  7,331,969   107,256   1.95%
                                     
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase  991,926   3,496   0.47%  1,343,441   31,857   2.37%  1,402,201   28,105   2.68%
Wholesale borrowings  1,017,330   21,064   2.77%  663,109   27,574   4.16%  628,441   20,133   4.28%
                               
                                     
Total interest bearing liabilities  7,686,453   87,800   1.53%  7,894,111   197,637   2.50%  7,858,740   155,494   2.64%
                                     
Other liabilities  273,116           189,222           188,068         
                                     
Shareholders’ equity  1,043,829           936,088           938,205         
                                  
                                     
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $10,873,067          $10,549,442          $10,488,884         
                                  
                                     
Net yield on earning assets $9,996,354   266,462   3.56% $9,729,909   362,165   3.72% $9,680,692   267,310   3.69%
                            
                                     
Interest rate spread          3.21%          3.25%          3.19%
                                  
Note:Interest income on tax-exempt securities and loans has been adjusted to a fully-taxable equivalent basis.
Nonaccrual loans have been included in the average balances.

37


SUMMARYEarnings Summary
     FirstMeritThe Corporation reported thirdfirst quarter 20092010 net income of $22.8$18.0 million, or $0.27$0.21 per diluted share. This compares with $15.5$14.5 million, or $0.13$0.17 per diluted share, for the secondfourth quarter 2009 and $29.8$29.4 million, or $0.36$0.33 per diluted share, for the thirdfirst quarter 2008. Earnings per share for all periods presented have been restated to reflect stock dividends declared on April 28, 2009 and August 20, 2009.
     Returns on average common equity (“ROE”) and average assets (“ROA”) for the thirdfirst quarter 20092010 were 8.69%6.68% and 0.85%0.64%, respectively, compared with 6.27%5.38% and 0.57%0.54% for the secondfourth quarter 2009 and 12.73%12.39% and 1.12%1.07% for the thirdfirst quarter 2008. Included2009.
     In the first quarter of 2010, the Corporation completed two strategic acquisitions in the second quarter 2009 results was a $3.7 million after-tax Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) Special Assessment fee ($0.04 per share). Also included inChicago area: 24 branches of First Bank and certain assets and substantially all of the second quarter 2009 results was a $4.5 million after-tax expense ($0.06 per share) associated withdeposits of the unamortized discount on the Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, issued under the TARP program.4-branch George Washington Savings Bank.
     Net interest margin was 3.61%3.72% for the thirdfirst quarter of 2009,2010 compared with 3.56%3.64% for the secondfourth quarter of 2009 and 3.78%3.53% for the thirdfirst quarter of 2008.2009. The margin expansion in the quarter was primarily driven by lower funding costs due to aCorporation’s continued shift in deposit mix with increased emphasis on core deposit productsgathering and lowershifting deposit mix away from higher-priced certificate of deposit balances.products drove the expansion over both time periods.
     Average loans during the thirdfirst quarter of 2009 decreased $189.72010 increased $150.5 million, or 2.62%2.16%, compared towith the secondfourth quarter of 2009 and decreased $225.3$281.5 million, or 3.09%3.81%, compared with the thirdfirst quarter of 2008. The fluctuation from second quarter 20092009. Excluding $286.8 million in average loan balances related to third quarter 2009 was due to decreases in commercialthe aforementioned Chicago bank acquisitions, average loans of $157.3decreased $119.9 million, or 3.69%1.73%, mortgage loanscompared with the fourth quarter of $21.92009 and decreased $568.4 million, or 4.26%, and installment loans7.70% compared with the first quarter of $20.9 million, or 1.38%. The decrease in the third quarter 2009 as compared to third quarter 2008 was due to decreases in commercial loans of $63.2 million, or 1.52%, mortgage loans of $77.2 million, or 13.56%, and installment loans of $125.2 million, or 7.74%.2009. The decrease in average loan volume over both periodsbalances reflects the current economic cycle in which business ownersa reduced level of commercial and consumers are retrenching on their demand for leverage and borrowing. Business customers continue their trend in inventory and receivable reduction and paying down existing debt to strengthen their balance sheets. Consumer customers are taking a similar approach with lower borrowingconsumer credit demand and increased usage of short-term savings products.the focus on debt reduction by the Corporation’s business and retail customer base.
     Average deposits during the thirdfirst quarter of 2009 decreased $230.32010 increased $943.2 million, or 3.02%12.75%, compared with the secondfourth quarter of 2009 and increased $58.1$696.7 million, or 0.79%9.11%, compared with the thirdfirst quarter of 2008.2009. During the thirdfirst quarter of 2009,2010 the Corporation increased its average core deposits, which excludes time deposits, by $138.9$687.3 million, or 2.58%11.74%, compared with the secondfourth quarter of 2009, and $913.8 million,$1.5 billion, or 19.87%29.28%, compared with the thirdfirst quarter of 2008. These results reflect the Corporation’s continued success in growing core2009. Acquisitions represent $706.5 million of average deposit relationshipsgrowth and deemphasizing a reliance on higher-cost certificate$275.5 million of deposit accounts. Theaverage core deposit growth reflectsin the Corporation’s success in building a strong brand name in its core markets and capitalizing on market disruption in northeast Ohio.first quarter of 2010.

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     Average investments decreased $5.4during the first quarter of 2010 increased $168.4 million, or 0.20%6.13%, compared with the secondfourth quarter of 2009 and increased $270.7$132.7 million, or 11.01%4.76%, over the thirdfirst quarter of 2008. The year-over-year increase is a result of the leverage strategy implemented in the fourth quarter of 2008.2009.
     Net interest income on a fully tax-equivalent (“FTE”) basis was $89.1$92.3 million in the thirdfirst quarter 20092010 compared with $88.8$89.2 million in the secondfourth quarter of 2009 and $92.7$88.6 million in the thirdfirst quarter of 2008.2009. Compared with the secondfourth quarter of 2009, average earning assets decreased $198.5increased $366.7 million, or 1.98%,3.77% and increased $47.0decreased $108.4 million or 0.48%,1.06% compared to the thirdfirst quarter of 2008.2009.

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     Noninterest income net of securities transactions for the thirdfirst quarter of 20092010 was $48.6$53.9 million, a decreasean increase of $1.0$3.2 million, or 2.06%6.27%, from the secondfourth quarter of 2009 and an increasea decrease of $1.6$1.2 million, or 3.43%2.25%, from the thirdfirst quarter of 2008.2009 which included $9.5 million due to curtailment of the postretirement medical benefit plan for active employees. Included in noninterest income in the first quarter 2010 was a $5.1 million ($3.3 million after-tax) gain related to the George Washington acquisition.
     The primary changes in these noninterestother income categoriesfor the 2010 first quarter as compared withto the thirdfirst quarter of 20082009 were as follows: trust income was $5.1 million, a decrease of $0.5 million; ATM and other service fees was $2.9$5.3 million, an increase of $0.2 million; investment services and insurance was $2.510.25% primarily due to advances in the equity markets; service charges on deposits were $15.4 million, a decreasean increase of $0.4 million; and8.49% due to an increase in new accounts; credit card fees were $11.6 million, an increase of 4.28% attributable to the improvement in the economy; loan sales and servicing income was $3.9$3.2 million, an increase of $2.5 million. The38.63%, primarily attributable to refinancing in the current low rate mortgage market environment; bank owned life insurance income was $5.7 million, an increase of $2.6 million attributable to realized policy proceeds. A separate line item was added for the $5.1 million gain on the acquisition of George Washington, while also separately stated in loan sales and servicing is primarily attributedthe first quarter of 2009 was the $9.5 million adjustment due to increased mortgage origination and sales volume.the curtailment of the postretirement medical plan for active employees.
     Other income, net of securities gains, as a percentage of net revenue for the thirdfirst quarter of 20092010 was 35.32%36.88% compared with 35.87%36.28% for secondfourth quarter of 2009 and 33.67%38.39% for the thirdfirst quarter of 2008.2009. Net revenue is defined as net interest income, on a FTE basis, plus other income, less gains from securities sales.
     Noninterest expense for the thirdfirst quarter of 20092010 was $84.2$94.0 million, a decrease of $6.4$0.9 million, or 7.07%0.92%, from the secondfourth quarter of 2009 and an increase of $3.6$10.8 million, or 4.41%12.99%, from the thirdfirst quarter of 2008. Included2009. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, increases in operating expenses compared to the secondfirst quarter 2009 were primarily attributable to increased salary and benefits, professional services and FDIC expense. One time expenses wasassociated with data processing conversions and related expenses for the FDIC Special Assessment pretax fee of $5.1acquisitions totaled $2.7 million.
     TheDuring the first quarter of 2010, the Corporation reported an efficiency ratio for the third quarter of 2009 was 61.05%64.10%, compared with 65.34%67.74% for the secondfourth quarter of 2009 and 57.64%57.81% for the thirdfirst quarter of 2008.2009.
     Net charge-offs totaled $18.8$22.8 million, or 1.05%1.36% of average loans, in the thirdfirst quarter of 2009,2010 compared with $21.6$31.2 million, or 1.19%1.79% of average loans, in the secondfourth quarter 2009 and $11.8$15.6 million, or 0.64%0.86% of average loans, in the thirdfirst quarter of 2008.2009.
     Nonperforming assets totaled $88.9$123.3 million at September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, an increase of $15.5$22.3 million or 21.17%, compared with June 30,December 31, 2009 and an increase of $45.4$47.1 million or 104.37%, compared with September 30, 2008.March 31, 2009. Nonperforming assets at September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 represented 1.26%1.80% of period-end loans plus other real estate compared with 1.03%1.48% at June 30,December 31, 2009 and 0.59%1.04% at September 30, 2008.March 31, 2009.
     The allowance for loan losses totaled $116.4$117.8 million at September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, an increase of $5.1$2.7 million from June 30,December 31, 2009. Given the current economic environment, the Corporation has continued a strategy to increase reserve levels and year-to-date has provided $12.6 million in excess of net charge-offs to the allowance for loan losses. At September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, the allowance for loan losses was 1.66%1.72% of period-end loans compared with 1.56%1.68% at June 30,December 31, 2009 and 1.38%1.45% at March 31,

3945


at September 30, 2008.2009. The allowance for credit losses is the sum of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments. For comparative purposes the allowance for credit losses was 1.72%1.82% of period-end loans at September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, compared with 1.64%1.77% at June 30,December 31, 2009 and 1.47%1.53% at September 30, 2008.March 31, 2009. The allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans was 153.27%110.80% at September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, compared with 184.71%131.82% at June 30,December 31, 2009 and 281.28%159.93% at September 30, 2008.March 31, 2009.
     The Corporation’s total assets at September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 were $10.8$12.3 billion, an increase of $64.4 million,$1.8 billion inclusive of intangible assets, or 0.60%16.92%, compared with June 30,December 31, 2009 and an increase of $76.5 million,$1.4 billion, or 0.72%12.32%, compared with September 30, 2008. Growth in investment securities of $300.8March 31, 2009. Total loans increased $436.3 million, or 12.28%6.30%, compared with September 30, 2008, provided the majority of the overall asset growth.December 31, 2009 and increased $9.0 million, or 0.12%, over March 31, 2009.
     Total deposits were $7.3$9.4 billion at September 30, 2009, a decrease of $179.9 million, or 2.41%, from June 30, 2009 and a decrease of $159.3 million, or 2.14%, from September 30, 2008. The decrease as compared to both June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008 was driven by a decrease in certificates and time deposits of 18.12% and 40.40%, respectively, reflecting the Corporation’s success remixing the balance sheet and focusing on core deposit growth. Core deposits totaled $5.6 billion at September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, an increase of $194.5 million,$1.9 billion, or 3.61%24.67%, from June 30,December 31, 2009 and an increase of $988.1$1.7 billion, or 22.03%, from March 31, 2009. The increase compared with March 31, 2009 was driven by both an overall increase in savings and demand deposits and the acquisitions of the First Bank branches and George Washington. Core deposits totaled $7.0 billion at March 31, 2010, an increase of $852.4 million, or 21.52%13.85%, from September 30, 2008.December 31, 2009 and an increase of $1.7 billion, or 32.70%, from March 31, 2009.
     Shareholders’ equity was $1,059.2$1,155.4 million at September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, compared with $1,022.6$1,065.6 million at June 30,December 31, 2009 and $926.1$1,084.3 million at September 30, 2008.March 31, 2009. The Corporation increased itsmaintained a strong capital position as tangible common equity to assets was 8.65%7.93% at September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, compared with 8.36%8.89% and 7.60% at June 30,December 31, 2009 and 7.45% at September 30, 2008.March 31, 2009, respectively. The common dividend per share paid in the thirdfirst quarter 20092010 was $0.16 per share$0.16.
Acquisitions
     In the first quarter of 2010, the Corporation completed two strategic acquisitions. On February 19, 2010, the Bank completed the acquisition of certain assets and the transfer of certain liabilities with respect to 24 branches of First Bank located in the greater Chicago, Illinois, area. Excluding the purchase accounting adjustments, the acquisition included the assumption of approximately $1.2 billion in deposits and the purchase of $301.2 million of loans and $23.0 million in real and personal property associated with the acquired branch locations. The Bank received cash of $832.5 million to assume the net liabilities. All of the loans in the acquired portfolio were performing and pass-grade credits. This acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method in accordance with ASC 805.
     Also, on February 19, 2010, the Bank acquired certain assets and assumed substantially all of the deposits and liabilities of George Washington through a purchase and assumption agreement with the FDIC. The Illinois Department of financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Banking, declared George Washington closed on February 19, 2010 and appointed the FDIC as well asreceiver. Excluding the effects of purchase accounting adjustments, the Bank acquired approximately $403.9 million in assets and assumed $395.7 million of deposits of George Washington.
     In connection with the George Washington acquisition, the Bank entered into a $0.13 per share dividendloss sharing agreement with the FDIC that collectively covers $327.1 million of common stock.assets including

46


single family residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate and commercial and industrial loans, and other real estate. The Bank acquired other George Washington assets that are not covered by the loss sharing agreement with the FDIC including investment securities purchased at fair market value and other tangible assets.
     See Note 2 (Business Combinations), in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to the details of these transactions.
RESULTS OF OPERATION
Net Interest Income
     Net interest income, the Corporation’s principal source of earnings, is the difference between interest income generated by earning assets (primarily loans and investment securities) and interest paid on interest-bearing funds (namely customer deposits securities sold under agreements to repurchase and wholesale borrowings). Net interest income is affected by market interest rates on both earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, the level of earning assets being funded by interest bearing liabilities, noninterest-bearing liabilities, the mix of funding between interest bearing liabilities, noninterest-bearing liabilities and equity, and the growth in earning assets.
     Net interest income for the quarter ended September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 was $87.4$90.4 million compared to $91.1$86.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.March 31, 2009. For the purpose of this remaining discussion, net interest income is presented on an FTE basis, to provide a comparison among all types of interest earning assets. That is, interest on tax-free securities and tax-exempt loans has been restated as if such interest were taxed at the statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%, adjusted for the non-deductible portion of interest expense incurred to acquire the tax-free assets. Net interest income presented on an FTE basis is a non-GAAP financial measure widely used by financial services organizations. The FTE adjustment was $1.7$2.0 million and $1.5$1.7 million for the quarters ending September 30,March 31, 2010 and 2009, and 2008, respectively. The FTE adjustment was $5.1 million and $4.4 million for the nine months ending September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

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     FTE net interest income for the quarter ended September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 was $89.1$92.3 million compared to $92.7$88.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008. FTE net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $266.5 million compared to $267.3 million for six months ended September 30, 2008.March 31, 2009.
     As illustrated in the following rate/volume analysis table, interest income and interest expense both decreased due to the falling interest rate environment.

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  Quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 
RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS Increases (Decreases) 
        (Dollars in thousands) Volume  Rate  Total 
INTEREST INCOME — FTE
            
Investment securities $1,565  $(4,740) $(3,175)
Loans held for sale  (112)  (26)  (138)
Noncovered loans  (4,198)  (1,481)  (5,679)
Covered loans and loss share receivable  1,761      1,761 
          
Total interest income — FTE $(984) $(6,247) $(7,231)
          
INTEREST EXPENSE
            
Demand deposits-interest bearing $7  $(10) $(3)
Savings and money market accounts  2,195   29   2,224 
Certificates of deposits and other time deposits  (4,579)  (7,603)  (12,182)
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase  12   116   128 
Wholesale borrowings  (3,358)  2,189   (1,169)
          
Total interest expense $(5,723) $(5,279) $(11,002)
          
Net interest income — FTE $4,739  $(968) $3,771 
          
     The Federal Reserve discountnet interest margin is calculated by dividing net interest income FTE by average earning assets. As with net interest income, the net interest margin is affected by the level and mix of earning assets, the proportion of earning assets funded by non-interest bearing liabilities, and the interest rate decreased 25 basis points in April 2008, 100 basis points in October 2008, and 75 to 100 basis points again in December 2008 and rates held flat forspread. In addition, the first three quarters of 2009. The section entitled “Financial Condition” contains more discussion aboutnet interest margin is impacted by changes in earning assetsfederal income tax rates and funding sources.
                         
  Quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008  Nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 
RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS Increases (Decreases)  Increases (Decreases) 
(Dollars in thousands) Volume  Rate  Total  Volume  Rate  Total 
INTEREST INCOME — FTE
                        
Investment securities and federal funds sold $3,147  $(2,840) $307  $9,156  $(5,331) $3,825 
Loans held for sale  72   (20)  52   (647)  (25)  (672)
Loans  (3,245)  (20,429)  (23,674)  3,538   (75,233)  (71,695)
                   
Total interest income — FTE $(26) $(23,289) $(23,315) $12,047  $(80,589) $(68,542)
                   
INTEREST EXPENSE
                        
Demand deposits-interest bearing $(26) $(426) $(452) $(114) $(1,579) $(1,693)
Savings and money market accounts  1,373   (2,542)  (1,169)  3,739   (10,222)  (6,483)
Certificates of deposits and other time deposits  (6,366)  (4,813)  (11,179)  (14,270)  (21,570)  (35,840)
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase  (1,815)  (5,143)  (6,958)  (6,447)  (18,162)  (24,609)
Wholesale borrowings  2,236   (2,213)  23   9,655   (8,724)  931 
                   
Total interest expense $(4,598) $(15,137) $(19,735) $(7,437) $(60,257) $(67,694)
                   
Net interest income — FTE $4,572  $(8,152) $(3,580) $19,484  $(20,332) $(848)
                   
Net Interest Marginregulations as they affect the tax-equivalent adjustment.
     The following table provides 20092010 FTE net interest income and net interest margin totals as well as 20082009 comparative amounts:
                        
 Quarters ended Nine months  Quarters ended 
 September 30, September 30,  March 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2009 2008 2009 2008  2010 2009 
 
Net interest income $87,377 $91,121 $261,386 $262,951  $90,394 $86,894 
Tax equivalent adjustment 1,702 1,538 5,076 4,359  1,954 1,683 
              
Net interest income — FTE $89,079 $92,659 $266,462 $267,310  $92,348 $88,577 
              
  
Average earning assets $9,802,810 $9,755,812 $9,996,354 $9,680,692  $10,080,871 $10,189,233 
              
Net interest margin — FTE  3.61%  3.78%  3.56%  3.69%  3.72%  3.53%
              
     Average loans outstanding (excluding covered loans) for the current year and prior year thirdfirst quarters totaled $7.1$7.0 billion and $7.3$7.4 billion, respectively. DecreasesIncreases in average loan

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balances from thirdfirst quarter 20082009 to the thirdfirst quarter 20092010 occurred in commercial and home equity, while mortgage andloans, installment loans, credit card loans, and leases while home equity and credit card loans increased. The overall decrease in average loan volume reflects the current economic cycle in which business owners and consumers are retrenching on their demand for leverage and borrowing. Business customers continue their

41


trend in inventory and receivable reduction and paying down existing debt to strengthen their balance sheets. Consumer customers are taking a similar approach with lower borrowing demand and increased usage of short-term savings products.declined.
     Specific changes in average loans outstanding, compared to the thirdfirst quarter 2008,2009, were as follows: commercial loans were down $139.4 million or 3.22%; home equity loans were up $20.1 million or 2.73%; mortgage loans were down $82.0 million or 15.28%; installment loans, both direct and indirect declined $125.2$155.8 million or 7.74%10.00%; mortgage loans were down $77.2 million or 13.56%; commercial loans were down $63.2 million or 1.52%; leases decreased $10.2 million or 14.69%; home equity loans were up $49.0 million or 6.91%; and credit card loans increased $1.5$3.8 million or 1.04%2.57%; and leases decreased $5.3 million or 8.06%. Average covered loans have been separately stated and are described in more detail in Note 2 (Business Combinations). The majority of fixed-rate mortgage loan originations are sold to investors through the secondary mortgage loan market. Average outstanding loans for the 2010 and 2009 and 2008 thirdfirst quarters equaled 71.99%70.91% and 74.65%72.44% of average earning assets, respectively.
     Average deposits were $7.4$8.3 billion during the 2009 third2010 first quarter, up $58.1$696.7 million, or .79%9.11%, from the same period last year. For the quarter ended September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, average core deposits (which are defined as checking accounts, savings accounts and money market savings products) increased $913.8 million,$1.5 billion, or 19.87%29.28%, and represented 74.64%78.45% of total average deposits, compared to 62.76%66.21% for the 2008 third2009 first quarter. Average certificates of deposit (“CDs”) decreased $855.7$785.4 million, or 31.37%30.41%, compared to the prior year quarter. These results reflect the Corporation’s continued success in growing core deposit relationships and deemphasizing a reliance on higher-cost certificate of deposit accounts. The core deposit growth reflects the Corporation’s success in building a strong brand name in its core markets and capitalizing on market disruption in northeast Ohio.year. Average wholesale borrowings increased $249.2decreased $443.4 million, and as a percentage of total interest-bearing funds equaled 11.92%9.02% for the 2009 third2010 first quarter and 8.01%14.45% for the same quarter one year ago. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase decreased $416.1increased $10.8 million, and as a percentage of total interest bearing funds equaled 14.68%12.12% for the 2010 first quarter and 11.81% for the 2009 third quarter and 18.99% for the 2008 thirdfirst quarter. Average interest-bearing liabilities funded 75.57%77.91% of average earning assets in the current year quarter and 81.17%78.21% during the quarter ended September 30, 2008.March 31, 2009.
Other Income
     Other (non-interest)Excluding investment gains, other income for the quarter ended September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 totaled $51.6$53.9 million, an increasea decrease of $4.5$1.2 million from the $47.0$55.2 million earned during the same period one year ago. The Corporation continues to focus upon non-interest income (fee income) as a means by which to diversify revenue.
Other income net of securities gains, as a percentage of net revenue for the third quarter(FTE net interest income plus other income, less security gains from securities) was 35.32%36.88%, compared to 33.67%38.39% for the same quarter one year ago. Net revenue is defined as net interest income, on a FTE basis, plus other income, less gains from securities sales.
     The primary changes in other income for the 2009 third quarter as compared to the third quarter of 2008, were as follows: trustTrust department income was $5.1$5.3 million, down 8.65%, and investment services and insurance was $2.5up 10.25% primarily due to advances in the equity markets. Service charges on deposits were $15.4 million, down 13.83%,up 8.49% primarily attributable to an increase in new accounts. Credit card fees were $11.6 million, up 4.28% reflecting lower balancesthe slight improvement in assets under management; loanthe economy. Loan sales and servicing income was $3.9$3.2 million, an increase of $2.5$0.9 million, primarily attributable to a rise in mortgage bankingimproved revenue as the lower rate environment drove an increase in mortgage loan production and increased profitability on loan

42


sales; and net investment securities gains were $2.9 million, an increase of 100%, resulting from the execution of a strategy to reduce increasing sensitivity to higher interest rates.
     The changes in other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to September 30, 2008 were similar to the quarterly analysis. The primary changes in other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008, were as follows: trust department income was $15.3 million, down 9.07% and investment services andmortgage servicing function. Bank owned life insurance income was $7.7$5.7 million, down 10.15%, reflecting lower balances in assets under management; loan sales and servicing income was $10.0 million, an increase of $5.4 million, primarilyup 87.46% attributable to a rise in mortgage banking revenue asrealized policy proceeds. A separate line item was added for the lower rate environment drove an increase in mortgage loan production and increased profitability$5.1 million gain on loan sales; and net investment securities gains were $4.1 million, an increasethe acquisition of $3.5 million, resulting from the execution of a strategy to reduce increasing sensitivity to higher interest rates. Included in other incomeGeorge Washington, while also separately stated in the first nine monthsquarter of 2009 was athe $9.5 million adjustment due to the curtailment of the postretirement medical plan for active employees. Included in otherOther operating income inwas $3.3 million, a decrease of $1.4 million over the first nine monthsquarter of 2008 was a $7.9 million gain from the partial redemption of Visa, Inc. shares.2009.

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Other Expenses
     Other (non-interest) expenses totaled $84.2$94.0 million for the thirdfirst quarter 20092010 compared to $80.6$83.2 million for the same 20082009 quarter, an increase of $3.6$10.8 million, or 4.41%. Other expenses totaled $257.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to $242.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, an increase of $15.5 million, or 6.41%12.99%.
     For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, increasesMarch 31, 2010, FDIC expense increased $1.2 million over the prior year quarter due to increased assessments enacted in April 2009. Increases in operating costsexpenses compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 were primarily attributable to higher FDIC deposit insurance expense. FDIC expense was $13.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. In the second quarter of 2009, the FDIC levied a five-basis point emergency special assessment of $5 million based on FirstMerit Bank’s average total assets. This special assessment was to restore the deposit insurance reserve ratio to the 1.15% minimum mandated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005. In addition, FDIC deposit insurance expense increased as a result of an overall increase in the FDIC deposit insurance base assessment and the use of assessment credits in 2008 and the first quarter of 2009. All assessment credits were fully utilized subsequent to the first quarter of 2009.2009 were primarily attributable to increased salary, occupancy and professional services related to the first quarter 2010 acquisitions. One time expenses associated with the data processing conversions of the acquisitions totaled $2.7 million.
     The efficiency ratio of 61.05% for third quarter 2009 increased 341 basis points over the efficiency ratio of 57.64% recorded for the third quarter 2008.     The efficiency ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2009first quarter 2010 was 64.1%, compared to 57.81% during the same period in 2009. The “lower is better” efficiency ratio indicates 61.05 centsthe percentage of operating costs were spent in orderthat are used to generate each dollar of net revenue — that is during 2009, 64.1 cents was spent to generate each $1 of net revenue. Net revenue is defined as net interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, plus other income less gains from the sales of securities.
Federal Income Taxes
     Federal income tax expense was $8.1$6.8 million and $12.3$11.4 million for the quarters ended September 30,March 31, 2010 and 2009, and 2008, respectively. The effective federal income tax rate for the thirdfirst quarter 20092010 was 26.31%27.39%, compared to 29.18%27.88% for the same quarter 2008. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, the effective tax rate was 26.88% and

43


29.18%.2009. Tax reserves have been specifically estimated for potential at-risk items in accordance with ASC 740,Income Taxes. Further federal income tax information is described in Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 11 (Federal Income Taxes) in the 2009 Form 10-K.

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FINANCIAL CONDITION
Acquisitions
     On February 19, 2010, the Bank completed the acquisition of certain assets and the transfer of certain liabilities with respect to 24 branches of First Bank located in the greater Chicago, Illinois, area. The Bank acquired assets with an acquisition date fair value of approximately $1.2 billion, including $276.5 million of loans, and $41.9 million of premises and equipment, and assumed $1.2 billion of deposits. The Bank received cash of $832.5 million to assume the net liabilities. The Bank recorded a core deposit intangible asset of $3.2 million and goodwill of $48.3 million.
     On February 19, 2010, the Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with loss share with the FDIC to acquire deposits, loans, and certain other liabilities and assets of George Washington in an FDIC-assisted transaction. The Bank acquired assets with a fair value of approximately $368.1 million, including $171.4 million of loans, $15.4 million of investment securities, $58.0 million of cash and due from banks, $11.5 million in other real estate, and $403.2 million in liabilities, including $400.7 million of deposits. The Bank recorded a core deposit intangible asset of $1.0 million and received a cash payment from the FDIC of approximately $40.2 million. The Bank entered into loss share agreements with the FDIC and recorded, at its acquisition date fair value, a loss share receivable of $107.6 million, which is classified as part of covered loans in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The transaction resulted in a gain on acquisition of $5.1 million, which is included in noninterest income in the accompanying consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.
     See Note 2 (Business Combinations), in the notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements for additional information related to the details of these transactions.
Investment Securities
     InvestmentAt March 31, 2010, the securities portfolio totaled $3.2 billion; $67.3 million of that amount was held-to-maturity securities and the remainder was securities available-for-sale. In comparison, as of March 31, 2009, the total portfolio was $2.6 billion, including available-for-sale$30.6 million of held-to-maturity securities and held-to-maturity totaled $2.7$2.6 billion at September 30, 2009, compared to $2.8 billion at December 31, 2008 and $2.5 billion at September 30, 2008. Available for saleof securities available-for-sale.
     Available-for-sale securities are held primarily for liquidity, interest rate risk management and long-term yield enhancement. Accordingly, the Corporation’s investment policy is to invest in securities with low credit risk, such as U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. Government agency obligations, state and political obligations and mortgage-backed securities. Held-to-maturity securities (“MBSs”). Held to maturityconsist principally of securities are primarilyissued by state and political subdivisions. Other investments include FHLB of Cincinnati stock and FRB stock, which as a memberstock.
     Net unrealized gains were $62.0 million, $55.1 million and $25.5 million at March 31, 2010, December 31, 2009, and March 31, 2009, respectively. The improvement in the fair value of both organizations, the Corporationinvestment securities is required to own a certain amount of stock based its level of borrowings and other factors.driven by government agency securities held in portfolio.
     The Corporation conducts a regular assessment of its investment securities to determine whether any securities are other-than-temporary impaired. Only the credit portion of other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”)OTTI is to

51


be recognized in current earnings for those securities where there is no intent to sell or it is more likely than not the Corporation would not be required to sell the security prior to expected recovery. The remaining portion of OTTI is to be included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income tax.
     Net unrealized gains were $74.4 million, compared to $1.2 million at December 31, 2008 and net unrealized losses of $43.9 million at September 30, 2008. The improvement in the fair value of the investment securities is driven by government agency securities held in portfolio.
Gross unrealized losses of $21.9$19.3 million, compared to $21.6 million as of September 30,December 31, 2009, compared to $38.3and $37.9 million at DecemberMarch 31, 2008 and $52.9 million at September 30, 20082009 were concentrated within trust preferred securities held in the investment portfolio. The Corporation holds eight, single issuer, trust preferred securities. Such investments are less than 1%2% of the fair value of the entire investment portfolio. None of the bank issuers have deferred paying dividends on their issued trust preferred shares in which the Corporation is invested. The fair values of these investments have been impacted by market conditions which have caused risk premiums to increase markedly resulting in the significant decline in the fair value of the Corporation’s trust preferred securities. However, prices are recovering from their lows reflecting increased liquidity for these securities as well as an improvement in the credit profile of the issuers as improving.
     Further detail of the composition of the securities portfolio and discussion of the results of the most recent OTTI assessment are in Note 3 (Investment Securities). to the consolidated financial statements.
Loans
     Total loans outstanding at March 31, 2010 were $7.4 billion compared to $6.9 billion at December 31, 2009 and $7.3 billion at March 31, 2009.
             
  As of  As of  As of 
  March 31,  December 31,  March 31, 
  2010  2009  2009 
      (In thousands)     
Commercial loans $4,389,859  $4,066,522  $4,344,915 
Mortgage loans  447,575   463,416   524,909 
Installment loans  1,382,522   1,425,373   1,533,885 
Home equity loans  766,073   753,112   741,073 
Credit card loans  145,029   153,525   141,597 
Leases  59,464   61,541   64,384 
          
Total noncovered loans  7,190,522   6,923,489   7,350,763 
Covered Loans  169,270       
Less allowance for loan losses  117,806   115,092   106,257 
          
Net loans $7,072,716  $6,808,397  $7,244,506 
          
     Despite the slowdown of the manufacturing-based economy in Northeast Ohio, commercial loans increased 1.03% from the prior year first quarter. Single family mortgage loans continue to be originated by the Corporation’s mortgage subsidiary and then sold into the secondary mortgage market or held in portfolio.

4452


Allowance for CreditLoan Losses
     The allowance and Reserve for credit losses is the sum of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments.
             
  Quarter ended  Year Ended  Quarter ended 
  September 30,  December 31,  September 30, 
(In thousands) 2009  2008  2008 
 
Allowance for Loan Losses
            
Allowance for loan losses-beginning of period $111,222  $94,205  $98,239 
Provision for loan losses  23,887   58,603   15,531 
Net charge-offs  (18,757)  (49,051)  (11,763)
          
Allowance for loan losses-end of period $116,352  $103,757  $102,007 
          
             
Reserve for Unfunded Lending Commitments
            
             
Balance at beginning of period $6,054  $7,394  $7,310 
Provision for credit losses  (1,584)  (806)  (817)
          
Balance at end of period $4,470  $6,588  $6,493 
          
             
Allowance for credit losses $120,822  $110,345  $108,500 
          
             
Annualized net charge-offs as a % of average loans  1.05%  0.68%  0.64%
          
             
Allowance for loan losses:            
As a percentage of loans outstanding  1.66%  1.40%  1.38%
          
As a percentage of nonperforming loans  147.60%  198.76%  264.45%
          
As a multiple of annualized net charge offs  1.56  2.12  2.18
          
             
Allowance for credit losses:            
As a percentage of loans outstanding  1.72%  1.49%  1.47%
          
As a percentage of nonperforming loans  153.27%  211.38%  281.28%
          
As a multiple of annualized net charge offs  1.62  2.25  2.32
          
     The allowance for credit losses increased $10.5 million from December 31, 2008 to September 30, 2009, and increased $12.3 million from September 30, 2008 to September 30, 2009. The increase for both periods was attributable to additional reserves that were established to address identified risks associated with increasing unemployment rates and the decline in residential and commercial real estate values.Unfunded Commitments
     The Corporation uses a vendor based loss migration model to forecast losses for commercial loans. The model creates loss estimates using twelve-month (monthly rolling) vintages and calculates cumulative three years loss rates within two different scenarios. One scenario uses five year historical performance data while the other one uses two year historical data. The calculated rate is the average cumulative expected loss of the two and five year data set. As a result, this approach lends more weight to the more recent performance and would be more conservative.

45


     The uncertain economic conditions in which we are currently operating have resulted in risks that differ from our historical loss experience. Accordingly, Management deemed it appropriate and prudent to apply qualitative factors (“q-factors”) and assign additional reserves. These q-factors are supported by judgments made by experienced credit risk management personnel and represent risk associated with the portfolio given the uncertainty and the inherent imprecision of estimating future losses.
     As required by current accounting guidance, the acquired loans from First Bank were recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition, with no carryover of related allowances. The determination of the fair value of the loans resulted in a write-down in the value of the loans, which was assigned to an accretable balance which will be recognized as interest income over the remaining term of the loans. The acquired loans from George Washington were also recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition, with no carryover of related allowances. The determination of the fair value of the loans resulted in a write-down in the value of the loans, which was assigned a nonaccretable and an accretable balance which will be recognized as interest income over the remaining term of the loans. Also in connection with the George Washington acquisition, the Bank entered into loss sharing agreements with the FDIC that collectively cover single family residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate and commercial and industrial loans, and other real estate. (See Note 2 (Business Combinations) for additional information. Because acquired loans are required to be accounted for at fair value on the date of acquisition, Management believes that asset quality measures are generally more meaningful when acquired loans are excluded from such measures. Therefore, the asset quality ratios included herein exclude the acquired loans with a period end balance of $523.3 million. In addition, ratios of nonperforming loans exclude these acquired loans and other real estate, with a period end balance of $11.4 million, covered by the FDIC loss share agreements.
     At March 31, 2010 the allowance for loan losses was $117.8 million or 1.72% of loans outstanding, excluding acquired loans, compared to $115.1 million or 1.68% at year-end 2009 and $106.3 or 1.45% for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. There were no allowances for loan losses related to the $523.3 million in acquired loans at March 31, 2010. The allowance equaled 105.14% of nonperforming loans at March 31, 2010, compared to 125.55% at year-end 2009, and 151.35% for March 31, 2009. During 2008 additional reserves were established to address identified risks associated with the slow down in the housing markets and the decline in residential and commercial real estate values. These reserves totaled $20.0 million, $19.8 million, and $20.1 at March 31, 2010, December 31, 2010, and March 31, 2009, respectively. The increase in the additional allocation augmented the increase in the calculated loss migration analysis as the loans were downgraded during 2010. Nonperforming loans have increased by

53


$41.8 million over March 31, 2009, and $20.4 over December 31, 2009 primarily attributable to the declining economic conditions.
     Net charge-offs were $22.8 million for the first quarter ended 2010 compared to $87.1 million for year-end 2009 and $15.6 million in the first quarter ended 2009. As a percentage of average loans outstanding, net charge-offs equaled 1.36%, 1.22%, and 0.86% for March 31, 2010, December 31, 2009, and March 31, 2009, respectively. Losses are charged against the allowance for loan losses as soon as they are identified.
     The allowance for unfunded lending commitments at March 31, 2010, December 31, 2009, and March 31, 2009 was $6.3 million, $5.8 million and $6.0 million, respectively. The allowance for credit losses, which includes both the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments, amounted to $124.1 million at first quarter-end 2010, $120.8 million at year-end 2009 and $112.3 million at first quarter-end 2009.
Allowance for Credit Losses
     The allowance for credit losses is the sum of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments.

54


             
  Quarter ended  Year Ended  Quarter ended 
  March 31,  December 31,  March 31, 
        (In thousands) 2010  2009  2009 
Allowance for Loan Losses            
Allowance for loan losses-beginning of period $115,092  $103,757  $103,757 
Provision for loan losses  25,493   98,433   18,065 
Net charge-offs  (22,779)  (87,098)  (15,565)
          
Allowance for loan losses-end of period $117,806  $115,092  $106,257 
          
             
Reserve for Unfunded Lending Commitments
            
             
Balance at beginning of period $5,751  $6,588  $6,588 
Provision for credit losses  586   (837)  (569)
          
Balance at end of period $6,337  $5,751  $6,019 
          
             
Allowance for credit losses $124,143  $120,843  $112,276 
          
             
Annualized net charge-offs as a % of average loans  1.36%  1.22%  0.86%
          
             
Allowance for loan losses:            
As a percentage of period-end loans, excluding acquired loans (a)  1.72%  1.68%  1.45%
          
As a percentage of nonperforming loans  105.14%  125.55%  151.35%
          
As a multiple of annualized net charge offs  1.28x  1.32x  1.68x
          
             
Allowance for credit losses:            
As a percentage of period-end loans, excluding acquired loans (a)  1.82%  1.77%  1.53%
          
As a percentage of nonperforming loans  110.80%  131.82%  159.93%
          
As a multiple of annualized net charge offs  1.34x  1.39x  1.78x
          
(a)Excludes loss share receivable
     The allowance for credit losses increased $3.3 million from December 31, 2009 to March 31, 2010, and increased $11.9 million from March 31, 2009 to March 31, 2010. The increase for both periods was attributable to additional reserves that were established to address identified risks associated with the slow down in the housing markets and the decline in residential and commercial real estate values. The following tables show the overall trend in credit quality by specific asset and risk categories.
                                 
  At September 30, 2009 
  Loan Type 
      Commercial                    
Allowance for Loan Losses Commercial  R/E      Installment  Home Equity  Credit Card  Res Mortgage    
Components: Loans  Loans  Leases  Loans  Loans  Loans  Loans  Total 
(In thousands)                                
Individually Impaired Loan Component:
                                
Loan balance $24,708  $48,189  $  $  $  $  $  $72,897 
Allowance  7,911   6,957                  14,868 
Collective Loan Impairment Components:
                                
Credit risk-graded loans                                
Grade 1 loan balance  45,463   5,846   7,518                   58,827 
Grade 1 allowance  29   1   6                   36 
Grade 2 loan balance  88,543   80,316   1,713                   170,572 
Grade 2 allowance  68   87   2                   157 
Grade 3 loan balance  364,463   568,110   16,370                   948,943 
Grade 3 allowance  620   1,123   35                   1,778 
Grade 4 loan balance  919,172   1,660,624   32,959                   2,612,755 
Grade 4 allowance  9,438   15,598   233                   25,269 
Grade 5 (Special Mention) loan balance  70,790   49,208   1,332                   121,330 
Grade 5 allowance  1,869   1,952   34                   3,855 
Grade 6 (Substandard) loan balance  71,261   100,555   648                   172,464 
Grade 6 allowance  5,986   11,277   53                   17,316 
Grade 7 (Doubtful) loan balance     4                      4 
Grade 7 allowance                           0 
Consumer loans based on payment status:
                                
Current loan balances              1,452,218   756,735   141,322   446,273   2,796,548 
Current loans allowance              17,659   5,535   7,494   3,318   34,006 
30 days past due loan balance              16,062   2,312   2,356   13,896   34,626 
30 days past due allowance              2,459   660   1,215   587   4,921 
60 days past due loan balance              8,382   1,470   1,604   4,253   15,709 
60 days past due allowance              3,524   954   1,200   619   6,297 
90+ days past due loan balance              4,538   1,036   2,485   16,914   24,973 
90+ days past due allowance              3,111   1,064   2,323   1,351   7,849 
                         
Total loans $1,584,400  $2,512,852  $60,540  $1,481,200  $761,553  $147,767  $481,336  $7,029,648 
                         
Total Allowance for Loan Losses $25,921  $36,995  $363  $26,753  $8,213  $12,232  $5,875  $116,352 
                         

4655


                                
 At December 31, 2008                                 
 Loan Type  At March 31, 2010 
 Commercial Commercial R/E Installment Home Equity Credit Card Res Mortgage    Loan Type 
Allowance for Loan Losses Components: Loans Loans Leases Loans Loans Loans Loans Total  Commercial Commercial R/E Installment Home Equity Credit Card Res Mortgage   
(In thousands)  Loans Loans Leases Loans Loans Loans Loans Total 
Individually Impaired Loan Component:
  
Loan balance $8,438 $45,220 $ $ $ $ $ $53,658  $16,805 $68,777 $ $ $ $ $ $85,582 
Allowance 48 3,924      3,972  2,185 8,419      10,604 
Collective Loan Impairment Components:
  
Credit risk-graded loans  
Grade 1 loan balance 37,316 9,030 5,976 52,322  105,207 1,156 7,269 113,632 
Grade 1 allowance 42 18 8 68  72  6 78 
Grade 2 loan balance 199,166 138,399 3,046 340,611  43,085 38,301 63 81,449 
Grade 2 allowance 664 606 12 1,282  50 63  113 
Grade 3 loan balance 559,165 566,369 27,980 1,153,514  352,421 498,233 16,247 866,901 
Grade 3 allowance 1,765 3,961 108 5,834  791 1,350 45 2,186 
Grade 4 loan balance 992,118 1,583,721 28,333 2,604,172  980,056 1,621,687 35,020 2,636,763 
Grade 4 allowance 8,920 27,145 287 36,352  9,165 16,206 327 25,698 
Grade 5 (Special Mention) loan balance 33,940 41,215 190 75,345  69,325 89,821 852 159,998 
Grade 5 allowance 1,110 2,495 6 3,611  2,717 4,402 34 7,153 
Grade 6 (Substandard) loan balance 66,134 72,387 2,069 140,590  79,893 97,606 13 177,512 
Grade 6 allowance 6,074 9,009 194 15,277  9,051 13,354 2 22,407 
Grade 7 (Doubtful) loan balance 33 79  112  197 267  464 
Grade 7 allowance 4 6  10  5 147  152 
Consumer loans based on payment status:
  
Current loan balances 1,548,639 730,503 143,934 515,093 2,938,169   1,357,785 741,203 139,718 416,263 2,654,969 
Current loans allowance 12,762 4,823 3,465 2,736 23,786   18,688 6,155 8,013 3,403 36,259 
30 days past due loan balance 16,912 1,704 2,149 13,264 34,029   12,765 1,932 1,705 11,037 27,439 
30 days past due allowance 2,078 494 866 473 3,911   2,031 582 917 475 4,005 
60 days past due loan balance 5,728 1,087 1,550 5,339 13,704   3,907 642 1,270 2,516 8,335 
60 days past due allowance 2,122 748 978 643 4,491   1,627 410 969 351 3,357 
90+ days past due loan balance 3,308 538 2,112 13,429 19,387   2,268 1,044 2,336 17,759 23,407 
90+ days past due allowance 2,097 602 1,804 660 5,163   1,526 1,049 2,259 960 5,794 
                                  
Total loans $1,896,310 $2,456,420 $67,594 $1,574,587 $733,832 $149,745 $547,125 $7,425,613  $1,646,989 $2,415,848 $59,464 $1,376,725 $744,821 $145,029 $447,575 $6,836,451 
                                  
Total Allowance for Loan Losses $18,627 $47,164 $615 $19,059 $6,667 $7,113 $4,512 $103,757  $24,036 $43,941 $414 $23,872 $8,196 $12,158 $5,189 $117,806 
                                  
     Note: Total loans excludes loans acquired from First Bank and George Washington which were recorded at date of acquisition at their fair value.

4756


                                
 At September 30, 2008                                 
 Loan Type  At December 31, 2009 
 Commercial Commercial R/E Installment Home Equity Credit Card Res Mortgage    Loan Type 
Allowance for Loan Losses Components: Loans Loans Leases Loans Loans Loans Loans Total  Commercial Commercial R/E Installment Home Equity Credit Card Res Mortgage   
(In thousands)  Loans Loans Leases Loans Loans Loans Loans Total 
Individually Reviewed for Impairment Component:
 
Individually Impaired Loan Component:
 
Loan balance $ $55,001 $ $ $ $ $ $55,001  $17,480 $50,345 $ $ $ $ $ $67,825 
Allowance  4,440      4,440  3,678 6,849      10,527 
Collective Loan Impairment Components:
  
Credit risk-graded loans  
Grade 1 loan balance 37,728 1,002 6,098 44,828  75,598 1,178 7,441 84,217 
Grade 1 allowance 54 2 11 67  47  6 53 
Grade 2 loan balance 207,990 143,842 3,328 355,160  59,946 74,839 67 134,852 
Grade 2 allowance 822 563 16 1,401  52 88  140 
Grade 3 loan balance 549,293 526,392 30,208 1,105,893  316,535 517,338 15,246 849,119 
Grade 3 allowance 1,891 3,122 126 5,139  579 1,137 36 1,752 
Grade 4 loan balance 1,014,680 1,544,917 27,543 2,587,140  1,030,872 1,647,918 38,179 2,716,969 
Grade 4 allowance 11,468 25,669 320 37,457  8,666 16,306 257 25,229 
Grade 5 (Special Mention) loan balance 49,059 59,922 1,222 110,203  42,066 40,748 30 82,844 
Grade 5 allowance 2,067 3,554 47 5,668  1,224 1,873 1 3,098 
Grade 6 (Substandard) loan balance 28,206 54,895 1,305 84,406  83,884 107,635 578 192,097 
Grade 6 allowance 3,092 6,824 131 10,047  7,616 12,558 53 20,227 
Grade 7 (Doubtful) loan balance 59 79  138  68 72  140 
Grade 7 allowance 9 9  18  ��1 3  4 
Consumer loans based on payment status:
  
Current loan balances 1,591,362 715,395 143,624 531,714 2,982,095  1,396,198 748,207 146,906 428,150 2,719,461 
Current loans allowance 12,956 5,123 3,578 4,073 25,730  18,038 5,829 8,106 3,304 35,277 
30 days past due loan balance 14,261 1,538 2,000 12,252 30,051  18,057 2,306 2,245 13,515 36,123 
30 days past due allowance 1,675 482 817 631 3,605  2,813 677 1,178 571 5,239 
60 days past due loan balance 4,576 759 975 4,379 10,689  5,919 1,678 1,622 4,301 13,520 
60 days past due allowance 1,665 542 626 767 3,600  2,461 1,081 1,217 617 5,376 
90+ days past due loan balance 3,282 195 1,580 10,931 15,988  5,199 921 2,752 17,450 26,322 
90+ days past due allowance 2,045 219 1,386 1,185 4,835  3,458 912 2,618 1,182 8,170 
                                  
Total loans $1,887,015 $2,386,050 $69,704 $1,613,481 $717,887 $148,179 $559,276 $7,381,592  $1,626,449 $2,440,073 $61,541 $1,425,373 $753,112 $153,525 $463,416 $6,923,489 
                                  
Total Allowance for Loan Losses $19,403 $44,183 $651 $18,341 $6,366 $6,407 $6,656 $102,007  $21,863 $38,814 $353 $26,770 $8,499 $13,119 $5,674 $115,092 
                                  

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  At March 31, 2009 
  Loan Type 
Allowance for Loan Losses Components: Commercial  Commercial R/E      Installment  Home Equity  Credit Card  Res Mortgage    
       (In thousands) Loans  Loans  Leases  Loans  Loans  Loans  Loans  Total 
Individually Impaired Loan Component:
                                
Loan balance $11,861  $52,038  $  $  $  $  $  $63,899 
Allowance  4,567   5,421                  9,988 
Collective Loan Impairment Components:
                                
Credit risk-graded loans                                
Grade 1 loan balance  31,584   5,967   6,058                   43,609 
Grade 1 allowance  30   11   7                   48 
Grade 2 loan balance  194,607   129,771   2,593                   326,971 
Grade 2 allowance  472   618   8                   1,098 
Grade 3 loan balance  507,255   538,629   19,315                   1,065,199 
Grade 3 allowance  1,377   4,010   65                   5,452 
Grade 4 loan balance  1,035,542   1,617,994   34,410                   2,687,946 
Grade 4 allowance  7,862   27,282   275                   35,419 
Grade 5 (Special Mention) loan balance  33,989   40,545   157                   74,691 
Grade 5 allowance  889   1,901   4                   2,794 
Grade 6 (Substandard) loan balance  67,205   77,836   1,851                   146,892 
Grade 6 allowance  5,013   9,175   127                   14,315 
Grade 7 (Doubtful) loan balance  33   59                      92 
Grade 7 allowance  3   5                      8 
Consumer loans based on payment status:
                                
Current loan balances              1,511,155   737,797   135,627   494,140   2,878,719 
Current loans allowance              12,557   5,040   3,269   2,722   23,588 
30 days past due loan balance              13,897   1,930   1,780   11,502   29,109 
30 days past due allowance              1,733   575   708   421   3,437 
60 days past due loan balance              5,205   766   1,547   4,074   11,592 
60 days past due allowance              1,950   531   952   501   3,934 
90+ days past due loan balance              3,628   580   2,643   15,193   22,044 
90+ days past due allowance              2,320   659   2,169   1,028   6,176 
                         
Total loans $1,882,076  $2,462,839  $64,384  $1,533,885  $741,073  $141,597  $524,909  $7,350,763 
                         
Total Allowance for Loan Losses $20,213  $48,423  $486  $18,560  $6,805  $7,098  $4,672  $106,257 
                         
Asset Quality
     Total charge-offs were $21.8 millionMaking a loan to earn an interest spread inherently includes taking the risk of not being repaid. Successful management of credit risk requires making good underwriting decisions, carefully administering the loan portfolio and diligently collecting delinquent accounts.
     The Corporation’s Credit Policy Division manages credit risk by establishing common credit policies for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, up $6.9 million, or 45.88%, from the year ago quarter. Criticized commercial assets (“individually impaired,” “special mention,” “substandard”its subsidiaries, participating in approval of their largest loans, conducting reviews of their loan portfolios, providing them with centralized consumer underwriting, collections and “doubtful”) increased $116.9 millionloan operations services, and accountedoverseeing their loan workouts. Notes 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and 4 (Loans Allowance for 8.84% of total commercial loans forLoan Losses) in the 2009 third quarter comparedForm 10-K provide detailed information regarding the Corporation’s credit policies and practices.
     The Corporation’s objective is to minimize losses from its commercial lending activities and to maintain consumer losses at acceptable levels that are stable and consistent with criticized commercial asset levels of 5.80% at September 30, 2008, reflecting the continued stressgrowth and profitability objectives.

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Nonperforming Loans are defined as follows:
Nonaccrual loanson which interest is no longer accrued because its collection is doubtful.
Restructured loanson which, due to deterioration in the national housing markets and specificallyborrower’s financial condition, the residential construction portfolio. The homebuilder portfoliooriginal terms have been modified in favor of the borrower or either principal or interest has been forgiven.
Nonperforming Assets are defined as follows:
Nonaccrual loanson which interest is examined name-by-name, account-by-account, revalued and rerated frequently. A new appraisalno longer accrued because its collection is ordered ifdoubtful.
Restructured loanson which, due to deterioration in the projected velocity and absorption are not being met fromborrower’s financial condition, the most recent appraisal. Generally,original terms have been modified in favor of the appraisals are less than one year old unless velocity and absorption values are affirmed with current performance. The carrying values are further discounted to reflect current liquidation value. This rigorous valuation and resulting rating adds some volatility to commercial construction asset class but give greater transparency.borrower or either principal or interest has been forgiven.
Other real estate (ORE)acquired through foreclosure in satisfaction of a loan.
             
  March 31,  December 31,  March 31, 
  2010  2009  2009 
  (Dollars in thousands) 
Nonperforming commercial loans $94,798  $74,033  $54,070 
Other nonaccrual loans:  17,245   17,639   16,134 
          
Total nonperforming loans  112,043   91,672   70,204 
Other real estate (“ORE”)  11,277   9,329   6,039 
          
Total nonperforming assets $123,320  $101,001  $76,243 
          
             
Loans past due 90 day or more accruing interest $21,099  $35,025  $18,602 
          
Total nonperforming assets as a percentage of total loans and ORE  1.80%  1.48%  1.04%
          
     Commercial charge-offs were up $3.7 million over the prior year third quarter driven by one commercial credit. Loans past due 90 days on non accruing interest were up $5.6 million or 25.46% from the linked quarter ended June 30,During 2009 and up $11.5 million, or 70.95%, from the year agofirst quarter ended September 30, 2008, reflecting2010 the current deteriorating economic conditions in our markets continued to be challenging. Residential developers and homebuilders have been the retail portfolio.most adversely affected, with the significant decrease of buyer resulting from a combination of the restriction of available credit and economic pressure impacting the consumer. Consumers continue to be under pressure due to high debt levels, limited refinance opportunities, increased cost of living and increasing unemployment. These conditions have resulted in increases in bankruptcies as well as charge offs. Commercial nonperforming loans increased/decreased $20.8 million from December 31, 2009 and $40.7 million from March 31, 2009. Criticized loans increased $80.7 million from December 31, 2009, and $138.0 from March 31, 2009.
     In nonperforming assets, other real estate includes $1.0 million of vacant land no longer considered for branch expansion which is not related to loan portfolios.

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Loans
     Total loans outstanding at September 30, 2009 were $7.0 billion compared to $7.4 billion at December 31, 2008 and $7.4 billion at September 30, 2008. The decline in the loan portfolio of $395.9 million, or 5.33% from December 31, 2008 reflects the current economic cycle in which business owners and consumers are retrenching on their demand for leverage and borrowing. Business customers continue their trend in inventory and receivable reduction and paying down existing debt to strengthen their balance sheets. Consumer customers are taking a similar approach with lower borrowing demand and increased usage of short-term savings products.
             
  As of  As of  As of 
  September 30,  December 31,  September 30, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2009  2008  2008 
             
Commercial loans $4,097,252  $$4,352,730  $4,273,065 
Mortgage loans  481,336   547,125   559,276 
Installment loans  1,481,200   1,574,587   1,613,481 
Home equity loans  761,553   733,832   717,887 
Credit card loans  147,767   149,745   148,179 
Leases  60,540   67,594   69,704 
          
Total loans $7,029,648  $7,425,613  $7,381,592 
          
     Expected cash flow and interest rate information for commercial loans is presented in the following table:
     
  As of 
  September 30, 2009 
  (Dollars in thousands) 
Due in one year or less $1,752,470 
Due after one year but within five years  1,970,643 
Due after five years  374,139 
    
Totals $4,097,252 
    
     
Due after one year with a predetermined fixed interest rate $897,968 
Due after one year with a floating interest rate  1,446,814 
    
Totals $2,344,782 
    
      The Corporation did not originate higher risk loans such as option ARM products, high loan-to-value ratio mortgages or subprime loans. Accordingly, there is not a material impact to the results of operations from higher risk loan types.

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     The following table summarizes the Corporation’s nonperforming assets:
             
  September 30,  December 31,  September 30, 
  2009  2008  2008 
  (Dollars in thousands) 
Nonperforming commercial loans $63,357  $40,195  $29,245 
Other nonaccrual loans:  15,474   12,007   9,328 
          
Total nonperforming loans  78,831   52,202   38,573 
Other real estate (“ORE”)  10,050   5,324   4,918 
          
Total nonperforming assets $88,881  $57,526  $43,491 
          
             
Loans past due 90 day or more accruing interest $27,764  $23,928  $16,241 
          
Total nonperforming assets as a percentage of total loans and ORE  1.26%  0.77%  0.59%
          
     The allowance for credit losses covers nonperforming loans by 153.27% at September 30, 2009 compared to 211.38% at December 31, 2008 and 281.28% at September 30, 2008.     See Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) of the 20082009 Form 10-K for a summary of the Corporation’s nonaccrual and charge-off policies.
     The following table is a nonaccrual commercial loan flow analysis:
                     
  Quarter Ended 
  September 30,  June 30,  March 31,  December 31,  September 30, 
(In thousands) 2009  2009  2009  2008  2008 
                     
Nonaccrual commercial loans beginning of period $48,563  $54,070  $40,195  $29,245  $26,702 
                     
Credit Actions:                    
New  24,491   7,259   22,912   18,217   7,504 
Loan and lease losses  (3,886)  (5,951)  (1,950)  (1,146)  (2,440)
Charged down  (3,321)  (4,182)  (2,603)  (4,458)  (1,135)
Return to accruing status  (24)  (660)  (3,333)  (123)  (409)
Payments  (2,466)  (1,973)  (1,151)  (1,540)  (977)
Sales               
                
Nonaccrual commercial loans end of period $63,357  $48,563  $54,070  $40,195  $29,245 
                
     Nonaccrual commercial loans have increased $14.8 million from the second quarter of 2009 and increased $34.1 million from the third quarter of 2008. Although the Corporation has experienced manageable credit stress within segments of our Commercial loan portfolios, the business climate in our markets continues to be challenging. Residential developers and

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homebuilders have been the most adversely affected. The significant decrease of home buyers due to a combination of the restriction of available credit and economic pressure impacting the consumer has negatively impacted this sub-segment of the portfolio. The Corporation participates in the U.S. Treasury Home Affordable Modification Program.
                     
  Quarter Ended 
  March 31,  December 31,  September 30,  June 30,  March 31, 
  2010  2009  2009  2009  2009 
  (Dollars in thousands) 
Nonaccrual commercial loans beginning of period $74,033  $63,357  $48,563  $54,070  $40,195 
                     
Credit Actions:                    
New  31,211   34,612   24,491   7,259   22,912 
Loan and lease losses  (5,367)  (5,272)  (3,886)  (5,951)  (1,950)
Charged down  (3,567)  (12,710)  (3,321)  (4,182)  (2,603)
Return to accruing status  (672)  (478)  (24)  (660)  (3,333)
Payments  (840)  (5,476)  (2,466)  (1,973)  (1,151)
Sales               
                
Nonaccrual commercial loans end of period $94,798  $74,033  $63,357  $48,563  $54,070 
                
Deposits, Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase and Wholesale Borrowings
     The following schedule illustratesratios and table provide additional information about the change in compositionthe mix of the average balances of deposits and average rates paid for the noted periods.customer deposits.
                                                
 Quarter Ended Year Ended Quarter Ended  Quarter Ended Year Ended Quarter Ended 
 September 30, 2009 December 31, 2008 September 30, 2008  March 31, 2010 December 31, 2009 March 31, 2009 
 Average Average Average Average Average Average  Average Average Average Average Average Average 
 Balance Rate Balance Rate Balance Rate  Balance Rate Balance Rate Balance Rate 
 (Dollars in thousands)  (Dollars in thousands) 
Non-interest DDA $1,947,359  $1,530,021  $1,545,427   $2,146,969  $1,910,171  $1,767,885  
Interest-bearing DDA 647,712  0.08% 687,160  0.37% 678,803  0.35% 687,233  0.09% 656,367  0.09% 655,279  0.10%
Savings and money market 2,916,980  0.78% 2,398,778  1.24% 2,373,995  1.16% 3,709,246  0.83% 2,886,842  0.81% 2,638,166  0.83%
CDs and other time deposits 1,872,456  2.60% 2,801,623  3.78% 2,728,139  3.42% 1,797,348  1.45% 2,056,208  2.66% 2,582,788  2.92%
                    
Total customer deposits 7,384,507  0.98% 7,417,582  1.86% 7,326,364  1.68% 8,340,796  0.69% 7,509,588  1.05% 7,644,118  1.28%
  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 1,087,875  0.47% 1,343,441  2.37% 1,504,011  2.18% 951,927  0.48% 1,013,167  0.47% 941,112  0.43%
Wholesale borrowings 883,377  3.06% 663,109  4.16% 634,226  4.27% 708,414  3.53% 952,979  2.87% 1,151,777  2.59%
                    
Total funds $9,355,759 $9,424,132 $9,464,601  $10,001,137 $9,475,734 $9,737,007 
                    

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     Total average demand deposits increased as a percentcomprised 33.98% of total average deposits from 35.14% in the 2009 third2010 first quarter compared to 30.36%31.70% in the thirdfirst quarter 2008.2009. Savings accounts, including money market products, made up 39.50%44.46% of average deposits in the 2009 third2010 first quarter compared to 32.40%34.51% in the thirdfirst quarter 2008. Higher cost2009. CDs made up 25.36%21.55% of average deposits in the thirdfirst quarter 20092010 and compared to 37.24%33.79% in the thirdfirst quarter 2008. These results reflect2009.
     Deposits balances were elevated by the Corporation’s continued success$395.7 million in growing coredeposits assumed as part of the George Washington transaction, and by $1.2 billion in deposits assumed on February 19, 2010 from First Bank. The Corporation received approximately $40.2 million from the FDIC associated with the George Washington transaction and believes that this provides sufficient liquidity to fund the potential at-risk deposit relationships and deemphasizing a reliance on higher-cost certificate of deposit accounts. The core deposit growth reflects the Corporation’s success in building a strong brand name in its core markets and capitalizing on market disruption in northeast Ohio.outflows.
     The average cost of deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and wholesale borrowings was down 205119 basis points compared to one year ago, or .42%2.15% for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 due to the drop in interest rates and the disruption in the capital markets.March 31, 2010.

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     The following table summarizes scheduled maturities of CDs of $100,000$100 thousand or more (“Jumbo CDs”) that were outstanding as of September 30, 2009:March 31, 2010, by time remaining until maturity:
        
Maturing in: Amount 
 (In thousands) 
Time until maturity: Amount 
 (In thousands) 
Under 3 months $252,281  $175,013 
3 to 6 months 92,656  142,376 
6 to 12 months 73,748  240,349 
Over 1 year through 3 years 60,187  103,904 
Over 3 years 8,949  32,125 
      
 $487,821  $693,767 
      
Capital Resources
     The capital management objectives of the Corporation are to provide capital sufficient to cover the risks inherent in the Corporation’s businesses, to maintain excess capital in excess ofto well-capitalized standards and to assure ready access to the capital markets.
Shareholder’s Equity
     Shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 totaled $1.1$1.2 billion compared to $937.8 million$1.1 billion at December 31, 20082009 and $926.0 million$1.1 billion at September 30, 2008.March 31, 2009. The commoncash dividend of $0.16 per share paid in the thirdfirst quarter 2009 was $.16has an indicated annual rate of $0.64 per share as well as a $.13 per share dividend of common stock.
     During the quarter ended June 30, 2009, the Corporation exited from the CPP under TARP. See Note 7 (Earnings Per Share) for further detail.share.
Capital Availability
     During the second quarter of 2009,On March 3, 2010, the Corporation entered into a Distribution Agency Agreementtwo distribution agency agreements with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and RBC Capital Markets Corporation (collectively, the “Sales Agents”), pursuant to which the Corporation may, from time to time, offeredoffer and soldsell shares

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of the Corporation’s common stock. Sales of the Common Shares werecommon stock are made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the NASDAQNasdaq Global Select Market at market prices, in block transactiontransactions or as otherwise agreed with Credit Suisse.the Sales Agents. During the quarter ended June 30, 2009, 3.3March 31, 2010, the Corporation sold 3.9 million shares were sold atwith an average market value net of broker’s fees of $18.36$20.91 per share. No shares were sold during the quarter ended September 30, 2009.
     As a result of current market disruptions, the availability of capital (principally to financial services companies) has become restricted. While the Corporation has been successful in raising additional capital, the cost of the capital was higher than the prevailing market rates prior to the market volatility. Management cannot predict when or if the markets will return to more favorable conditions.

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Capital Adequacy
     Capital adequacy is an important indicator of financial stability and performance. The Corporation maintained a strong capital position as tangible common equity to assets was 8.65%7.93% at September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, compared to 7.27%8.89% at December 31, 2008,2009, and 7.45%7.60% at September 30, 2008.March 31, 2009.
     Financial institutions are subject to a strict uniform system of capital-based regulations. Under this system, there are five different categories of capitalization, with “prompt corrective actions” and significant operational restrictions imposed on institutions that are capital deficient under the categories. The five categories are: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized.
     To be considered well capitalized, an institution must have a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10%, a Tier I capital ratio of at least 6%, a leverage capital ratio of at least 5%, and must not be subject to any order or directive requiring the institution to improve its capital level. An adequately capitalized institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 8%, a Tier I capital ratio of at least 4% and a leverage capital ratio of at least 4%. Institutions with lower capital levels are deemed to be undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized or critically undercapitalized, depending on their actual capital levels. The appropriate federal regulatory agency may also downgrade an institution to the next lower capital category upon a determination that the institution is in an unsafe or unsound practice. Institutions are required to monitor closely their capital levels and to notify their appropriate regulatory agency of any basis for a change in capital category.
     The George Washington FDIC-assisted transaction, which was accounted for as a business combination, resulted in the recognition of an FDIC indemnification asset, which represents the fair value of estimated future payments by the FDIC to the Corporation for losses on covered assets. The FDIC indemnification asset, as well as covered assets, are risk-weighted at 20% for regulatory capital requirement purposes.
     As of September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, the Corporation, on a consolidated basis, as well as FirstMerit Bank, exceeded the minimum capital levels of the well capitalized category.

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     The following table reflects the various measures of capital:
                                                
 September 30, December 31, September 30, March 31, December 31, March 31,
 2009 2008 2008 2010 2009 2009
 (Dollars in thousands)          (Dollars in thousands) 
Consolidated
  
Total equity $1,059,209  9.84% $937,843  8.45% $926,078  8.67% $1,155,353  9.38% $1,065,627  10.11% $1,084,269  9.88%
Common equity 1,059,209  9.84% 937,843  8.45% 926,078  8.67% 1,155,353  9.38% 1,065,627  10.11% 963,647  8.78%
Tangible common equity (a) 918,821  8.65% 797,195  7.27% 785,343  7.45% 961,749  7.93% 924,871  8.89% 823,086  7.60%
Tier 1 capital (b) 945,620  11.43% 870,870  10.19% 865,983  10.30% 1,002,610  11.75% 971,013  12.09% 1,001,901  11.86%
Total risk-based capital (c) 1,049,287  12.68% 1,007,679  11.80% 1,001,141  11.90% 1,109,453  13.01% 1,071,682  13.34% 1,107,571  13.11%
Leverage (d) 945,620  9.06% 870,870  8.19% 865,983  8.28% 1,002,610  9.03% 971,013  9.39% 1,001,901  9.13%
  
Bank Only
  
Total equity $839,097  7.81% $744,535  6.72% $768,285  7.20% $974,433  7.92% $946,626  9.00% $792,085  7.23%
Common equity 839,097  7.81% 744,535  6.72% 768,285  7.20% 974,433  7.92% 946,626  9.00% 792,085  7.23%
Tangible common equity (a) 698,709  6.59% 603,887  5.52% 627,550  5.96% 829,529  6.82% 806,223  7.77% 651,524  6.02%
Tier 1 capital (b) 810,149  9.81% 762,634  8.95% 793,311  9.45% 796,182  9.35% 826,517  10.31% 794,697  9.43%
Total risk-based capital (c) 909,588  11.01% 895,703  10.51% 924,782  11.02% 898,734  10.56% 922,919  11.51% 896,531  10.64%
Leverage (d) 810,149  7.77% 762,634  7.18% 793,311  7.60% 796,182  7.09% 826,517  8.00% 794,697  7.26%
 
(a) Common equity less all intangibles; computed as a ratio to total assets less intangible assets.
 
(b) Shareholders’ equity less goodwill; computed as a ratio to risk-adjusted assets, as defined in the 1992 risk-based capital guidelines.
 
(c)��Tier 1 capital plus qualifying loan loss allowance, computed as a ratio to risk-adjusted assets, as defined in the 1992 risk-based capital guidelines.
 
(d) Tier 1 capital computed as a ratio to the latest quarter’s average assets less goodwill.
Participation in the CPP under EESA
     In response to the ongoing financial crisis affecting the banking system and financial markets, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (“EESA”) was signed into law on October 3, 2008, which established Troubled Assets Relief Program (“TARP”). As part of TARP, the Treasury established the Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”) to provide up to $700 billion of funding to eligible financial institutions through the purchase of mortgages, mortgage-backed securities, capital stock and other financial instruments for the purpose of stabilizing and providing liquidity to the U.S. financial markets.
     On January 9, 2009, the Corporation completed the sale to the Treasury of $125.0 million of newly issued FirstMerit non-voting preferred shares as part of the CPP. The Corporation issued and sold to the Treasury for an aggregate purchase price of $125.0 million in cash (1) 125,000 shares of FirstMerit’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Shares, Series A, each without par value and having a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, and (2) a warrant to purchase 952,260 FirstMerit common shares, each without par value, at an exercise price of

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$19.69 per share. On April 22, 2009, the Corporation repurchased all 125,000 shares of its Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A for $126.2 million which included all accrued and unpaid dividends as well as the unamortized discount on the preferred stock. On May 27, 2009, the Corporation completed the repurchase of the warrant held by the Treasury. The Corporation paid $5.0 million to the Treasury to repurchase the warrant.
Market Risk Management
     Market risk refers to potential losses arising from changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices and commodity prices, including the correlation among these factors and their volatility. When the value of an instrument is tied to such external factors, the holder faces “market risk.” The Corporation is primarily exposed to interest rate risk as a result of offering a wide array of financial products to its customers.
Interest rate risk management
     Changes in market interest rates may result in changes in the fair market value of the Corporation’s financial instruments, cash flows, and net interest income. The Corporation seeks to achieve consistent growth in net interest income and capital while managing volatility arising from shifts in market interest rates. The Asset and Liability Committee (“ALCO”) oversees market risk management, establishing risk measures, limits, and policy guidelines for managing the amount of interest rate risk and its effect on net interest income and capital. According to

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these policies, responsibility for measuring and the management of interest rate risk resides in the corporate treasuryCorporate Treasury function.
     TheInterest rate risk on the Corporation’s balance sheets consists of reprice, option, and basis risks. Reprice risk results from differences in the maturity, or repricing, of asset and liability portfolios. Option risk arises from “embedded options” present in the investment portfolio and in many financial instruments such as loan prepayment options, deposit early withdrawal options, and interest rate options. These options allow customers opportunities to benefit when market interest rates change, which typically results in higher costs or lower revenue for the Corporation. Basis risk position can be influenced byrefers to the potential for changes in the underlying relationship between market rates or indices, which subsequently result in a numbernarrowing of factors other than changesprofit spread on an earning asset or liability. Basis risk is also present in administered rate liabilities, such as interest-bearing checking accounts, savings accounts and money market accounts where historical pricing relationships to market rates may change due to the level or directional change in market interest rates, including economic conditions, the competitive environment within the Corporation’s markets, consumer preferences for specific loan and deposit products, and the level of interest rate exposure arising from reprice risk, option risk, and basis risk.rates. Each of these types of risks is defined in the discussion of market risk management inof the 20082009 Form 10-K.
     The interest rate risk position is measured and monitored using risk management tools, including earnings simulation modeling and economic value of equity sensitivity analysis, which capture both near-termnear term and long-term interest rate risk exposures. Combining the results from these separate risk measurement processes allows a reasonably comprehensive view of short-term and long-term interest rate risk in the Corporation.
     Net interest income simulation analysis.Earnings simulation involves forecasting net interest earnings under a variety of scenarios including changes in the level of interest rates, the shape of the yield curve, and spreads between market interest rates. The sensitivity of net interest income to changes in interest rates is measured using numerous interest rate scenarios including shocks, gradual ramps, curve flattening, curve steepening as well as forecasts of likely interest rates scenarios.

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Presented below is the Corporation’s interest rate risk profile as of September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 and 2008:2009:
                 
  Immediate Change in Rates and Resulting Percentage
  Increase/(Decrease) in Net Interest Income:
  - 100 basis + 100 basis + 200 basis + 300 basis
  points points points points
                 
September 30, 2009  *   0.47%  0.46%  0.02%
September 30, 2008  (3.06%)  1.44%  2.77%  4.14%
                 
  Immediate Change in Rates and Resulting Percentage
Increase/(Decrease) in Net Interest Income:
  - 100 basis + 100 basis + 200 basis + 300 basis
  points points points points
March 31, 2010  *   1.99%  3.41%  4.22%
March 31, 2009  *   2.43%  4.25%  5.36%
 
* Modeling for the decrease in 100 basis points scenario has been suspended due to the current rate environment.
     Modeling the sensitivity of net interest earnings to changes in market interest rates is highly dependent on numerous assumptions incorporated into the modeling process. To the extent that actual performance is different than what was assumed, actual net interest earnings sensitivity may be different than projected. The assumptions used in the models are management’sManagement’s best estimate based on studies conducted by the ALCO department. The ALCO department uses a data-warehouse to study interest rate risk at a transactional level and uses

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various ad-hoc reports to refine assumptions continuously. Assumptions and methodologies regarding administered rate liabilities (e.g., savings, money market and interest-bearing checking accounts), balance trends, and repricing relationships reflect management’sManagement’s best estimate of expected behavior and these assumptions are reviewed regularly.
     Economic value of equity modeling.The Corporation also has longer-term interest rate risk exposure, which may not be appropriately measured by earnings sensitivity analysis. ALCO uses economic value of equity (“EVE”) sensitivity analysis to study the impact of long-term cash flows on earnings and capital. EVE involves discounting present values of all cash flows of on balance sheet and off balance sheet items under different interest rate scenarios. The discounted present value of all cash flows represents the Corporation’s economic value of equity. The analysis requires modifying the expected cash flows in each interest rate scenario, which will impact the discounted present value. The amount of base-case measurement and its sensitivity to shifts in the yield curve allow management to measure longer-term repricing and option risk in the balance sheet.

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Presented below is the Corporation’s EVE profile as of September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 and 2008:2009:
                 
  Immediate Change in Rates and Resulting Percentage
  Increase/(Decrease) in EVE:
  - 100 basis + 100 basis + 200 basis + 300 basis
  points points points points
                 
September 30, 2009  *   1.81%  (0.13%)  (0.44%)
September 30, 2008  (3.20%)  0.03%  (1.53%)  (3.49%)
                 
  Immediate Change in Rates and Resulting Percentage
Increase/(Decrease) in EVE:
  - 100 basis + 100 basis + 200 basis + 300 basis
  points points points points
March 31, 2010  *   2.82%  3.09%  2.27%
March 31, 2009  *   2.95%  5.13%  2.40%
 
* Modeling for the decrease in 100 basis points scenario has been suspended due to the current rate environment.
     Management of interest rate exposure.Management uses the results of its various simulation analyses to formulate strategies to achieve a desired risk profile within the parameters of the Corporation’s capital and liquidity guidelines. Specifically, managementManagement actively manages interest rate risk positions by using derivatives predominately in the form of interest rate swaps, which modify the interest rate characteristics of certain assets and liabilities. For more information about how the Corporation uses interest rate swaps to manage its balance sheet, see Note 8 (Derivatives and Hedging Activities) to the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Report.report.
Liquidity Risk Management
     Liquidity risk is the possibility of the Corporation being unable to meet current and future financial obligations in a timely manner. Liquidity is managed to ensure stable, reliable and cost-effective sources of funds to satisfy demand for credit, deposit withdrawals and investment opportunities. The Corporation considers core earnings, strong capital ratios and credit quality essential for maintaining high credit ratings, which allow the Corporation cost-effective access to market-based liquidity. The Corporation relies on a large, stable core deposit base and a diversified base of wholesale funding sources to manage liquidity risk.

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     The Treasury Group is responsible for identifying, measuring and monitoring the Corporation’s liquidity profile. The position is evaluated daily, weekly and monthly by analyzing the composition of all funding sources, reviewing projected liquidity commitments by future month and identifying sources and uses of funds. The Treasury Group also prepares a contingency funding plan that details the potential erosion of funds in the event of a systemic financial market crisis or institutional-specific stress. In addition, the overall management of the Corporation’s liquidity position is integrated into retail deposit pricing policies to ensure a stable core deposit base.
     The Corporation’s primary source of liquidity is its core deposit base, raised through its retail branch system,system. Core deposits comprised approximately 78.45% of total deposits at March 31, 2010. The Corporation’s wholly owned subsidiary, FirstMerit Bank, N.A., received approximately $40.2 million from the FDIC associated with the FDIC-assisted transaction involving George Washington. The Corporation believes these funds along with unencumbered, or unpledged, investment securities.its other sources of liquidity provides sufficient liquidity to fund potential at-risk deposit outflows from this institution.
     The Corporation also has available unused wholesale sources of liquidity, including advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati, issuance through dealers in the capital markets and access to certificates of deposit issued through brokers. Liquidity is alsofurther provided by unencumbered, or unpledged, investment securities that totaled $791.7$1.2 million at September 30, 2009.March 31, 2010.

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     The Corporation’s liquidity could be adversely affected by both direct and indirect circumstances. An example of a direct event would be a downgrade in the Corporation’s public credit rating by a rating agency due to factors such as deterioration in asset quality, a large charge to earnings, a decline in profitability or other financial measures, or a significant merger or acquisition. Examples of indirect events unrelated to the Corporation that could have an effect on its access to liquidity would be terrorism or war, natural disasters, political events, or the default or bankruptcy of a major corporation, mutual fund or hedge fund. Similarly, market speculation or rumors about the Corporation or the banking industry in general may adversely affect the cost and availability of normal funding sources.
     Certain credit markets that the Corporation participates in (from time to time), as sources of funding have been significantly disrupted and highly volatile since July 2007. As a means of maintaining adequate liquidity, the Corporation, like many other financial institutions, has relied more heavily on the liquidity and stability present in the short-term and secured credit markets since access to unsecured term debt has been restricted. Short-term funding has been available and cost effective. However, if further market disruption were to also reduce the cost effectiveness and availability of these funds for a prolonged period of time, management may need to secure other funding alternatives.
     The Corporation maintains a liquidity contingency plan that outlines the process for addressing a liquidity crisis. The plan provides for an evaluation of funding sources under various market conditions. It also assigns specific roles and responsibilities for effectively managing liquidity through a problem period.

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  ��  Funding Trends for the Quarter-During the three months ended September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, lower cost core deposits increased by $194.5$852.4 million from the previous quarter. In aggregate, deposits decreased $179.9 million driven by a decline in higher cost CD balances.increased $1.9 billion. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase increased $280.5decreased $100.0 million from June 30,December 31, 2009. Wholesale borrowings decreased $175.0$62.4 million from June 30, 2009.the end of 2009 to March 31, 2010. The Corporation’s loan to deposit ratio increaseddecreased to 96.68%78.55% at September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 from 95.89%92.14% at June 30,December 31, 2009.
     Parent Company Liquidity- The Corporation manages its liquidity principally through dividends from the bank subsidiary. The Corporationparent company has sufficient liquidity to service its debt; support customary corporate operations and activities (including acquisitions) at a reasonable cost, in a timely manner and without adverse consequences; as well as pay dividends to shareholders.
     During the quarter ended September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, FirstMerit Bank paid $28.5 million indid not pay dividends to FirstMerit Corporation. As of September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, FirstMerit Bank had an additional $55.5$93.1 million available to pay dividends without regulatory approval.
     Recent Market and Regulatory Developments.Recent market conditions have made it difficult or uneconomical to access the capital markets. As a result, the United States Congress, the Treasury, and the FDICFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) have announced various programs designed to enhance market liquidity and bank capital.

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     In response to the ongoing financial crisis affecting the banking system and financial markets, EESA was signed into law on October 3, 2008 and established TARP. As part of TARP, the Treasury established the CPP to provide up to $700 billion of funding to eligible financial institutions through the purchase of mortgages, mortgage-backed securities, capital stock and other financial instruments for the purpose of stabilizing and providing liquidity to the U.S. financial markets. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”), more commonly known as the economic stimulus or economic recovery package, was signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Obama. ARRA includes a wide variety of programs intended to stimulate the economy and provide for extensive infrastructure, energy, health, and education needs. In addition, ARRA imposes certain new executive compensation and corporate expenditure limits on all current and future TARP recipients until the institution has repaid the Treasury. On January 9, 2009, the Corporation completed the sale to the Treasury of $125.0 million of newly issued FirstMerit non-voting preferred shares as part of the CPP.CPP and a warrant to purchase 952,260 FirstMerit common shares at an exercise price of $19.69 per share. On April 22, 2009, the Corporation completed the repurchase of all 125,000 shares of its Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A for $126.2 million which included all accrued and unpaid dividends as well as the unamortized discount on the preferred stock. On May 27, 2009 the Corporation completed the repurchase of the warrant held by the Treasury. The Corporation paid $5.0 million to the Treasury to repurchase the warrant.
     Separately, the FDIC announced its temporary liquidity guarantee program (“TLPG”) pursuant to which the FDIC will guarantee the payment of certain newly-issued senior unsecured debt of insured depository institutions (“Debt Guarantee”) and funds held at FDIC-insured depository institutions in noninterest-bearing transaction accounts in excess of the current standard maximum deposit insurance amount of $250,000 (“Transaction Account Guarantee”). Both guarantees were provided to eligible institutions, including the Corporation, at no cost

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through December 5, 2008. Participation in the TLPG subsequent to December 5, 2008 iswas optional.
The Corporation elected to participate in the TLPG subsequent to December 5, 2008.
     The Transaction Account Guarantee is effective for the Corporation through January 1,June 30, 2010. Under the Debt Guarantee, qualifying senior unsecured debt newly issued by the Corporation during the period from October 14, 2008 to June 30, 2009, inclusive, is covered by the FDIC guarantee. The maximum amount of debt that eligible institutions can issue under the guarantee is 125% of the par value of the entity’s qualifying senior unsecured debt, excluding debt to affiliates that was outstanding as of September 30, 2008, and scheduled to mature by June 30, 2009. The FDIC will provide guarantee coverage until the earlier of the eligible debt’s maturity or June 30, 2012.
     Participants in the Debt Guarantee Program are assessed an annualized fee of 75 basis points for its participation, and an annualized fee of 10 basis points for its participation in the Transaction Account Guarantee. To the extent that these initial assessments are insufficient to cover the expense or losses arising under TLPG, the FDIC is required to impose an emergency special assessment on all FDIC-insuredFDIC insured depository institutions as prescribed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. In May 2009, the FDIC announced it was imposing an emergency special assessment of five basis points on average assets of all FDIC-insured depository institutions as of June 30, 2009.
     The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act On November 12, 2009, the FDIC adopted a final rule requiring insured institutions to prepay their estimated quarterly risk-based assessments for the fourth quarter of 2009 (“ARRA”), more commonly known asand for all of 2010, 2011 and 2012. The prepaid assessments for these periods were collected on December 30, 2009, along with the economic stimulus or economic recovery package,regular quarterly risk-based deposit insurance assessment for the third quarter of 2009. For the fourth quarter of 2009 and for all of 2010, the prepaid assessment rate was signed into lawbased on February 17,each institution’s total basis point assessment in effect on September 30, 2009, adjusted to assume a 5% annualized deposit growth rate; for the 2011 and 2012 periods the computation is adjusted by President Obama. ARRA includes a wide variety of programs intended to stimulatean additional three basis points increase in the economy and provideassessment rate. The three-year prepayment for extensive infrastructure, energy, health, and education needs. In addition, ARRA imposes certain new executive compensation and corporate expenditure limits on all current and future TARP recipients, including the Corporation until the institution has repaid the Treasury. On April 22, 2009, the Corporation completed the

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repurchase of all 125,000 shares of its Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A for $126.2 million which included all accrued and unpaid dividends as well as the unamortized discount on the preferred stock. On May 27, 2009 the Corporation completed the repurchase of the warrant held by the Treasury. The Corporation paid $5.0 million to the Treasury to repurchase the warrant.totaled $43.9 million.
Critical Accounting Policies
     The Corporation’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and follow general practices within the financial services industry in which it operates. All accounting policies are important, and all policies described in Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) of the 20082009 Form 10-K provide a greater understanding of how the Corporation’s financial performance is recorded and reported.
     Some accounting policies are more likely than others to have a significant effect on the Corporation’s financial results and to expose those results to potentially greater volatility. The policies require Management to exercise judgment and make certain assumptions and estimates that affect amounts reported in the financial statements. These assumptions and estimates are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements.
     Management relies heavily on the use of judgment, assumptions and estimates to make a number of core decisions, including accounting for the allowance for loan losses, income taxes, derivative instruments and hedging activities, and assets and liabilities that involve valuation methodologies. A brief discussion of each of these areas appears within Management’s

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Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the 20082009 Form 10-K.
Purchased loans and related indemnification assets.In accordance with applicable authoritative accounting guidance, all purchased loans and related indemnification assets are recorded at fair value at date of purchase. The initial valuation of these loans and related indemnification asset requires Management to make subjective judgments concerning estimates about how the acquired loans will perform in the future using valuation methods including discounted cash flow analysis and independent third-party appraisals. Factors that may significantly affect the initial valuation include, among others, market-based and industry data related to expected changes in interest rates, assumptions related to probability and severity of credit losses, estimated timing of credit losses including those the foreclosure and liquidation of collateral, expected prepayment rates, required or anticipated loan modifications, unfunded loan commitments, the specific terms and provisions of any loss share agreements, and specific industry and market conditions that may impact discount rates and independent third-party appraisals.
     On an ongoing basis, the accounting for purchased loans and related indemnification assets follows applicable authoritative accounting guidance for purchased non-impaired loans and purchased impaired loans. The amount that the Corporation realizes on these loans and related indemnification assets could differ materially from the carrying value reflected in these financial statements, based upon the timing and amount of collections on the acquired loans in future periods. The Corporation’s losses on these assets may be mitigated to the extent covered under the specific terms and provisions of any loss share agreements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
     A detailed discussion of the Corporation’s off-balance sheet arrangements, including interest rate swaps, forward sale contracts, IRLCs, and TBA Securities is included in Note 8 (Derivatives and Hedging Activities) to the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements included in this Reportreport and in Note 17 to the 20082009 Form 10-K. There have been no significant changes since December 31, 2008.2009.
Forward-looking Safe-harbor Statement
     Discussions in this Reportreport that are not statements of historical fact (including statements that include terms such as “will,” “may,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” intend,” and “plan”) are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and actual future results could differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties detained from time to time in the Corporation’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of the 20082009 Form 10-K.

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     Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to significant business, operational, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond a company’s control, and many of

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which, with respect to future business decisions and actions (including acquisitions and divestitures), are subject to change. Examples of uncertainties and contingencies include, among other important factors, general and local economic and business conditions; recession or other economic downturns, expectations of and actual timing and amount of interest rate movements, including the slope of the yield curve (which can have a significant impact on a financial services institution); market and monetary fluctuations; inflation or deflation; customer and investor responses to these conditions; the financial condition of borrowers and other counterparties; competition within and outside the financial services industry; geopolitical developments including possible terrorist activity; recent and future legislative and regulatory developments; natural disasters; effectiveness of the Corporation’s hedging practices; technology; demand for the Corporation’s product offerings; new products and services in the industries in which the Corporation operates; and critical accounting estimates. Other factors are those inherent in originating, selling and servicing loans including prepayment risks, pricing concessions, fluctuation in U.S. housing prices, fluctuation of collateral values, and changes in customer profiles. Additionally, the actions of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and other regulators; regulatory and judicial proceedings and changes in laws and regulations applicable to the Corporation; and the Corporation’s success in executing its business plans and strategies and managing the risks involved in the foregoing, could cause actual results to differ.
     Other factors not currently anticipated may also materially and adversely affect the Corporation’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position. There can be no assurance that future results will meet expectations. While the Corporation believes that the forward-looking statements in this Reportreport are reasonable, the reader should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. In addition, these statements speak only as of the date made. The Corporation does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any obligation to update or alter any statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
     See Market Risk Section in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
     Management, including the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has made an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15.

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     During the period covered by the Report,report, there was no change in internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.

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     Based upon the evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded, as of the end of the period covered by this Report,report, that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
     In the normal course of business, the Corporation is at all times subject to pending and threatened legal actions, some for which the relief or damages sought are substantial. Although the Corporation is not able to predict the outcome of such actions, after reviewing pending and threatened actions with counsel, Management believes that the outcome of any or all such actions will not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or shareholders’ equity of the Corporation.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
     There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in 20082009 Form 10-K.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(a) The following table provides information with respect to purchases the Corporation made of its common shares during the thirdfirst quarter of 2009:the 2010 fiscal year:
                 
          Total Number of  Maximum 
          Shares Purchased  Number of Shares 
          as Part of Publicly  that May Yet Be 
  Total Number of  Average Price  Announced Plans  Purchased Under 
  Shares Purchased (2)  Paid per Share  or Programs (1)  Plans or Programs (1) 
                 
Balance as of June 30, 2009
              396,272 
                 
July 1, 2009 - July 31, 2009  9,036  $24.11      396,272 
August 1, 2009 - August 31, 2009  3,302   20.95      396,272 
September 1, 2009 - September 30, 2009  877   24.02      396,272 
             
Balance as of September 30, 2009
  13,215  $23.32      396,272 
             
                 
          Total Number of  Maximum 
          Shares Purchased  Number of Shares 
          as Part of Publicly  that May Yet Be 
  Total Number of  Average Price  Announced Plans  Purchased Under 
  Shares Purchased (2)  Paid per Share  or Programs (1)  Plans or Programs 
Balance as of December 31, 2009
              396,272 
                 
January 1, 2010 - January 31, 2010  38,762  $22.09      396,272 
February 1, 2010 - February 28, 2010  64,017   21.05      396,272 
March 1, 2010 - March 31, 2010  12,698   24.16      396,272 
                 
             
Balance as of March 31, 2010:
  115,477  $21.73      396,272 
             
 
(1) On January 19, 2006, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 3 million shares (the “New Repurchase Plan”). The New Repurchase Plan, which has no expiration

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  date, superseded all other repurchase programs, including that authorized by the Board of Directors on July 15, 2004 (the “Prior Repurchase Plan”). The Corporation had purchased all of the shares it was authorized to acquire under the Prior Repurchase Plan.
 
(2) Reflects 115,477 common shares purchased as a result of either: (1) deliverydelivered by the option holder with respect to the exercise of stock options; (2) in the case of restricted shares of common stock, shares were withheld to pay income taxes or other tax liabilities associated with vestedrespect to the vesting of restricted shares of common stock;shares; or (3) shares were returned upon the resignation of the restricted shareholder. No shares were purchased under the program referred to in note (1) to this table during the third quarter of 2009.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
None.The Corporation held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 21, 2010, for which the Board of Directors solicited proxies.
(1) Directors were elected at the Annual Meeting for terms expiring at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, with the following voting results:
                 
          Authority Broker
  For Against Withheld Non-Votes
Steven H. Baer  64,394,273   *   6,103,010   8,410,770 
Karen S. Belden  63,948,707   *   6,548,576   8,410,770 
R. Cary Blair  63,259,864   *   7,237,420   8,410,770 
John C. Blickle  64,023,421   *   6,473,862   8,410,769 
Robert W. Briggs  64,091,003   *   6,406,281   8,410,770 
Richard Colella  63,945,635   *   6,551,649   8,410,769 
Gina D. France  64,408,180   *   6,089,104   8,410,769 
Paul G. Greig  63,477,462   *   7,019,821   8,410,770 
Terry L. Haines  63,341,507   *   7,155,777   8,410,769 
J. Michael Hohhschwender  63,665,329   *   6,831,955   8,410,769 
Clifford J. Isroff  63,093,621   *   7,403,663   8,410,769 
Philip A. Lloyd II  62,142,643   *   8,354,640   8,410,770 
*Proxies provide that shareholders may either cast a vote for, or abstain from voting for, directors.
In addition to the election of Directors, the following matters were voted on at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

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(2) Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2010:
               
        Authority Broker
For Against Withheld Non-Votes
 76,673,409   1,738,647   495,991    
(3) Approval of amendments to Article FOURTH and Annex A of FirstMerit Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation which contain the express terms and standard provision of the Corporation’s previously issued shares of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A:
 
        Authority Broker
For Against Withheld Non-Votes
 76,896,616   1,129,944   881,479   15 
(4) Approval of the amendments to Article III, Section 2 of FirstMerit Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Code of Regulations to authorize the Board of Directors to establish the number of directors within a range from nine to fifteen without shareholder approval and to establish the current number of directors at twelve:
 
        Authority Broker
For Against Withheld Non-Votes
 70,881,457   7,135,137   891,445   15 
(5) Approval of the amendments to Article SEVENTH of FirstMerit Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to include a provision that would allow shareholders to approve, by a majority of the voting poser of the company, any matter that otherwise could require the approval of two-thirds or any other proportion (but not less than all) of the voting poser of the Corporation under Ohio law, and to eliminate the need to obtain shareholder approval for certain smaller business combinations and mergers:
 
        Authority Broker
For Against Withheld Non-Votes
 70,853,923   6,985,958   1,068,152   20 
(6) Approval of the amendments to Article EIGHTH of FirstMerit Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to include a provision that would allow shareholders to approve all amendments to the Articles by a majority of the voting power of the Corporation:
 
        Authority Broker
For Against Withheld Non-Votes
 75,893,990   2,038,591   975,454   19 

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(7) Approval of the amendments to Article III, Section 4 of FirstMerit Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Code of Regulations to eliminate the provision requiring good cause for shareholders to remove a director during the term of office for which the director was elected:
               
        Authority Broker
For Against Withheld Non-Votes
 76,388,240   1,604,132   915,668   13 
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a)Exhibits
(a) Exhibits
   
Exhibit  
Number Description
2.1Purchase and Assumption Agreement Whole Bank All Deposits, among the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, receiver of George Washington Savings Bank, Orland Park, Illinois, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and FirstMerit Bank, N.A., dated as of February 19, 2010 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by FirstMerit Corporation on February 22, 2010).
3.1 Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of FirstMerit Corporation, as amended (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Registrant on February 18, 2009)(filed herewith).
   
3.2 Second Amended and Restated Code of Regulations of FirstMerit Corporation, as amended (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Registrant on February 18, 2009)(filed herewith).
   
10.1FirstMerit Corporation 2010 Retention Bonus Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by FirstMerit Corporation on February 22, 2010).
10.2Distribution Agency Agreement dated March 3, 2010 between FirstMerit Corporation and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by FirstMerit Corporation on March 3, 2010).
10.3Distribution Agency Agreement dated March 3, 2010 between FirstMerit Corporation and RBC Capital Markets Corporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by FirstMerit Corporation on March 3, 2010).
31.1 Rule 13a-14(a)/Section 302 Certification of Paul G. Greig, Chief Executive Officer of FirstMerit Corporation.
   
31.2 Rule 13a-14(a)/Section 302 Certification of Terrence E. Bichsel, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of FirstMerit Corporation.
   
32.1 Rule 13a-14(b)/Section 906 CertificationsCertification of Paul G. Greig, Chief Executive Officer of FirstMerit Corporation.
   
32.2 Rule 13a-14(b)/Section 906 CertificationsCertification of Terrence E. Bichsel, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of FirstMerit Corporation.

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SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
     
 FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION
 
 
 By:  /s/TERRENCE E. BICHSEL   
  Terrence E. Bichsel, Executive Vice President  
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(duly   (duly authorized officer of registrant and principal financial officer) 
 
 
October 30, 2009May 10, 2010

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