Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Debt Securities

Warrants

Units

Purchase Contracts

The securities listed above may be offered and sold by us and/or may be offered and sold, from time to time, by one or more selling security holders to be identified in the future, in amounts, at prices, and on other terms to be determined at the time of the offering. We will provide the specific terms and manner of offering of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in the securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and trade under the symbol "FRME." None of the other securities that we may offer are currently traded on any securities exchange.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents or directly to purchasers on a continued or delayed basis.

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.