Indiana Athletics expands partnership with Merchants Bank through first-ever integrated jersey patch program. Oct 15, 2026 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Oct. 15, 2026) - Indiana Athletics and Learfield today announced an expansion of its comprehensive partnership with Merchants Bank, naming the Indiana-based financial institution the official jersey patch partner of all 24 varsity sports programs. The five-year agreement further strengthens a relationship that currently includes field naming rights with on-field branding at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium. The Merchants Bank jersey patch will debut on October 17 when Indiana Football hosts Ohio State in Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium's first-ever match-up pitting two top-five ranked teams. Under the agreement, Merchants Bank branding will appear on uniforms across Indiana Athletics' 24 varsity sports programs, as well as on coaches' apparel, including that worn by football head coach Curt Cignetti, men's basketball head coach Darian DeVries, women's basketball head coach Teri Moren, and other Indiana coaches. The partnership also includes expanded exposure through in-venue assets, digital platforms, and social media channels across the athletics department. "Merchants Bank has already established an incredible legacy with us, anchored by their proud presence at Memorial Stadium," said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson. "Expanding this partnership to make them our official jersey patch partner across all 24 of our varsity programs is a groundbreaking milestone. This agreement not only highlights our shared commitment to excellence and innovation, but it also reflects the profound impact of partnering with an Indiana-based industry leader as we continue competing at the absolute highest level." The announcement comes during a period of unprecedented success and national visibility for Indiana Athletics. As the reigning national champion in football with annual prominence in basketball and Olympic sports, Indiana remains one of the most recognizable brands in college athletics. "As an Indiana University graduate, this partnership is especially meaningful to me and to all of us at Merchants Bank," said Michael Petrie, Chairman of Merchants Bank. "Indiana Athletics represents pride, tradition, and excellence across college sports. We are honored to deepen our relationship with the Hoosiers and support student-athletes, coaches and fans through a partnership that celebrates our shared commitment to the state we all call home." This comprehensive agreement is among the most extensive in collegiate athletics, providing Merchants Bank visibility across every varsity program while creating a consistent brand presence throughout the Hoosier athletics experience. Additionally, Merchants Bank will continue to provide IU student-athletes with comprehensive financial education training programs and support. "Merchants Bank and Indiana Athletics are a perfect fit," said Chris Sanders, SVP of Learfield Sports Properties. "Both organizations are deeply connected to Indiana, value community impact, and are dedicated to achieving excellence. Expanding this partnership to include jersey patches creates year-round visibility for Merchants Bank while aligning them with one of the most respected and successful athletics departments in the country." About Indiana Athletics Indiana University Athletics is home to 24 varsity intercollegiate athletic programs and more than 650 student-athletes. Steeped in a rich tradition of academic and athletic excellence in Bloomington, IU athletic programs have combined to win 26 national team championships, with the most recent being the 2025 College Football Playoff title. Additionally, IU's programs have combined to win 193 Big Ten team championships, and IU's student-athletes have captured 176 individual NCAA titles as well as 61 Olympic gold medals. To learn more about Indiana University Athletics, visit IUHoosiers.com or follow IU Hoosiers on Facebook, X and Instagram. About Merchants Bank Ranked as a top-performing bank in the U.S by American Banker/Capital Performance Group, Merchants Bank focuses on delivering innovative banking and lending solutions across multiple segments, including retail and correspondent residential mortgage banking, multifamily financing, business and agricultural lending, mortgage warehouse financing, and traditional banking services. Headquartered in Indiana, Merchants Bank serves customers nationwide through its banking centers, regional production offices, and digital banking platform. Driven by a culture of execution, teamwork, and service, the company is committed to building long-term relationships and delivering meaningful value to the communities it serves. To learn more about Merchants Bank, visit www.bankmerchants.com or find Merchants Bank on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and Instagram. About Learfield Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield's presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative revenue generation solutions, student-athlete marketing initiatives, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.

Merchants Bank partners with Vantaca to elevate Community Association Banking Services. Posted Sunday, September 27, 2026 7:00 am News Release Merchants Bank announced it has teamed up with Vantaca, an AI-first technology company purpose-built for community association management, to elevate its customers' Community Association Banking experience. Through Vantaca's industry-leading, connected platform, Merchants Bank is able to use custom system integration to directly connect with homeowners associations (HOAs) and property management clients. This streamlines collaboration and communication with the bank as clients manage association funds from across communities. The HOA and property management market is thriving throughout the United States with the Foundation for Community Association Research estimating that there are currently between 374,000 to 377,000 active community associations. This number, which grows with each passing year, reaffirms the added pressures and responsibilities that property managers and HOA leaders face daily. "As community associations continue to grow in size and complexity, the need for seamless connectivity between management companies and financial institutions has never been greater," said Peter Bailey, VP, Banking Strategy & Financial Services, Vantaca. "Our partnership with Merchants Bank reflects a shared commitment to delivering a modern banking experience that enhances efficiency, strengthens financial oversight, and supports the long-term success of the communities our customers serve. Most importantly, it helps management companies simplify day-to-day financial operations so they can spend less time on administrative tasks and more time delivering exceptional service to boards and homeowners." Merchants Bank offers leading deposit rates paired with a multi-bank sweep solution. This includes access to FDIC insurance coverage up to $130 million while maintaining the simplicity of a single Merchants Bank relationship. With competitive deposit solutions and a dedicated team, property managers are better positioned to operate efficiently while maximizing liquidity, security, and the return potential of association funds. "We understand the challenges that burden HOAs and property managers when it comes to their finances," said Gavin Nelson, Community Association Banking Lead at Merchants Bank. "As a trusted partner, we tailor our innovative solutions to meet the needs of both single- and multi-property operations. Teaming up with Vantaca has been that next step in ensuring we're seamlessly meeting our clients in real time." The Community Association Banking team, which boasts an average 20 years of experience, is a sponsor of Vantaca Vision 2026 and will be in attendance November 2-5 to meet with prospective clients.