FirstMerit Completes Migration of Four George Washington Savings Bank Branches in Chicago

AKRON, Ohio, July 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FirstMerit Corporation (Nasdaq: FMER) has successfully migrated all four Chicago-area George Washington branches to the FirstMerit brand. All branches reopened as FirstMerit on Saturday morning, July 10, 2010. FirstMerit acquired George Washington from the FDIC on Friday, February 19, 2010.

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The four branches expand the FirstMerit brand first introduced to the Chicago area on February 20, 2010 with the conversion of 24 former First Bank branches acquired in November 2009.

This fall, the 26 Midwest Bank and Trust branches, acquired on May 14, 2010, will convert to the FirstMerit brand.

"We are excited to expand our solid platform of conveniently located branches in the Chicago area," said Paul G. Greig, chairman, president and CEO of FirstMerit. "As one of the country's strongest and most stable banks, we are looking forward to helping our Chicago customers achieve their financial goals. The transition to FirstMerit will be virtually seamless for existing customers of George Washington."

All branches are staffed with faces familiar to existing customers. As FirstMerit rolls out new debit cards, credit cards and checking materials, customers may still use their existing cards and checks.

Serving its customers and communities is the driver of the company's super-community bank model. It has been recognized nationally and regionally for excellence in small business banking by Greenwich Associates and has received an "Outstanding" ranking from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for its Community Reinvestment Act performance.

Forward-Looking Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements relating to present or future trends or factors affecting the banking industry, and specifically the financial condition and results of operations, including without limitation, statements relating to the earnings outlook of the Company, as well as its operations, markets and products. Actual results could differ materially from those indicated. Among the important factors that could cause results to differ materially are interest rate changes, continued softening in the economy, which could materially impact credit quality trends and the ability to generate loans, changes in the mix of the Company's business, competitive pressures, changes in accounting, tax or regulatory practices or requirements and those risk factors detailed in the Company's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements or reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

About FirstMerit

FirstMerit Corporation is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Akron, Ohio, with assets of $12.3 billion as of March 31, 2010 and 183 banking offices and 204 ATMs in Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and the Chicago area. FirstMerit Corporation provides a complete range of banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses through its core operations. Principal wholly-owned subsidiaries include: FirstMerit Bank, N.A., FirstMerit Mortgage Corporation, FirstMerit Title Agency, Ltd., and FirstMerit Community Development Corporation.

SOURCE FirstMerit Corporation