Muncie's First Merchants growing - again by buying Hamilton County bank

The deal, which means that Noblesville-based Community Bank will become part of longtime Muncie bank First Merchants, will let First Merchants add banking centers in fast-growing Hamilton County as well as some in Madison County.

First Merchants Bank announced the deal late Tuesday.

“The addition of Community Bank supports our goal of becoming a more efficient, higher performing company,” First Merchants president and CEO Michael C. Rechin said in the announcement. “The Community Bank franchise will add seven locations to our six banking centers in Hamilton County, the fastest growing Indiana market. In addition, the Community Bank partnership will add two new communities in Madison County that we currently don’t serve: Summitville and Alexandria.