Intern - Enterprise Risk Management

Thank you for your interest in the First Merchants 2027 Summer Internship Program! First Merchants is seeking highly motivated, enthusiastic college students for our 12-week paid summer internship program.

Why Intern at First Merchants?

• Gain hands-on experience in the financial services industry


• Work on meaningful projects that impact the business


• Receive mentorship from experienced professionals


• Build relationships with leaders across the organization


• Participate in networking and development events


• Volunteer alongside fellow interns during a community service project


• Present accomplishments and key learnings to senior leadership

Summer Internship Program Overview

First Merchants internship opportunities are available in a variety of business areas including Credit Administration, Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking, Treasury Management, Private Wealth, Technology, Human Resources, Marketing, Risk, Operations, and other business functions.

Department Internship Duties & Responsibilities

The Enterprise Risk Management Intern will support the team through day-to-day responsibilities, projects, and initiatives that contribute to departmental goals. Enterprise Risk Management serves as part of the Bank's second line of defense, responsible for the framework, tools, data, and reporting that help First Merchants identify, assess, monitor, and report risk across every line of business. The intern will work directly alongside risk professionals and will gain firsthand exposure to how a $20+ billion bank makes risk-informed decisions and demonstrates effective risk management to its executive leadership, Board, and regulators.

Below is what you can expect to learn from an internship in Enterprise Risk Management at First Merchants Bank:

1. How enterprise risk management works in a regulated bank — including risk appetite, risk taxonomy, the three lines of defense model, governance committees, and how risk information reaches executive leadership and the Board.


2. How to turn raw risk data into decision-useful information — extracting, cleansing, and analyzing data from the Bank's governance, risk, and compliance system; identifying trends, concentrations, and root cause themes; and building dashboards and reporting that leaders actually use.


3. How risks and controls are classified and documented — distinguishing a risk from an event, cause, or impact; evaluating the quality and consistency of risk descriptions; and understanding why a well-structured risk taxonomy is essential to accurate aggregation and reporting.


4. How issues are identified, remediated, escalated, and validated — and why aging, accountability, timeliness, and documentation matter to auditors, examiners, and the Board.


5. How to apply emerging technology responsibly in a risk function — designing and piloting an AI-enabled solution while building in the human review, source verification, and governance controls that responsible AI use requires in a regulated environment.


6. How to communicate and influence as a risk professional — conducting stakeholder interviews, writing clearly and concisely for executive audiences, asking credible challenge questions, and presenting recommendations to senior leadership.

Successful students will possess:

• Initiative


• Enthusiasm


• Strong Work Ethic


• Team Mentality


• Self-Motivation

In addition to the learning objectives, all interns will participate in a coordinated community service project. Interns will have an opportunity to network with Executive and Senior Leadership at our Intern Meet & Greet event and will present a summary of their experience at the conclusion of the internship program.

Required Qualifications

• Be a full-time Bachelor (or higher) degree-seeking student at an accredited college or university.


• Be available to work 40 hours per week from May 17^th- August 6^th, 2027.


• Be authorized to work in the United States.


• Have demonstrated interest in the industry and/or specific area of interest.


• Possess a GPA of 3.0 or higher.


• Be able and willing to travel periodically throughout the First Merchants footprint, if applicable.

About First Merchants:

First Merchants Corporation is the largest financial services holding company located in Central Indiana. We provide our clients with broad financial services delivered locally by bankers who are known and trusted in their communities. We offer personal banking, business banking, mortgage lending, treasury management services, and wealth management.

Since its organization, the Corporation has grown to include more than 126 banking center locations in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and a wealth management company.  

Our Vision Is:

To enhance the financial wellness of the diverse communities we serve.

Our Mission is:

To be the most responsive, knowledgeable, and high-performing financial organization for our clients, teammates, and shareholders.

Our Team:

"We are a collection of dynamic colleagues with diverse experiences and perspectives who share a passion for positively impacting lives. We are genuinely committed to attracting and engaging teammates of diverse backgrounds. We believe in the power of inclusion and belonging."