Ashley West

Ashley West, Application Analyst with First Merchants Bank, believes in the power of being kind.

“I feel that everyone should be loved and welcomed and safe for who they are, no matter who that is,” she explained. “That’s what drives me to get involved in my community and with First Merchants employee groups – because I feel very strongly that there should be places where people are welcomed as they are.”

Ashley joined the bank in 2021 and immediately jumped feet first into helping create and uphold those spaces for her peers. She chairs her office’s Employee Activity Committee, where she puts together fun events for employees focused on team building, creating camaraderie, and increasing engagement.

She’s also an active participant in multiple Employee Resource Groups within the bank.

“First Merchants has a number of great Employee Resource Groups designed to build communities – from creating space for people of faith to supporting veterans to helping young people advance their careers,” she explained. “I love that it’s a company that puts an emphasis on letting people be authentically themselves, and I knew I had to get involved.”

Ashley even helps chair one of these groups – the Pride Employee Resource Group- which is focused on building bridges and fostering a community for LGTBQ+ employees and allies. In fact, she stepped up to help launch the group just six months after starting at First Merchants.

Around the same time, she began volunteering with Muncie Outreach, a youth organization providing activities and hang-out opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth in Muncie and the surrounding area.

“I grew up in a home where being gay was extremely looked down upon,” she shared. “I didn’t grow up around kindness or acceptance for it – which I think is what drives me to work with these groups as an ally. I love people, and I think they should have the opportunity to be themselves, and I want to do what I can to help make space for them to do that.”

Ashley serves on Muncie Outreach’s Events Committee, Communications and Fundraising Committee, and Muncie Pride Committee. Within First Merchants, she is a member of the Emerging Professionals, People of Color, and First Women Connections Employee Resource Groups.

“I really do it for the people,” she shared. “We have such a wonderful, welcoming community of people at First Merchants who care about each other and about making a difference in their communities – it’s such a joy to be a part of that.”

Ashley lives in Muncie with her daughter, son, husband, and three cats.

First Merchants Bank’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility compels us to invest in our communities by finding ways to reduce inequalities, improve the quality of our neighborhoods, and promote positive economic mobility though our five community pillars: Employee Empowerment; Community Investments and Charitable Giving; Financial Wellness; Community Home Lending; and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This series features First Merchants teammates who embody the spirit and impact of the company’s Vision: “to enhance the financial wellness of the diverse communities we serve.”