UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                     FORM 15

CERTIFICATION AND NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF  REGISTRATION  UNDER SECTION 12(g) OF
THE SECURITIES  EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 OR SUSPENSION OF DUTY TO FILE REPORTS UNDER
SECTIONS 13 AND 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

                                                Commission File Number 000-22469

                            LAFAYETTE BANCORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                              133 North 4th Street
                            Lafayette, Indiana 47902
                                 (765) 423-7100
    (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                  of registrant's principal executive offices)

                      Common Shares, No Par Value Per Share
            (Title of each class of securities covered by this Form)

                                      None
  (Titles of all other classes of securities for which a duty to file reports
                      under Section 13(a) or 15(d) remains)

     Please place an X in the box(es) to designate the appropriate rule
provision(s)  relied upon to terminate or suspend the duty to file reports:

       Rule 12g-4(a)(1)(i)|X|                    Rule 12h-3(b)(1)(i)|X|
       Rule 12g-4(a)(1)(ii)|_|                   Rule 12h-3(b)(1)(ii)|_|
       Rule 12g-4(a)(2)(i)|_|                    Rule 12h-3(b)(2)(i)|_|
       Rule 12g-4(a)(2)(ii)|_|                   Rule 12h-3(b)(2)(ii)|_|
                                                 Rule 15d-6------|_|

Approximate number of holders of record as of the certification or notice date:
No holders

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  First
Merchants Corporation, as successor to Lafayette Bancorporation, has caused this
certification/notice  to be  signed  on  its  behalf  by  the  undersigned  duly
authorized person.

Date:  April 4, 2002           By: /s/ Larry R. Helms
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                       Larry R. Helms,
                                       Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Instruction:  This  form is  required  by Rules  12g-4,  12h-3  and 15d-6 of the
General Rules and  Regulations  under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934. The
registrant  shall file with the Commission three copies of Form 15, one of which
shall be manually signed.  It may be signed by an officer of the registrant,  by
counsel or by any other duly authorized person. The name and title of the person
signing the form shall be typed or printed under the signature.