FirstMerit Corporation Analysts/Media Contact: Thomas O’Malley (Director Corporate Communications/Investor Relations Officer)
Phone: 330.384.7109 

Akron, Ohio, October 8, 2008 -- FirstMerit Corporation (NASDAQ: FMER) announced, on behalf of its subsidiary banks, it has lowered its prime rate from 5.00 percent to 4.50 percent, effective October 8, 2008.  The rate was last changed on April 30, 2008 when FirstMerit lowered its prime rate from 5.25 percent to 5.00 percent.

About FirstMerit
FirstMerit Corporation is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Akron, Ohio, with assets of $10.7 billion as of September 30, 2008 and 158 banking offices and 182 ATMs in 25 Ohio and Western Pennsylvania counties.  FirstMerit 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.