FirstMerit Community Development is a direct operating subsidiary of FirstMerit Corporation. It was organized in 1994 to promote First Merit Corporation's efforts in identifying the credit needs of its lending communities and meeting the requirements of the Community Reinvestment Act. Through its subsidiaries, the corporation operates primarily as a line of business banking organization. It provides a wide range of banking, fiduciary, financial, insurance and investment services to corporate, institutional as well as individual customers. The corporation operates throughout northern and central Ohio, along with western Pennsylvania.