{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"55526","rtpr_id":"nGNX8p2n8T","ticker":"FRME","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["FRME"],"title":"First Merchants Bank Recognized on Forbes’ World’s Best Banks 2026 List","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-06-04T17:30:00.100Z","article_body":"MUNCIE, Ind., June 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Merchants Bank, a $21\nbillion-asset(1) financial institution serving communities across the\nMidwest, has been recognized on Forbes’ World’s Best Banks 2026 list, an\nannual ranking developed in partnership with independent research firm\nStatista that evaluates banks based on customer trust, service quality and\noverall experience.  \n\nThe 2026 list is based on survey responses from more than 54,000 customers\nacross 34 countries, who evaluated banks on trustworthiness, customer service,\ndigital services, financial advice, and transparency of terms and conditions.\nOnly banks with the highest customer satisfaction scores in their respective\nmarkets earned placement on the list.  \n\n“For more than a century, First Merchants has believed that strong financial\nperformance starts with strong relationships,” said Mark K. Hardwick,\nPresident and CEO of First Merchants Bank. “Being recognized by Forbes\nreinforces something our customers tell us every day—that they value a bank\nthat combines modern capabilities with people who genuinely understand their\ncommunities.” \n\nRecognition Rooted in Trust and Community Presence \nIn an era when many financial institutions are reducing physical footprints,\nForbes’ 2026 analysis highlights a growing appreciation for banks that\nbalance digital innovation with meaningful, in-person service—a model\nFirst Merchants has long embraced through its locally rooted bankers\nand community-based decision making.  \n\nFounded in 1893 and headquartered in Muncie, Indiana, First Merchants serves\nindividuals, families and businesses through\na relationship-driven approach that prioritizes enhancing the financial\nwellness of the diverse communities they serve. The bank continues to invest\nin digital tools that make banking easier while maintaining trusted advisor\nrelationships customers rely on during important financial moments. \n\nA Global List with Local Meaning \nThe World’s Best Banks 2026 list includes 410 banks worldwide, selected\nusing a weighted scoring system that emphasizes current customer experiences\nand sustained performance over time. Trustworthiness was ranked the\nmost important factor globally, underscoring the relevance of consistent,\nethical, and customer-first banking practices.  \n\nFirst Merchants’ inclusion reflects continued momentum following prior\nnational and regional recognition by Forbes in recent years, reinforcing the\nbank’s reputation as a high-performing institution with deep local ties.  \n\nAbout First Merchants Corporation  \nWith approximately $21 billion in assets(1), First Merchants Corporation\n(NASDAQ: FRME) is a registered bank holding company offering a full line of\ncommercial and consumer banking services and wealth management services\nthrough First Merchants Bank and First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors in\nIndiana, Michigan, and Ohio. With more than 130 years of enhancing the\nfinancial wellness of the diverse communities it serves, First\nMerchants makes meaningful contributions through employee empowerment,\nphilanthropy, charitable giving, financial wellness, and community home and\nbusiness lending. The company has been honored for its attentive and\nknowledgeable service and culture by Forbes, Time Magazine, American Banker,\nand S&P Global Intelligence “Best Banks” awards. First Merchants\nattributes this recognition to a mission-driven team that is passionate about\n“helping you prosper” through attentiveness as its genuine and unique\napproach to customer service. To see how First Merchants is making a\ndifference, go to https://www.firstmerchants.com/. \n\n(1 )Includes the assets from the acquisition of First Saving Financial Group\non February 1, 2026. \n\nMedia Contact \nJaime Faulkner \nDirector of Corporate Communications \n765-747-1336 \njfaulkner@firstmerchants.com \n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f4e6e289-d1bf-40df-9b92-7401642f86f9)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX8p2n8T","title":"First Merchants Bank Recognized on Forbes’ World’s Best Banks 2026 List","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"FRME","created":"2026-06-04T17:30:00.100Z","tickers":["FRME"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"MUNCIE, Ind., June 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Merchants Bank, a $21\nbillion-asset(1) financial institution serving communities across the\nMidwest, has been recognized on Forbes’ World’s Best Banks 2026 list, an\nannual ranking developed in partnership with independent research firm\nStatista that evaluates banks based on customer trust, service quality and\noverall experience.  \n\nThe 2026 list is based on survey responses from more than 54,000 customers\nacross 34 countries, who evaluated banks on trustworthiness, customer service,\ndigital services, financial advice, and transparency of terms and conditions.\nOnly banks with the highest customer satisfaction scores in their respective\nmarkets earned placement on the list.  \n\n“For more than a century, First Merchants has believed that strong financial\nperformance starts with strong relationships,” said Mark K. Hardwick,\nPresident and CEO of First Merchants Bank. “Being recognized by Forbes\nreinforces something our customers tell us every day—that they value a bank\nthat combines modern capabilities with people who genuinely understand their\ncommunities.” \n\nRecognition Rooted in Trust and Community Presence \nIn an era when many financial institutions are reducing physical footprints,\nForbes’ 2026 analysis highlights a growing appreciation for banks that\nbalance digital innovation with meaningful, in-person service—a model\nFirst Merchants has long embraced through its locally rooted bankers\nand community-based decision making.  \n\nFounded in 1893 and headquartered in Muncie, Indiana, First Merchants serves\nindividuals, families and businesses through\na relationship-driven approach that prioritizes enhancing the financial\nwellness of the diverse communities they serve. The bank continues to invest\nin digital tools that make banking easier while maintaining trusted advisor\nrelationships customers rely on during important financial moments. \n\nA Global List with Local Meaning \nThe World’s Best Banks 2026 list includes 410 banks worldwide, selected\nusing a weighted scoring system that emphasizes current customer experiences\nand sustained performance over time. Trustworthiness was ranked the\nmost important factor globally, underscoring the relevance of consistent,\nethical, and customer-first banking practices.  \n\nFirst Merchants’ inclusion reflects continued momentum following prior\nnational and regional recognition by Forbes in recent years, reinforcing the\nbank’s reputation as a high-performing institution with deep local ties.  \n\nAbout First Merchants Corporation  \nWith approximately $21 billion in assets(1), First Merchants Corporation\n(NASDAQ: FRME) is a registered bank holding company offering a full line of\ncommercial and consumer banking services and wealth management services\nthrough First Merchants Bank and First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors in\nIndiana, Michigan, and Ohio. With more than 130 years of enhancing the\nfinancial wellness of the diverse communities it serves, First\nMerchants makes meaningful contributions through employee empowerment,\nphilanthropy, charitable giving, financial wellness, and community home and\nbusiness lending. The company has been honored for its attentive and\nknowledgeable service and culture by Forbes, Time Magazine, American Banker,\nand S&P Global Intelligence “Best Banks” awards. First Merchants\nattributes this recognition to a mission-driven team that is passionate about\n“helping you prosper” through attentiveness as its genuine and unique\napproach to customer service. To see how First Merchants is making a\ndifference, go to https://www.firstmerchants.com/. \n\n(1 )Includes the assets from the acquisition of First Saving Financial Group\non February 1, 2026. \n\nMedia Contact \nJaime Faulkner \nDirector of Corporate Communications \n765-747-1336 \njfaulkner@firstmerchants.com \n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f4e6e289-d1bf-40df-9b92-7401642f86f9)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-06-04T17:30:00.141199121Z","server_sent_at_ms":1780594200141},"received_at":"2026-06-04T17:30:00.201Z","source_url":"https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/06/04/3307027/0/en/First-Merchants-Bank-Recognized-on-Forbes-World-s-Best-Banks-2026-List.html"},"analysis":{"id":"44953","press_release_id":"55526","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Banks","sector":"Financials"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"other","narrative":"First Merchants Bank (FRME) was included in Forbes’ World’s Best Banks 2026 list, which ranks 410 global institutions based on customer trust and service quality.\n\nThe ranking is derived from a survey of over 54,000 customers across 34 countries, emphasizing trustworthiness and digital service capabilities.\n\nCEO Mark K. Hardwick cited the recognition as validation of the bank’s relationship-driven model, which balances digital innovation with local community presence.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Routine brand recognition award; no material financial impact."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"total_assets":"$21 billion","banks_on_list":410,"countries_surveyed":34,"survey_respondents":"54,000"}},"quotedText":"Being recognized by Forbes reinforces something our customers tell us every day—that they value a bank that combines modern capabilities with people who genuinely understand their communities.","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Mark K. Hardwick","role":"President and CEO"},{"name":"Jaime Faulkner","role":"Director of Corporate Communications"}],"products":[],"companies":[{"name":"First Merchants Bank","ticker":"FRME","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"First Merchants Corporation","ticker":"FRME","relationship":"parent holding company"},{"name":"Forbes","relationship":"publisher of award list"},{"name":"Statista","relationship":"research partner"},{"name":"First Saving Financial Group","relationship":"acquired entity"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$21 billion","context":"total assets of First Merchants Bank"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"This is a routine corporate recognition/award announcement (Forbes list inclusion). It reflects positive brand sentiment but has no direct impact on earnings, valuation, or operational strategy. It is boilerplate PR noise."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"FRME"},"globalImportance":15,"audienceRelevance":10,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"mid-cap","eventGravity":"brand_award","sectorWeight":"financials","householdBrandBoost":"low","marketCapAdjustment":"low"}},"event_type":"other","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"neutral","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"First Merchants Bank (FRME) was included in Forbes’ World’s Best Banks 2026 list, which ranks 410 global institutions based on customer trust and service quality.\n\nThe ranking is derived from a survey of over 54,000 customers across 34 countries, emphasizing trustworthiness and digital service capabilities.\n\nCEO Mark K. 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