FIRST MERCHANTS CORP

NOTE 1

GENERAL

Financial Statement Preparation

The Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet of the Corporation as of December 31, 2023, has been derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Corporation as of that date. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the Corporation’s annual financial statements, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, have been condensed or omitted. These consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change relate to the determination of the allowance for credit losses and fair value of financial instruments.

Significant Accounting Policies

The significant accounting policies followed by the Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries for interim financial reporting are consistent with the accounting policies followed for annual financial reporting. All adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature and are in the opinion of management necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods reported, have been included in the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

Recent Accounting Changes Adopted in 2024

FASB Accounting Standards Updates - No. 2023-02 - Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323) - Accounting for Investments in Tax Credit Structures Using the Proportional Amortization Method

Summary - The FASB issued ASU No. 2023-02, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Tax Credit Structures Using the Proportional Amortization Method, which is intended to improve the accounting and disclosures for investments in tax credit structures. The ASU is a consensus of the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”).

The ASU allows reporting entities to elect to account for qualifying tax equity investments using the proportional amortization method, regardless of the program giving rise to the related income tax credits. The ASU responds to stakeholder feedback that the proportional amortization method provides investors and other allocators of capital with a better understanding of the returns from investments that are made primarily for the purpose of receiving income tax credits and other income tax benefits.

Reporting entities were previously permitted to apply the proportional amortization method only to qualifying tax equity investments in low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) structures. In recent years, stakeholders asked the FASB to extend the application of the proportional amortization method to qualifying tax equity investments that generate tax credits through other programs, which resulted in the EITF addressing this issue.

For public business entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for all entities in any interim period. The Corporation adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2024 and adoption did not have a significant impact on the Corporation’s financial statements or disclosures.

New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

The Corporation continually monitors potential accounting pronouncements and the following pronouncements have been deemed to have the most applicability to the Corporation's financial statements:

FASB Accounting Standards Updates - No. 2023-07 -Segment Reporting (Topic 280) — Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosure

Summary- The FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280) - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosure, which is intended to improve disclosures about a public entity’s reportable segments and addresses requests from investors and other allocators of capital for additional, more detailed information about a reportable segment’s expenses.

The key amendments:

•Require that a public entity disclose, on an annual and interim basis, significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss.

•Require that a public entity disclose, on an annual and interim basis, an amount for other segment items by reportable segment and a description of its composition. The other segment items category is the difference between segment revenue less the significant expenses disclosed and each reported measure of segment profit or loss.

•Require that a public entity provide all annual disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets currently required by FASB ASC Topic 280, Segment Reporting, in interim periods.

•Clarify that if the CODM uses more than one measure of a segment’s profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources, a public entity may report one or more of those additional measures of segment profit or loss. However, at least one of the reported segment profit or loss measures (or the single reported measure, if only one is disclosed) should be the measure that is most consistent with the measurement principles used in measuring the corresponding amounts in the public entity’s consolidated financial statements.

•Require that a public entity disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources.

•Require that a public entity that has a single reportable segment provide all the disclosures required by the amendments in the ASU and all existing segment disclosures in Topic 280.

ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, applies to all public entities that are required to report segment information in accordance with Topic 280. All public entities will be required to report segment information in accordance with the new guidance starting in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. This ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial statements and disclosures as the Corporation hasone operating segment.

FASB Accounting Standards Update - No. 2023-09 -Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures

Summary - The FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures in the fourth quarter of 2023. This ASU is intended to enhance income tax disclosures to address investor requests for more information about the tax risks and opportunities present in an entity’s worldwide operations.

The two primary enhancements disaggregate existing income tax disclosures related to the effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. These amendments require that public business entities on an annual basis disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation and provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. The amendments also require that all entities disclose on an annual basis the amount of income taxes paid (net of refunds received) disaggregated by federal, state and foreign taxes and the amount of income taxes paid (net of refunds received) disaggregated by individual jurisdictions in which income taxes paid (net of refunds received) is equal to or greater than five percent of total income taxes paid (net of refunds received).

For public business entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issue. The amendments should be applied on a prospective basis. The Corporation is assessing the terms of this guidance, but adoption of the standard is not expected to have a significant impact on the Corporation’s financial statements or disclosures.

NOTE 2

INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The following tables summarize the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and approximate fair value of investment securities available for sale as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

The following tables summarize the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, approximate fair value and allowance for credit losses on investment securities held to maturity as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Accrued interest on investment securities available for sale and held to maturity at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 of $25.3 million and $25.2 million, respectively, are included in the Interest Receivable line on the Corporation's Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. The total amount of accrued interest is excluded from the amortized cost of available for sale and held to maturity securities presented above.

In determining the allowance for credit losses on investment securities available for sale that are in an unrealized loss position, the Corporation first assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through the income statement. For investment securities available for sale that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Corporation evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, the Corporation considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Unrealized losses that have not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income. Adjustments to the allowance are reported in the income statement as a component of the provision for credit loss. The Corporation has made the accounting policy election to exclude accrued interest receivable on investment securities available for sale from the estimate of credit losses. Investment securities available for sale are charged off against the allowance or, in the absence of any allowance, written down through the income statement when deemed uncollectible or when either of the aforementioned criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met. The Corporation did not record an allowance for credit losses on its investment securities available for sale as the unrealized losses were attributable to changes in interest rates, not credit quality.

The allowance for credit losses on investment securities held to maturity is a contra asset-valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of investment securities held to maturity to present the net amount expected to be collected. Investment securities held to maturity are charged off against the allowance when deemed uncollectible. Adjustments to the allowance are reported in the income statement as a component of the provision for credit loss. The Corporation measures expected credit losses on investment securities held to maturity on a collective basis by major security type with each type sharing similar risk characteristics, and considers historical credit loss information that is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Corporation has made the accounting policy election to exclude accrued interest receivable on investment securities held to maturity from the estimate of credit losses. With regard to U.S. Government-sponsored agency and mortgage-backed securities, all these securities are issued by a U.S. Government-sponsored entity and have an implicit or explicit government guarantee; therefore, no allowance for credit losses has been recorded for these securities. With regard to securities issued by states and municipalities and other investment securities held to maturity, management considers (1) issuer bond ratings, (2) historical loss rates for given bond ratings, (3) the financial condition of the issuer, and (4) whether issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments under the contractual terms of the securities. Historical loss rates associated with securities having similar grades as those in the Corporation's portfolio have been insignificant. Furthermore, as of June 30, 2024, there were no past due principal and interest payments associated with these securities. At current expected credit loss ("CECL") adoption, an allowance for credit losses of $245,000 was recorded on the state and municipal securities classified as held to maturity based on applying the long-term historical credit loss rate, as published by Moody’s, for similarly rated securities. The balance of the allowance for credit losses remained unchanged at $245,000 as of June 30, 2024.

On a quarterly basis, the Corporation monitors the credit quality of investment securities held to maturity through the use of credit ratings. The following table summarizes the amortized cost of investment securities held to maturity at June 30, 2024, aggregated by credit quality indicator.

The following tables summarize, as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, investment securities available for sale in an unrealized loss position for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded, aggregated by security type and length of time in a continuous unrealized loss position.

The following tables summarize investment securities available for sale in an unrealized loss position for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded, aggregated by security type and the number of securities in the portfolio as of the dates indicated.

The unrealized losses in the Corporation’s investment portfolio were the result of changes in interest rates and not credit quality. As a result, the Corporation expects to recover the amortized cost basis over the term of the securities. The Corporation does not intend to sell the investments and it is not more likely than not that the Corporation will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be maturity.

Certain investment securities available for sale are reported in the financial statements at an amount less than their historical cost as indicated in the table below.

In determining the fair value of the investment securities portfolio, the Corporation utilizes a third party for portfolio accounting services, including market value input, for those securities classified as Level 1 and Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The Corporation has obtained an understanding of what inputs are being used by the vendor in pricing the portfolio and how the vendor classified these securities based upon these inputs. From these discussions, the Corporation’s management is comfortable that the classifications are proper. The Corporation has gained trust in the data for two reasons: (a) independent spot testing of the data is conducted by the Corporation through obtaining market quotes from various brokers on a periodic basis; and (b) actual gains or losses resulting from the sale of certain securities has proven the data to be accurate over time. Fair value of securities classified as Level 3 in the valuation hierarchy was determined using a discounted cash flow model that incorporated market estimates of interest rates and volatility in markets that have not been active.

The amortized cost and fair value of investment securities available for sale and held to maturity at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, by contractual maturity are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Securities not due at a single maturity are shown separately.

Securities with a carrying value of approximately $1.5 billion and $1.8 billion were pledged at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, to secure certain deposits and securities sold under repurchase agreements, and for other purposes as permitted or required by law.

The book value of securities pledged and available under agreements to repurchase amounted to $118.8 million at June 30, 2024 and $181.4 million at December 31, 2023.

Gross gains and losses on the sales and redemptions of investment securities available for sale for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 are shown below.

NOTE 3

LOANS AND ALLOWANCE

Loan Portfolio and Credit Quality

The Corporation's primary lending focus is small business and middle market commercial, commercial real estate, public finance and residential real estate, which results in portfolio diversification. The following tables show the composition of the loan portfolio and credit quality characteristics by collateral classification, excluding loans held for sale. Loans held for sale at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, were $32.3 million and $18.9 million, respectively.

The following table illustrates the composition of the Corporation’s loan portfolio by loan class as of the dates indicated:

Credit Quality

As part of the ongoing monitoring of the credit quality of the Corporation's loan portfolio, management tracks certain credit quality indicators including trends related to: (i) the level of criticized commercial loans, (ii) net charge-offs, (iii) nonperforming loans, (iv) covenant failures and (v) the general national and local economic conditions.

The Corporation utilizes a risk grading of pass, special mention, substandard, doubtful and loss to assess the overall credit quality of large commercial loans. All large commercial credit grades are reviewed at a minimum of once a year for pass grade loans. Loans with grades below pass are reviewed more frequently depending on the grade. A description of the general characteristics of these grades is as follows:

•Pass - Loans that are considered to be of acceptable credit quality.

•Special Mention - Loans which possess some credit deficiency or potential weakness, which deserves close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the asset or in the Corporation's credit position at some future date. Special mention assets are not adversely classified and do not expose the Corporation to sufficient risk to warrant adverse classification.

•Substandard - Loans that are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Assets so classified have a well-defined weakness that jeopardizes the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Corporation will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

•Doubtful - Loans that have all of the weaknesses of those classified as Substandard. However, based on currently existing facts, conditions and values, these weaknesses make full collection of principal highly questionable and improbable.

•Loss – Loans that are considered uncollectible and of such little value that continuing to carry them as an asset is not warranted. Loans will be classified as Loss when it is neither practical or desirable to defer charging-off or reserving all or a portion of a basically worthless asset, even though partial recovery may be possible at some time in the future.

The following tables summarize the risk grading of the Corporation’s loan portfolio and gross charge-offs by loan class and by year of origination for the periods indicated. Consumer loans are not risk graded. For the purposes of this disclosure, the consumer loans are classified in the following manner: loans that are less than 30 days past due are Pass, loans 30-89 days past due are Special Mention and loans greater than 89 days past due are Substandard. The entire balance of a loan is considered delinquent if the minimum payment contractually required to be made is not received by the specified due date.

Total past due loans equaled $98.2 million as of June 30, 2024 representing an $18.9 million increase from $79.2 million at December 31, 2023. The 30-59 days past due loans decreased $5.0 million from December 31, 2023 as commercial real estate, non-owner occupied decreased $11.2 million, which was partially offset by increases in commercial and industrial and commercial real estate, owner occupied of $1.0 million and $3.2 million, respectively. The 60-89 days past due loans increased $19.0 million from December 31, 2023 as construction increased $19.2 million. The 90 days or more past due loans increased $5.0 million from December 31, 2023 as commercial and industrial and commercial real estate, non-owner occupied increased $3.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively. The tables below show a past due aging of the Corporation’s loan portfolio, by loan class, as of the dates indicated:

Loans are reclassified to a nonaccruing status when, in management’s judgment, the collateral value and financial condition of the borrower do not justify accruing interest. At the time the accrual is discontinued, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed against earnings. Interest income accrued in prior years, if any, is charged to the allowance for credit losses. Payments subsequently received on nonaccrual loans are applied to principal. A loan is returned to accrual status when principal and interest are no longer past due and collectability is probable, typically after a minimum of six consecutive months of performance.

The following table summarizes the Corporation’s nonaccrual loans by loan class as of the dates indicated:

Interest income on nonaccrual loans is recognized only to the extent that cash payments are received in excess of principal due. There wasno interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 or 2023.

Determining fair value for collateral dependent loans requires obtaining a current independent appraisal of the collateral and applying a discount factor, which includes selling costs if applicable, to the value. The fair value of real estate is generally based on appraisals by qualified licensed appraisers. The appraisers typically determine the value of the real estate by utilizing an income or market valuation approach. If an appraisal is not available, the fair value may be determined by using a cash flow analysis. Fair value on other collateral such as business assets is typically ascertained by assessing, either singularly or some combination of, asset appraisals, accounts receivable aging reports, inventory listings and or customer financial statements. Both appraised values and values based on borrower’s financial information are discounted as considered appropriate based on age and quality of the information and current market conditions.

The tables below present the amortized cost basis of collateral dependent loans by loan class and their respective collateral type, which are individually evaluated to determine expected credit losses. The total collateral dependent loan balance increased $5.0 million, primarily related to an increase of $8.1 million in commercial real estate, non-owner occupied, offset by a decrease of $3.4 million in commercial and industrial, for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The total related allowance balance decreased $612,000, primarily related to a decrease of $3.0 million in commercial and industrial, offset by an increase of $2.4 million in commercial real estate, non-owner occupied, for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

In certain situations, the Corporation may modify the terms of a loan to a debtor experiencing financial difficulty. The modifications may include principal forgiveness, interest rate reductions, payment delays, term extensions or combinations of these modifications. The following tables present the amortized cost basis of loans at June 30, 2024 and 2023 that were both experiencing financial difficulty and modified during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, by class and by type of modification. The percentage of the amortized cost basis of loans that were modified to borrowers in financial distress as compared to the amortized cost basis of each class of financing receivable is also presented below.

The following tables present the financial effect of the loan modifications presented above to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

The following tables present the amortized cost basis and payment status of loans modified within the previous twelve months to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, and that subsequently defaulted during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 and remained in default at period end.

Upon the Corporation's determination that a modified loan (or portion of a loan) has subsequently been deemed uncollectible, the loan (or portion of the loan) is charged-off. Therefore, the amortized cost basis of the loan is reduced by the uncollectible amount and the allowance for credit losses is adjusted by the same amount.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans

The Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans ("ACL - Loans") is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans to present the net amount expected to be collected on loans over the contractual term. The ACL - Loans is adjusted by the provision for credit losses, which is reported in earnings, and reduced by charge-offs for loans, net of recoveries. Provision for credit losses on loans reflects the totality of actions taken on all loans for a particular period including any necessary increases or decreases in the allowance related to changes in credit loss expectations associated with specific loans or pools of loans. Loans are charged-off against the allowance when the uncollectibility of the loan is confirmed. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off.

The allowance represents the Corporation’s best estimate of current expected credit losses on loans using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, related to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. The CECL calculation is performed and evaluated quarterly and losses are estimated over the expected life of the loan. The level of the allowance for credit losses is believed to be adequate to absorb all expected future losses inherent in the loan portfolio at the measurement date.

In calculating the allowance for credit losses, the loan portfolio was pooled intoten loan segments with similar risk characteristics. Common characteristics include the type or purpose of the loan, underlying collateral and historical/expected credit loss patterns. In developing the loan segments, the Corporation analyzed the degree of correlation in how loans within each portfolio respond when subjected to varying economic conditions and scenarios as well as other portfolio stress factors.

The expected credit losses are measured over the life of each loan segment utilizing the Probability of Default / Loss Given Default methodology combined with economic forecast models to estimate the current expected credit loss inherent in the loan portfolio. This approach is also leveraged to estimate the expected credit losses associated with unfunded loan commitments incorporating expected utilization rates.

The Corporation sub-segmented certain commercial portfolios by risk level and certain consumer portfolios by delinquency status where appropriate. The Corporation utilized a four-quarter reasonable and supportable economic forecast period followed by a six-quarter, straight-line reversion period to the historical macroeconomic mean for the remaining life of the loans. Econometric modeling was performed using historical default rates and a selection of economic forecast scenarios published by Moody’s to develop a range of estimated credit losses for which to determine the best credit loss estimate within. Macroeconomic factors utilized in the modeling process include the national unemployment rate, BBB US corporate index, Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") price index and the home price index.

The Corporation qualitatively adjusts model results for risk factors that are not inherently considered in the quantitative modeling process, but are nonetheless relevant in assessing the expected credit losses within the loan portfolio. These adjustments may increase or decrease the estimate of expected credit losses based upon the assessed level of risk for each qualitative factor. The various risks that may be considered in making qualitative adjustments include, among other things, the impact of (i) changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, (ii) changes in the existence, growth and effect of any concentrations in credit, (iii) changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and practices for collections, charge-offs, and recoveries, (iv) changes in the quality of the credit review function, (v) changes in the experience, ability and depth of lending, investment, collection and other relevant management staff, (vi) changes in the volume and severity of past due financial assets, the volume of the nonaccrual assets, and the volume and severity of adversely classified or graded assets, (vii) the value of underlying collateral for loans that are not collateral dependent, and (viii) other environmental factors such as regulatory, legal and technological considerations, as well as competition and changes in the economic and business conditions that affect the collectibility of financial assets. At CECL adoption, the Corporation established certain qualitative factors that were expected to correlate to losses within the loan portfolio. During a scheduled review of qualitative factors in 2023, the Corporation determined there had not been significant evidence of correlation to losses for the qualitative factors that included i) changes in experience, ability and depth of lending management and staff; ii) changes in lending policies and procedures; iii) changes in the quality of the credit review function; iv) portfolio mix and growth; and v) industry concentration. The Corporation decided to refine these qualitative factors in order to improve our ability to assess related risk and enhance our ability to correlate to losses. The Corporation’s evaluation of the qualitative approach resulted in an insignificant change to the ACL – Loans estimate.

In some cases, management may determine that an individual loan exhibits unique risk characteristics which differentiate the loan from other loans within the loan segments. In such cases, the loans are evaluated for expected credit losses on an individual basis and excluded from the collective evaluation. Specific reserve allocations of the allowance for credit losses are determined by analyzing the borrower’s ability to repay amounts owed, collateral deficiencies, the relative risk grade of the loan and economic conditions affecting the borrower’s industry, among other things. A loan is considered to be collateral dependent when, based upon management's assessment, the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral. In such cases, expected credit losses are based on the fair value of the collateral at the measurement date, adjusted for estimated selling costs if satisfaction of the loan depends on the sale of the collateral. The fair value of collateral supporting collateral dependent loans is evaluated on a quarterly basis.

The risk characteristics of the Corporation’s portfolio segments are as follows:

Commercial

Commercial lending is primarily based on the identified cash flows of the borrower and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower. The cash flows of borrowers, however, may not be as expected and the collateral securing these loans may fluctuate in value. Most commercial loans are secured by the tangible assets being financed such as equipment or real estate or other business assets such as accounts receivable or inventory and may incorporate a personal guarantee. Other loans may be unsecured, secured but under-collateralized or otherwise made on the basis of the enterprise value of an organization. In the case of loans secured by accounts receivable, the availability of funds for the repayment of these loans may be substantially dependent on the ability of the borrower to collect amounts due from its customers.

Commercial real estate

Commercial real estate loans are viewed primarily as cash flow loans and secondarily as loans secured by real estate. Commercial real estate lending typically involves higher loan principal amounts and the repayment of these loans is generally dependent on the successful operation of the property securing the loan or the business conducted on the property securing the loan. The Corporation monitors commercial real estate loans based on collateral and risk grade criteria, as well as the levels of owner-occupied versus non-owner occupied loans.

Construction

Construction loans are underwritten utilizing a combination of tools and techniques including feasibility and market studies, independent appraisals and appraisal reviews, absorption and interest rate sensitivity analysis as well as the financial analysis of the developer and all guarantors. Construction loans are monitored by either in house or third party inspectors limiting advances to a percentage of costs or stabilized project value. These loans frequently involve the disbursement of significant funds with the repayment dependent upon the successful completion and, where necessary, the future stabilization of the project. The predominant inherent risk of this portfolio is associated with the borrower's ability to successfully complete a project on time, within budget and stabilize the projected as originally projected.

Consumer and Residential

With respect to residential loans that are secured by 1-4 family residences, which are typically owner occupied, the Corporation generally establishes a maximum loan-to-value ratio and requires private mortgage insurance if that ratio is exceeded. Home equity loans are secured by a subordinate interest in 1-4 family residences, and consumer loans are secured by consumer assets such as automobiles or recreational vehicles. Some consumer loans, such as small installment loans and certain lines of credit, are unsecured. Repayment of these loans is primarily dependent on the personal income and credit rating of the borrowers and can also be impacted by changes in property values. Risk is mitigated by the fact that the loans are of smaller individual amounts and spread over a large number of borrowers.

The allowance for credit losses decreased $15.1 million and $15.4 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. Net charge-offs totaled $39.6 million and $41.9 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. Provision expense of $24.5 million and $26.5 million was recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. The following tables summarize changes in the allowance for credit losses by loan segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Commitments And Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Corporation has entered into off-balance sheet financial instruments which include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Commitments to extend credit are usually the result of lines of credit granted to existing borrowers under agreements that the total outstanding indebtedness will not exceed a specific amount during the term of the indebtedness. Typical borrowers are commercial customers that use lines of credit to supplement their treasury management functions, and thus their total outstanding indebtedness may fluctuate during any time period based on the seasonality of their business and the resultant timing for their cash flows. Other typical lines of credit are related to home equity loans granted to customers. Commitments to extend credit generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses that may require a fee.

Standby letters of credit are generally issued on behalf of an applicant (the Corporation’s customer) to a specifically named beneficiary and are the result of a particular business arrangement that exists between the applicant and the beneficiary. Standby letters of credit have fixed expiration dates and are usually for terms oftwo years or less unless terminated beforehand due to criteria specified in the standby letter of credit. The standby letter of credit would permit the beneficiary to obtain payment from the Corporation under certain prescribed circumstances. Subsequently, the Corporation would seek reimbursement from the applicant pursuant to the terms of the standby letter of credit.

The Corporation typically follows the same credit policies and underwriting practices when making these commitments as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. Each customer’s creditworthiness is typically evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and the amount of collateral obtained, if any, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer. Collateral held varies but may include cash, real estate, marketable securities, accounts receivable, inventory, equipment and personal property. The contractual amounts of these commitments are not reflected in the consolidated financial statements and only amounts drawn upon would be reflected in the future. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the contractual amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. However, should the commitments be drawn upon and should the Corporation’s customers default on their resulting obligation to the Corporation, the maximum exposure to credit loss, without consideration of collateral, is represented by the contractual amount of those commitments.

Financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk were as follows:

The Corporation maintains an accrual for credit losses on off-balance sheet commitments using the CECL methodology. Reserves for unfunded commitments declined by $3.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, which decreased the reserve to $19.5 million at December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024. This reserve level remains appropriate and is reported in Other Liabilities as of June 30, 2024 in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.

The table below reflects the total allowance for credit losses for the off-balance sheet commitment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:

NOTE 4

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives

The Corporation is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions. The Corporation principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities. The Corporation manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity, and credit risk, primarily by managing the amount, sources, and duration of its assets and liabilities and through the use of derivative financial instruments. Specifically, the Corporation enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the receipt or payment of future known and uncertain cash amounts, the value of which are determined by interest rates. The Corporation’s derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing, and duration of the Corporation’s known or expected cash payments principally related to certain variable-rate liabilities. The Corporation also has derivatives that are a result of a service the Corporation provides to certain qualifying customers, and, therefore, are not used to manage interest rate risk in the Corporation’s assets or liabilities. The Corporation manages a matched book with respect to its derivative instruments offered as a part of this service to its customers in order to minimize its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions.

Derivatives Designated as Hedges

The Corporation’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish these objectives, the Corporation primarily uses interest rate swaps and interest rate caps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the payment of fixed amounts to a counterparty in exchange for the Corporation receiving variable payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount. Interest rate caps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable amounts from a counterparty if interest rates rise above the strike rate on the contract in exchange for an up-front premium. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 the Corporation hadno interest rate swaps or caps designated as hedges.

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Corporation did not recognize any ineffectiveness.

Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Corporation's variable-rate liabilities. During the next twelve months, the Corporation doesn't expect to reclassify income (loss) from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to interest income.

The amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) is included in the table below for the periods indicated.

The amount of gain (loss) reclassified from other comprehensive income (loss) into income related to cash flow hedging relationships is included in the tables below for the periods indicated.

Non-designated Hedges

The Corporation does not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes. Derivatives not designated as hedges are not speculative and result from a service the Corporation provides to certain customers. The Corporation executes interest rate swaps with commercial banking customers to facilitate their respective risk management strategies. Those interest rate swaps are simultaneously hedged by offsetting interest rate swaps that the Corporation executes with a third party, such that the Corporation minimizes its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions. As the interest rate swaps associated with this program do not meet the strict hedge accounting requirements, changes in the fair value of both the customer swaps and the offsetting swaps are recognized directly in earnings.

Commitments to fund certain mortgage loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans to third party investors are considered derivatives. It is the Corporation's practice to enter into forward commitments for the future delivery of residential mortgage loans when interest rate lock commitments are entered into in order to economically hedge the effect of changes in interest rates resulting from its commitments to fund the loans. These mortgage banking derivatives are not designated in hedge relationships. Fair values were estimated based on changes in mortgage interest rates from the date of the commitments. Changes in the fair value of these mortgage banking derivatives are included in net gains and fees on sales of loans.

The table below presents the fair value of the Corporation’s non-designated hedges, as well as their classification on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet, as of June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023.

In the normal course of business, the Corporation may decide to settle a forward contract rather than fulfill the contract. Cash received or paid in this settlement manner is included in "Net gains and fees on sales of loans" in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income and is considered a cost of executing a forward contract. The amount of gain (loss) recognized into income related to non-designated hedging instruments is included in the tables below for the periods indicated.

The Corporation’s exposure to credit risk occurs because of nonperformance by its counterparties. The counterparties approved by the Corporation are usually financial institutions, which are well capitalized and have credit ratings through Moody’s and/or Standard & Poor’s at or above investment grade. The Corporation’s control of such risk is through quarterly financial reviews, comparing mark-to-market values with policy limitations, credit ratings and collateral pledging.

Credit-risk-related Contingent Features

The Corporation has agreements with certain of its derivative counterparties that contain a provision where if the Corporation fails to maintain its status as a well or adequately capitalized institution, then the Corporation could be required to terminate or fully collateralize all outstanding derivative contracts. Additionally, the Corporation has agreements with certain of its derivative counterparties that contain a provision where if the Corporation defaults on any of its indebtedness, including default where repayment of the indebtedness has not been accelerated by the lender, then the Corporation could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations. As of June 30, 2024, the termination value of derivatives in a net liability position related to these agreements was $3.4 million, which resulted inno collateral pledged to counterparties as of June 30, 2024. While the Corporation did not breach any of these provisions as of June 30, 2024, if it had, the Corporation could have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements at their termination value.

NOTE 5

FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Corporation used fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures. The accounting guidance defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. ASC 820 applies only when other guidance requires or permits assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value; it does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances.

As defined in ASC 820, fair value is the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. It represents an exit price at the measurement date. Market participants are buyers and sellers, who are independent, knowledgeable, and willing and able to transact in the principal (or most advantageous) market for the asset or liability being measured. Current market conditions, including imbalances between supply and demand, are considered in determining fair value. The Corporation values its assets and liabilities in the principal market where it sells the particular asset or transfers the liability with the greatest volume and level of activity. In the absence of a principal market, the valuation is based on the most advantageous market for the asset or liability (i.e., the market where the asset could be sold or the liability transferred at a price that maximizes the amount to be received for the asset or minimizes the amount to be paid to transfer the liability).

Valuation inputs refer to the assumptions market participants would use in pricing a given asset or liability. Inputs can be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are those assumptions which market participants would use in pricing the particular asset or liability. These inputs are based on market data and are obtained from a source independent of the Corporation. Unobservable inputs are assumptions based on the Corporation’s own information or estimate of assumptions used by market participants in pricing the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs are based on the best and most current information available on the measurement date. All inputs, whether observable or unobservable, are ranked in accordance with a prescribed fair value hierarchy which gives the highest ranking to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest ranking to unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market activity (Level 3). Fair values for assets or liabilities classified as Level 2 are based on one or a combination of the following factors: (i) quoted prices for similar assets; (ii) observable inputs for the asset or liability, such as interest rates or yield curves; or (iii) inputs derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Corporation considers an input to be significant if it drives 10 percent or more of the total fair value of a particular asset or liability.

RECURRING MEASUREMENTS

Assets and liabilities are considered to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis if fair value is measured regularly (i.e., daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly). Recurring valuation occurs at a minimum on the measurement date. Assets and liabilities are considered to be measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis if the fair value measurement of the instrument does not necessarily result in a change in the amount recorded on the balance sheet. Generally, nonrecurring valuation is the result of the application of other accounting pronouncements which require assets or liabilities to be assessed for impairment and recorded at the lower of cost or fair value. The fair value of assets or liabilities transferred in or out of Level 3 is measured on the transfer date, with any additional changes in fair value subsequent to the transfer considered to be realized or unrealized gains or losses.

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis and recognized in the

accompanying balance sheets, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

Investment Securities

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Level 1 securities include U.S. Treasury securities. Where significant observable inputs, other than Level 1 quoted prices, are available, securities are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. Level 2 securities include U.S. Government-sponsored agency and mortgage-backed securities, state and municipal securities and corporate obligations securities. In certain cases where Level 1 or Level 2 inputs are not available, securities are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy and include state and municipal securities, U.S. Government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities and corporate obligations securities. Level 3 fair value for securities was determined using a discounted cash flow model that incorporated market estimates of interest rates and volatility in markets that have not been active.

Third party vendors compile prices from various sources and may apply such techniques as matrix pricing to determine the value of identical or similar investment securities (Level 2). Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique widely used in the banking industry to value investment securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for specific investment securities but rather relying on the investment securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted investment securities. Any investment security not valued based upon the methods above are considered Level 3.

Derivative Financial Agreements

See information regarding the Corporation’s derivative financial agreements in NOTE 4. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS of these Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

The following table presents the fair value measurements of assets and liabilities recognized in the accompanying balance sheets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023.

Level 3 Reconciliation

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of recurring fair value measurements recognized in the accompanying

balance sheets using significant unobservable Level 3 inputs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

There were no gains or losses included in earnings that were attributable to the changes in unrealized gains or losses related to assets or

liabilities held at June 30, 2024 or December 31, 2023.

Transfers Between Levels

There were no transfers in or out of Level 3 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

Nonrecurring Measurements

Following is a description of valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and recognized in the accompanying balance sheets, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy at June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023.

Collateral Dependent Loans

Determining fair value for collateral dependent loans requires obtaining a current independent appraisal of the collateral and applying a discount factor, which includes selling costs if applicable, to the value. The fair value of real estate is generally based on appraisals by qualified licensed appraisers. The appraisers typically determine the value of the real estate by utilizing an income or market valuation approach. If an appraisal is not available, the fair value may be determined by using a cash flow analysis. Fair value on other collateral such as business assets is typically ascertained by assessing, either singularly or some combination of, asset appraisals, accounts receivable aging reports, inventory listings and or customer financial statements. Both appraised values and values based on borrower’s financial information are discounted as considered appropriate based on age and quality of the information and current market conditions.

Unobservable (Level 3) Inputs

The following tables present quantitative information about unobservable inputs used in recurring and nonrecurring Level 3 fair value measurements, other than goodwill, at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

The following is a discussion of the sensitivity of significant unobservable inputs, the interrelationships between those inputs and other unobservable inputs used in recurring fair value measurement and how those inputs might magnify or mitigate the effect of changes in the unobservable inputs on the fair value measurement.

State and Municipal Securities, Corporate Obligations and U.S. Government-sponsored Mortgage-Backed Securities

The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Corporation's state and municipal securities, corporate obligations and U.S. Government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities are premiums for unrated securities and marketability discounts. Significant increases or decreases in either of those inputs in isolation would result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement. Generally, changes in either of those inputs will not affect the other input.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following tables present estimated fair values of the Corporation’s financial instruments and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

NOTE 6

QUALIFIED AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTMENTS

The Corporation has investments in various limited partnerships that sponsor affordable housing projects. The purpose of these investments is to earn an adequate return of capital through the receipt of low income housing tax credits and to assist the Corporation in achieving goals associated with the CRA. These investments are included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet, with any unfunded commitments included in other liabilities. The investments are amortized as a component of income tax expense.

The following table summarizes the Corporation’s affordable housing investments as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:

The following table summarizes the amortization expense and tax credits recognized for the Corporation’s affordable housing investments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively:

NOTE 7

BORROWINGS

The following table summarizes the Corporation’s borrowings as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:

Securities sold under repurchase agreements consist of obligations of the Bank to other parties and are secured by U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations. The maximum amount of outstanding agreements at any month-end during the first six months of 2024 and 2023 totaled $194.2 million and $241.9 million, respectively, and the average of such agreements totaled $144.3 million and $194.3 million during the same period of 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The collateral pledged for all repurchase agreements that are accounted for as secured borrowings as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were:

Contractual maturities of borrowings as of June 30, 2024, are as follows:

The terms of a security agreement with the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") require the Corporation to pledge, as collateral for advances, qualifying first mortgage loans, investment securities and multi-family loans in an amount equal to at least 145 percent of these advances depending on the type of collateral pledged. At June 30, 2024, the outstanding FHLB advances had interest rates from 0.35 to 5.48 percent and are subject to restrictions or penalties in the event of prepayment. The total available remaining borrowing capacity from the FHLB at June 30, 2024, was $780.7 million. As of June 30, 2024, the Corporation had $205.0 million of putable advances with the FHLB.

Subordinated Debentures and Term Loans. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, subordinated debentures and term loans totaled $93.6 million and $158.6 million, respectively.

•First Merchants Capital Trust II (“FMC Trust II”). At June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Corporation had $41.7 million of subordinated debentures issued to FMC Trust II, a wholly-owned statutory business trust. FMC Trust II was formed in July 2007 for purposes of issuing trust preferred securities to investors. At that time, it simultaneously issued and sold its common securities to the Corporation, which constituted all of the issued and outstanding common securities of FMC Trust II. The subordinated debentures, which were purchased with the proceeds of the sale of the trust’s capital securities, are the sole assets of FMC Trust II and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Corporation. As of June 30, 2024, the subordinated debentures and trust preferred securities bear interest at a variable rate equal to the three-month CME Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"), plus the 0.26161 percent spread adjustment. The interest rate at June 30, 2024 was 7.16 percent. As of December 31, 2023, the subordinated debentures and the trust preferred securities bear interest at a variable rate equal to CME Term SOFR, plus the 0.26161 percent spread adjustment. The interest rate at December 31, 2023 was 7.21 percent. The trust preferred securities are currently redeemable at par and without penalty, subject to the Corporation having first redeemed the related subordinated debentures, with the prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies. The trust preferred securities and the subordinated debentures of FMC Trust II will mature on September 15, 2037. The Corporation continues to hold all outstanding common securities of FMC Trust II.

•Ameriana Capital Trust I. At June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Corporation had $10.3 million of subordinated debentures issued to Ameriana Capital Trust I. On December 31, 2015, the Corporation acquired Ameriana Capital Trust I in conjunction with its acquisition of Ameriana Bancorp, Inc. With a trust preferred structure substantially similar to that described above for FMC Trust II, the subordinated debentures held by Ameriana Capital Trust I were purchased with the proceeds of the sale of the trust’s capital securities. As of June 30, 2024, the subordinated debentures and trust preferred securities bear interest at a variable rate equal to the three-month CME Term SOFR, plus the 0.26161 percent spread adjustment. The interest rate at June 30, 2024 was 7.10 percent. As of December 31, 2023, the subordinated debentures and the trust preferred securities bear interest at a variable rate equal to three-month CME Term SOFR, plus the 0.26161 percent spread adjustment. The interest rate at December 31, 2023 was 7.15 percent. The trust preferred securities of Ameriana Capital Trust I are currently redeemable at par and without penalty, subject to the Corporation having first redeemed the related subordinated debentures, with the prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies. The trust preferred securities and the subordinated debentures of Ameriana Capital Trust I will mature in March 2036. The Corporation continues to hold all of the outstanding common securities of Ameriana Capital Trust I.

•First Merchants Senior Notes and Subordinated Notes. On November 1, 2013, the Corporation completed the private issuance and sale tofour institutional investors of an aggregate of $70 million of debt comprised of (a)5.00 percent Fixed-to-Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2028 in the aggregate principal amount of $5 million (the “Senior Debt”) and (b)6.75 percent Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2028 in the aggregate principal amount of $65 million (the “Subordinated Debt”). The interest rate on the Senior Debt and Subordinated Debt remained fixed for the first ten (10) years and became floating thereafter. The rates converted to floating on October 30, 2023. The Corporation had an option to redeem the Subordinated Debt in whole or in part at a redemption price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the redeemed Subordinated Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of the redemption. The option of redemption was subject to the approval of the Federal Reserve Board. The Corporation has an option to redeem the Senior Debt in whole or in part at a redemption price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the redeemed Senior Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of the redemption; provided, however, that no Subordinated Notes (as defined in the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement) may remain outstanding subsequent to any early redemption of Senior Notes. The Subordinated Debt and the Senior Debt options to redeem began with the interest payment date on October 30, 2023, or on any scheduled interest payment date thereafter. As of June 30, 2024, the Subordinated Debt was fully paid. During the first quarter of 2024, the Corporation exercised its rights to redeem $40.0 million in principal and paid the debt on the scheduled interest payment date. Additionally, in the second quarter of 2024, the Corporation exercised its rights to redeem the remaining $25.0 million in principal and paid the debt on the scheduled interest payment date. Both redemptions were permitted under the optional redemptions provisions of the Subordinated Note Certificate representing the Subordinated Debt. The Senior Debt agreement contains certain customary representations and warranties and financial and negative covenants. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 the Corporation was in compliance with these covenants.

•Level One Subordinated Notes. On April 1, 2022, the Corporation assumed certain subordinated notes in conjunction with its acquisition of Level One. The $30.0 million of subordinated notes issued on December 18, 2019 bear a fixed interest rate of 4.75 percent per annum, payable semiannually through December 18, 2024. The notes will bear a floating interest rate equal to the of three-month CME Term SOFR plus 3.11 percent, payable quarterly, after December 18, 2024 through maturity. The notes mature on December 18, 2029, and the Corporation has the option to redeem any or all of the subordinated notes without premium or penalty any time after December 18, 2024 or upon the occurrence of a tier 2 capital event or tax event.

•Other Borrowings. During the third quarter of 2023, the Corporation acquired a secured borrowing in conjunction with the purchase of the Indianapolis regional headquarters building. The secured borrowing bears a fixed interest rate of 3.41 percent, has a maturity date of March 2035, and had a balance of $7.2 million as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. On April 1, 2022, the Corporation acquired a secured borrowing in conjunction with its acquisition of Level One. The secured borrowing related to a certain loan participation sold by Level One that did not qualify for sales treatment. The secured borrowing bears a fixed rate of 1.00 percent and had a balance of $1.2 million as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

NOTE 8

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

The following table summarizes the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, as of June 30, 2024 and 2023:

The following tables present the reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) that were included in net income in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

(1)For additional detail related to unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale securities and related amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss see NOTE 2. INVESTMENT SECURITIES of these Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

(2) For additional detail related to unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges and related amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss see NOTE 4. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS of these Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

NOTE 9

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock options and Restricted Stock Awards ("RSA") have been issued to directors, officers and other management employees under the Corporation's 2019 Long-term Equity Incentive Plan, the 2024 Long-term Equity Incentive Plan, the Level One Bancorp, Inc. 2007 Stock Option Plan and the Equity Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors. The stock options, which have aten year life, become 100 percent vested based on time ranging fromone year totwo years and are fully exercisable when vested. Option exercise prices equal the Corporation's common stock closing price on NASDAQ on the date of grant. The RSAs issued to employees and non-employee directors provide for the issuance of shares of the Corporation's common stock at no cost to the holder and generally vest after three years. The RSAs vest only if the employee is actively employed by the Corporation on the vesting date and, therefore, any unvested shares are forfeited. For non-employee directors, the RSAs vest only if the non-employee director remains as an active board member on the vesting date and, therefore, any unvested shares are forfeited. The RSAs for employees and non-employee directors are either immediately vested at retirement, disability or death, or, continue to vest after retirement, disability or death, depending on the plan under which the shares were granted.

The Corporation’s 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and 2024 Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") provide eligible employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries an opportunity to purchase shares of common stock of the Corporation through quarterly offerings financed by payroll deductions. The price of the stock to be paid by the employees shall be equal to 85 percent of the average of the closing price of the Corporation’s common stock on each trading day during the offering period. However, in no event shall such purchase price be less than the lesser of an amount equal to 85 percent of the market price of the Corporation’s stock on the offering date or an amount equal to 85 percent of the market value on the date of purchase. Common stock purchases are made quarterly and are paid through advance payroll deductions up to a calendar year maximum of $25,000. The 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan expired on June 30, 2024.

Compensation expense related to unvested share-based awards is recorded by recognizing the unamortized grant date fair value of these awards over the remaining service periods of those awards, with no change in historical reported fair values and earnings. Awards are valued at

fair value in accordance with provisions of share-based compensation guidance and are recognized on a straight-line basis over the service periods of each award. To complete the exercise of vested stock options, RSA’s and ESPP options, the Corporation generally issues new shares from its authorized but unissued share pool. Share-based compensation has been recognized as a component of salaries and benefits expense in the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income.

Share-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income is based on awards ultimately expected to vest and is reduced for estimated forfeitures. Share-based compensation guidance requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods, if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Pre-vesting forfeitures were estimated to be approximately 0.05 percent for the six months ended June 30, 2024, based on historical experience.

The following table summarizes the components of the Corporation's share-based compensation awards recorded as an expense and the income tax benefit of such awards.

The grant date fair value of ESPP options was estimated to be approximately $35,000 at the beginning of the April 1, 2024 quarterly offering period. The ESPP options vested during the three months ending June 30, 2024, leavingno unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested ESPP options at June 30, 2024.

Stock option activity under the Corporation's stock option plans as of June 30, 2024 and changes during the six months ended June 30, 2024, were as follows:

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between the Corporation's closing stock price on the last trading day of the first six months of 2024 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their stock options on June 30, 2024. The amount of aggregate intrinsic value will change based on the fair value of the Corporation's common stock.

The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was $591,000 and $1.4 million, respectively. Cash receipts of stock options exercised during the same periods were $812,000 and $1.1 million, respectively.

The following table summarizes information on unvested RSAs outstanding as of June 30, 2024:

As of June 30, 2024, unrecognized compensation expense related to RSAs was $7.4 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years. The Corporation didnot have any unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options as of June 30, 2024.

NOTE 10

INCOME TAX

The following table summarizes the major components creating differences between income taxes at the federal statutory and the effective tax rate recorded in the consolidated statements of income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:

NOTE 11

NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted net income per common share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the combination of the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the reporting period and all potentially dilutive common shares. Potentially dilutive common shares include stock options and RSAs issued under the Corporation's share-based compensation plans. Potentially dilutive common shares are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share in the periods where the effect would be antidilutive.

The following tables reconcile basic and diluted net income per common share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

(1) Anti-dilution occurs when the unrecognized compensation cost per share of an RSA exceeds the market price of the Corporation's stock.

NOTE 12

GENERAL LITIGATION AND REGULATORY EXAMINATIONS

The Corporation is subject to claims and lawsuits that arise primarily in the ordinary course of business. Additionally, the Corporation is also subject to periodic examinations by various regulatory agencies. It is the general opinion of management that the disposition or ultimate resolution of any such routine litigation or regulatory examinations will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flow of the Corporation.