German American Bancorp
GABC
#5065
Rank
A$2.66 B
Marketcap
A$71.00
Share price
1.23%
Change (1 day)
20.89%
Change (1 year)
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1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark one)

|X| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 1996
OR
| | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from
_____________to_____________

Commission File Number 0-11244

GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
INDIANA 35-1547518
(State or other (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of Identification No.)
incorporation or
organization)

711 Main Street, Box 810, Jasper, Indiana 47546
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number,
including area code: (812) 482-1314

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of
the Act:

Title of each class Name of each exchange on which
registered
NONE Not Applicable

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of
the Act:
Common Shares, $10.00 Par Value
(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has
filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that
the registrant was required to file such reports), and
(2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days.
YES X NO
2
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by
nonaffiliates of the Registrant (assuming solely for
purposes of this calculation that all directors and
executive officers of the Registrant are affiliates)
valued at the last trade price reported by NASDAQ as of
March 7, 1997 was approximately $75,922,000.

As of March 7, 1997, there were outstanding 2,541,552
common shares, $10.00 par value, of the registrant.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

(1) Portions of the Annual Report to Shareholders
of German American Bancorp for 1996, to the extent
stated herein, are incorporated by reference into Parts
I and II.
(2) Portions of the Proxy Statement of German
American Bancorp for the Annual Meeting of its
Shareholders to be held April 24, 1997, to the extent
stated herein, are incorporated by reference into Part
III.

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent
filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (section
229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and
will not be contained, to the best of registrant's
knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of
this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. |X|
3
PART I
Item 1. Business

General

German American Bancorp (referred to herein as the
"Company," the "Corporation," or the "Registrant") is a
multi-bank holding company organized in Indiana in
1982. The Company's principal subsidiaries, as of March
7, 1997, are The German American Bank, Jasper, Indiana
("German American Bank"), First State Bank, Southwest
Indiana, Tell City, Indiana ("First State Bank"), and
German American Holdings Corporation ("GAHC"), an
Indiana corporation that owns all of the outstanding
capital stock of both Community Trust Bank, Otwell,
Indiana ("Community Bank") and The Peoples National
Bank and Trust Company of Washington, Washington,
Indiana ("Peoples"). The Company, through its four
bank subsidiaries (sometimes referred to herein as the
"Banks"), operated as of March 7, 1997, twenty (20)
banking offices in six contiguous counties in
southwestern Indiana and had total consolidated assets
on a pro forma basis (giving effect to the Peoples
acquisition) at year-end 1996 of approximately
$489,000,000.

German American Bank was organized under the law of
Indiana in 1910. At December 31, 1996, German American
Bank was the second largest of the six commercial banks
with offices in Dubois County, Indiana, in terms of
total assets and total deposits. German American Bank
conducts its banking operations from its principal
banking office in Jasper, Indiana, and from seven
branch office locations throughout Dubois County.

Peoples, organized under the National Bank Act in
1888, was acquired by the Company on March 4, 1997
pursuant to a merger of the parent corporation of
Peoples into GAHC. Simultaneously with and as an
integral part of this merger, The Union Bank of
Loogootee, Indiana, a subsidiary of the Company, was
merged with and into Peoples. On a combined basis,
Peoples and Union at December 31, 1996 ranked second in
asset size among the six commercial banks and thrifts
headquartered in Martin and Daviess Counties, Indiana.
The Union Bank had been acquired by the Registrant on
March 8, 1993.
4

On April 1, 1993, the Registrant purchased all the
shares of Winslow Bancorporation, Winslow, Indiana,
(which was in 1996 renamed German American Holdings
Corporation), and its subsidiary Southwestern Indiana
Bank in a cash transaction. On April 1, 1994, the
Registrant issued 113,286 shares in exchange for all
the outstanding shares of The Otwell State Bank.
Following the completion of this transaction, Otwell
and Southwestern were merged into Community Trust Bank,
a combined banking institution operating in the Pike
County, Indiana market through three offices.

On October 28, 1994, the Registrant acquired three
branches of Regional Federal Savings Bank of New
Albany, Indiana. The Huntingburg, Indiana branch was
combined with an existing branch of the Registrant's
lead bank, German American Bank. The other two former
branches in Tell City and Rockport, Indiana were
acquired by a new subsidiary bank of the Registrant
named First State Bank, Southwest, Indiana.

Each of the Company's subsidiary banks engages in a
wide range of commercial and personal banking services,
and German American Bank and Peoples provide a wide
range of personal and corporate trust-related services.
In addition, several of the Company's subsidiary banks
share investment services income through an operating
agreement with Invest Financial Corporation, a
subsidiary of First American Corporation, which
provides full-service brokerage operations at German
American Bank's principal banking office and other
affiliate banking offices.

The Company and its subsidiary banks operate
primarily in the banking industry, which accounts for
over ninety percent (90%) of the Company's consolidated
revenues, operating income and identifiable assets.
Through its banking subsidiaries, the Company generates
commercial, installment and mortgage loans and receives
deposits from customers located primarily in the local
market area. The overall loan portfolio is diversified
among a variety of individual borrowers; however, a
significant portion of such debtors depend upon the
agriculture, poultry and wood furniture manufacturing
industries for employment. Although wood manufacturers
employ a significant number of people in the Company's
market area, the Company does not have a concentration
of credit to companies engaged in that industry. The
majority of the Company's loans are secured by specific
items of collateral including business assets, consumer
assets and real property.
5
Additional information regarding the Company and its
subsidiaries is included in the Company's Annual Report
to Shareholders for 1996, selected portions of which
are filed as Exhibit 13 to this Annual Report on Form
10-K (the "Shareholders' Report") and are incorporated
herein by reference.

Competition

The banking business is highly competitive. The
Company's subsidiary banks compete not only with
financial institutions that have offices in the same
counties but also compete with financial institutions
that are located in other neighboring areas in
obtaining deposits, making loans and providing many
other types of financial services. The banking market
in which the Company's banking subsidiaries operate is
heavily influenced by larger financial institutions
located in Evansville and Indianapolis, Indiana,
Louisville, Kentucky and other cities. In addition to
other commercial banks, the Company's subsidiary banks
compete with savings and loan associations, savings
banks, credit unions, production credit associations,
federal land banks, finance companies, credit card
companies, personal loan companies, money market funds,
mortgage companies and other non-depository financial
intermediaries.

Recent changes in federal and state law have
resulted in and are expected to continue to result in
increased competition. The reductions in legal
barriers to the acquisition of banks by out-of-state
bank holding companies resulting from implementation of
the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching
Efficiency Act of 1994 and other recent and proposed
changes are expected to continue to further stimulate
competition in the markets in which the Banks operate,
although it is not possible to predict the extent or
timing of such increased competition.

Employees

At January 31, 1997 the Company and its subsidiaries
employed approximately 174 employees. There are no
collective bargaining agreements, and employee
relations are considered to be good.
6
Regulation and Supervision

The Company is subject to the Bank Holding Company
Act of 1956, as amended ("BHC Act"), and is required to
file with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System ("FRB") annual reports and such additional
information as the FRB may require. The FRB may also
make examinations or inspections of the Company.

The BHC Act prohibits a bank holding company from
engaging in, or acquiring direct or indirect control of
more than 5 percent of the voting shares of any company
engaged in nonbanking activities. One of the principal
exceptions to this prohibition is for activities deemed
by the FRB to be "closely related to banking." Under
current regulations, bank holding companies and their
subsidiaries are permitted to engage in such banking-
related business ventures as sales and consumer
finance, equipment leasing, computer service bureau and
software operations, and mortgage banking.

The BHC Act and Indiana law restrict banking
expansion by banks and bank holding companies. Under
current Indiana law, Indiana banks may establish an
unlimited number of branches anywhere within the State
of Indiana. A holding company may establish non-
banking offices without geographical limitation.

Under the BHC Act, the Company must receive the
prior written approval of the FRB or its delegate
before it may acquire ownership or control of more than
5 percent of the voting shares of another bank, and
under Indiana law it may not acquire 25 percent or more
of the voting shares of another bank without the prior
approval of the Indiana Department of Financial
Institutions ("DFI"). The Riegle-Neal Interstate
Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 (the
"Interstate Act") provides for nationwide interstate
banking and branching. Since September 30, 1995, well-
capitalized bank holding companies have been
authorized, pursuant to the legislation, to acquire
banks and bank holding companies in any state. The
Interstate Act also permits banks to merge across state
lines, thereby creating a main bank in one state with
branches in other sates. Interstate branching-by-
merger provisions will become effective on June 1,
1997, unless a state takes legislative action prior to
7

that date. States may pass laws to either "opt in"
before June 1, 1997 or to "opt-out" by expressly
prohibiting merger transactions involving out-of-state
banks, providing the legislative action is taken before
June 1, 1997. Effective March 14, 1996, Indiana "opted
in" to interstate branching provisions of the
Interstate Act.

The Company's subsidiary banks are under the
supervision of and subject to examination by both the
DFI and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
("FDIC"). Regulation and examination by banking
regulatory agencies are primarily for the benefit of
depositors rather than shareholders.

The earnings of commercial banks and their holding
companies are affected not only by general economic
conditions but also by the policies of various
governmental regulatory authorities. In particular,
the FRB regulates money and credit conditions and
interest rates in order to influence general economic
conditions, primarily through open-market operations in
U.S. Government securities, varying the discount rate
on bank borrowings, and setting reserve requirements
against bank deposits. These policies have a
significant influence on overall growth and
distribution of bank loans, investments and deposits,
and affect interest rates charged on loans and earned
on investments or paid for time and savings deposits.
FRB monetary policies have had a significant effect on
the operating results of commercial banks in the past
and this is expected to continue in the future. The
general effect, if any, of such policies upon the
future business and earnings of the Company cannot
accurately be predicted.

The Company is required by the FRB and the FDIC to
maintain minimum levels of capital. These required
capital levels are expressed in terms of capital
ratios, known as the leverage ratio and the capital to
risk-based assets ratios. The Company significantly
exceeds the minimum required capital levels for each
measure of capital adequacy. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations -- Capital Resources," included
in the Shareholders' Report.
8

Also, FDIC regulations define five categories of
financial institutions for purposes of implementing
prompt corrective action and supervisory enforcement
requirements of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation Improvements Act of 1991. The category to
which the most highly capitalized institutions are
assigned is termed "Well Capitalized." Institutions
falling into this category must have a total risk-based
capital ratio (the ratio of total capital to risk-
weighted assets) of at least 10%, a Tier 1 risk-based
capital ratio (the ratio of Tier 1, or "core", capital
to risk-weighted assets) of at least 6%, a leverage
ratio (the ratio of Tier 1 capital to total assets) of
at least 5%, and must not be subject to any written
agreement, order or directive from its regulator
relative to meeting and maintaining a specific capital
level. On December 31, 1996, the Company had a total
risk-based capital ratio of 15.70%, a Tier 1 risk-based
capital ratio of 14.44% (based on Tier 1 capital of
$36,842,000 and total risk-weighted assets of
$255,141,000), and a leverage ratio of 9.56%. The
Company meets all of the requirements of the "Well
Capitalized" category and, accordingly, the Company
does not expect these regulations to significantly
impact operations.

Statistical Disclosures

The following statistical data should be read in
conjunction with Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Item
7), Selected Financial Data (Item 6), and the financial
statements and notes (Item 8) included elsewhere herein
through incorporation by reference to the indicated
pages of the Shareholders' Report.
9

Securities (in thousands)

The following tables set forth the amortized cost of
Securities at the dates indicated:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31,

1996 1995 1994

<S> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. Treasury and other
U.S. Government Agencies
and Corporations . . . . . . . . . . . . . --- ---- $17,249
State and Political Subdivisions. . . . . . . $14,653 $9,869 21,237
Mortgage-backed Securities. . . . . . . . . . --- ---- 11,267
Corporate Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . --- ---- 803

Other Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,014 738 717
_____ _____ _____

Subtotal of Securities
Held-to-Maturity . . . . . . . . . . . $15,667 $10,607 $51,273
======= ======= =======

U.S. Treasury and other U.S.
Government Agencies
and Corporations . . . . . . . . . . . . . $39,182 $23,727 $7,280
State and Political Subdivisions. . . . . . . 17,356 14,232 56
Mortgage-backed Securities. . . . . . . . . . 21,006 33,144 15,584
Corporate Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,221 6,375 212
----- ----- -----
Subtotal of Securities
Available-for-Sale . . . . . . . . . . 84,765 77,478 23,132
------ ------ ------

Total Securities . . . . . . . . . . . $100,432 $88,085 $74,405
======== ======= =======

</TABLE>
10

The following table sets forth the contractual maturities
of securities at December 31, 1996 and the weighted
average yields of such securities (calculated on the
basis of the cost and effective yields weighted for the
maturity of each security.) Contractual maturities may
differ from actual due to rights to prepay or call.
Other securities totaling $1,014 are comprised of
restricted stock which do not have contractual maturities
and are excluded from the table below.



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Maturing
Within After One But After Five But After Ten
One Year Within Five Years Within Ten Years Years

Amount Yield Amount Yield Amount Yield Amount Yield


<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. Treasury and
other Government
Agencies and
Corporations . . . $1,700 4.29% $29,484 6.33% $7,998 7.08% --- ---
State and Political
Subdivisions . . . 2,090 7.85% 7,749 9.28% 5,119 10.20% $17,051 9.42%
Mortgage-backed
Securities . . . . 264 5.95% 4,025 5.98% 5,924 5.71% 10,793 5.90%
Corporate Securities. --- --- 3,429 6.41% 2,646 6.37% 1,146 7.29%
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ ______ _____

Totals. . . . . $4,054 6.23% $44,687 6.82% $21,687 7.36% $28,990 8.03%
====== ===== ======= ===== =======

</TABLE>

A tax-equivalent adjustment using a tax rate of 34
percent was used in the above table.
11

The following table sets forth for the periods
indicated a summary of the changes in interest earned
and interest paid resulting from changes in volume and
changes in rates:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(dollar references in thousands)
1996 compared to 1995 1995 compared to 1994
Increase / (Decrease) Due to (1) Increase / (Decrease) Due to (1)

Volume Rate Net Volume Rate Net

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Interest Income:
Federal Funds Sold. . . . . . . . $(96) $(64) $(160) $83 $276 $359
Short-term Investments. . . . . . (504) (61) (565) 308 95 403
Taxable Securities. . . . . . . . 564 154 718 88 291 379
Nontaxable Securities (2) . . . . 641 (230) 411 379 (40) 339
Loans and Leases (3). . . . . . .1,131 (362) 769 1,372 2,529 3,901
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----


Total Interest Income . . . . . . .1,736 (563) 1,173 2,230 3,151 5,381
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

Interest Paid:
Savings . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 62 209 77 290 367
Time Deposits . . . . . . . . . . 465 287 752 1,291 1,581 2,872
Federal Funds Purchased
and Securities Sold
Under Agreements to
Repurchase. . . . . . . . . . (57) --- (57) (99) 66 (33)
Demand Notes Issued to
the U.S. Treasury . . . . . . (18) (6) (24) 12 19 31
Notes Payable . . . . . . . . . . (52) --- (52) 53 --- 53
---- --- ---- ---- --- ----

Total Interest Expense. . . . . . . 485 343 828 1,334 1,956 3,290
---- -- --- ----- ----- -----

Net Interest Earnings . . . . . . .$1,251 $(906) $345 $896 $1,195 $2,091
====== ====== ==== ==== ====== ======
</TABLE>



(1) The change in interest due to both rate and volume
has been allocated to volume and rate changes in
proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar
amounts of the change in each.

(2) Change in interest income include the effect of
tax equivalent adjustments using a tax rate of 34
percent for all years presented.

(3) Interest income on loans includes loan fees of
$326, $254, and $253 for 1996, 1995, and 1994,
respectively.
12
The following is a schedule of loans by major
category for each reported period:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31,
(dollar references in thousands)

1996 1995 1994 1993 1992

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Real Estate Loans Secured
by 1-4 Family Residential
Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . $74,818 $68,826 $67,737 $55,225 $47,170
Loans to Finance Poultry
Production and Other Related
Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,266 23,784 25,599 30,505 30,621
Loans to Finance Agricultural
Production and Other Loans
to Farmers. . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,453 27,310 31,959 24,806 23,844
Commercial and Industrial
Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83,491 74,612 67,662 62,321 61,189
Loans to Individuals for
Household, Family and Other
Personal Expenditures . . . . . . . 41,741 34,685 29,248 26,684 24,183
Economic Development
Commission Bonds. . . . . . . . . . 575 608 625 762 1,547
Lease Financings . . . . . . . . . . 580 1,302 1,820 2,323 2,666
------ ------ ------ ------ ------

Total Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . $247,924 $231,127 $224,650 $202,626 $191,220
======== ======== ======== ========= ========
</TABLE>


The following table indicates the amounts of loans
(excluding residential mortgages on 1-4 family
residences, installment loans and lease financing)
outstanding as of December 31, 1996 which, based on
remaining scheduled repayments of principal, are due in
the periods indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Maturing
(dollar references in thousands)
Within After One After
One But Within Five
Year Five Years Years Total
------ ---------- ----- -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Commercial, Financial,
Agricultural, and Poultry . . . . . $51,371 $46,659 $32,755 $130,785




Interest Sensitivity

Fixed Variable
Rate Rate

Loans maturing after
one year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,323 $66,091

</TABLE>
13
The Provision for Loan Losses provides a reserve (the
Allowance for Loan Losses) to which loan losses are
charged as those losses become identifiable. Management
determines the appropriate level of the Allowance for
Loan Losses on a quarterly basis through an independent
review by the Bank's credit review section done by
employees who have no direct lending responsibilities.
Through this review, all commercial loans with
outstanding balances in excess of $25,000 are analyzed
with particular attention paid to those loans which are
considered by management to have an above-average level
of risk. This analysis is evaluated by Senior Management
and serves as the basis for determining the adequacy of
the Allowance for Loan Losses. Through this review
process a specific portion of the reserve is allocated to
impaired loans and to those loans which are considered to
represent significant exposure to risk, and estimated
potential losses are provided based on historic loan loss
experience for consumer loans, residential mortgage
loans, and commercial loans not specifically reviewed.
In addition, a balance of the reserve is unallocated to
provide an allowance for risk, such as concentrations of
credit to specific industry groups, which are difficult
to quantify in an absolute dollar amount.

The following table presents information concerning the
aggregate amount of underperforming assets.
Underperforming loans comprise: (a) loans accounted for
on a nonaccrual basis ("nonaccrual loans"); (b) loans
contractually past due 90 days or more as to interest or
principal payments (but not included in the loans in (a)
above) ("past due loans"); and (c) loans not included
above which are "troubled debt restructuring" as defined
in Statement of Financial Standards No. 15 "FASB 15",
"Accounting by Debtors and Creditors for Troubled Debt
Restructurings" ("restructured loans").

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31,
(dollar references in thousands)

1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Nonaccrual Loans. . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,112 $803 $983 $1,395 $1,693
Past Due Loans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,098 2,683 601 461 665
Restructured Loans. . . . . . . . . . . . --- --- --- --- 6
----- ----- ---- ----- -----
Total Underperforming
Loans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,210 3,486 1,584 1,856 2,364
Other Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 286 497 698 660
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total Underperforming
Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,413 $3,772 $2,081 $2,554 $3,024
====== ====== ====== ====== ======
/TABLE
14

Loans are placed on nonaccrual status when scheduled
principal or interest payments are past due for 90 days
or more, unless the loan is well secured and in the
process of collection. The gross interest income that
would have been recognized in 1996 on underperforming
loans if the loans had been current in accordance with
their original terms is $224. Interest income recognized
on underperforming loans for 1996 was $127.

Statements of Financial Accounting Standards No. 114
and No. 118 were adopted January 1, 1995. These
standards require recognition of loan impairment if a
loan's full principal or interest payments are not
expected to be received. Loans considered to be impaired
are reduced to the present value of expected future cash
flows or to the fair value of collateral, by allocating
a portion of the allowance for loan losses to such loans.
No increase to the allowance for loan losses was required
at January 1, 1995 as a result of the adoption of these
new standards. The total dollar amount of impaired loans
at December 31, 1996 was $3,472,000. For additional
detail on impaired loans, see Note 3 of the consolidated
financial statements included in the Shareholders' Report
(Exhibit 13.4).

At December 31, 1996, the Company had a total of
$8,758,000 of loans on its commercial loan watch list.
Loans may be placed on the watch list as a result of
delinquent status, concern about the borrower's financial
condition or the value of the collateral securing the
loan, substandard classification during regulatory
examinations or simply as a result of management's desire
to monitor more closely a borrower's financial condition
and performance.

It is management's belief that loans classified for
regulatory purposes as loss, doubtful, substandard, or
special mention that are not included in the table and
discussion above, do not represent or result from trends
or uncertainties which will have a material impact on
future operating results, liquidity or capital resources.
At December 31, 1996 there were no material credits not
already disclosed as underperforming, impaired and as
watch list about which management is aware of possible
credit problems of borrowers which causes management to
have serious doubts as to the ability of such borrowers
to comply with the loan repayment terms. This paragraph
15

includes forward-looking statements that are based on
management's assumptions concerning future economic and
business conditions as they affect the local economy in
general and the Company's borrowers in particular, which
economic and business assumptions are inherently
uncertain and subject to risk and may prove to be
invalid. Readers are also cautioned that management
relies upon the truthfulness of statements made by the
borrowers, and that misrepresentation by borrowers is an
inherent risk of the activity of lending money that could
cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate.


At December 31, 1996 loans to finance poultry
operations amounted to $16,266 or 6.6% of total loans.
16
Summary of Loan Loss Experience
(in thousands)

The following table summarizes changes in the allowance
for loan losses arising from loans charged-off and
recoveries on loans previously charged-off, by loan
category, and additions to the allowance which have been
charged to expense.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,

1996 1995 1994 1993 1992

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance of allowance for possible
losses at beginning of period . . . . . . . $5,933 $5,669 $4,935 $3,862 $3,204
Addition of Affiliate Banks . . . . . . . . . --- --- 195 164 ---
Loans charged-off:
Real Estate Loans Secured by 1-4 Family
Residential Properties. . . . . . . . . 11 221 101 --- 96
Loans to Finance Poultry Production
and Other Related Operations. . . . . . . . 286 --- --- --- ---
Loans to Finance Agricultural Production
and Other Loans to Farmers. . . . . . . . . --- --- --- 12 29
Commercial and Industrial Loans . . . . . . . 312 20 99 378 835
Loans to Individuals for Household, Family
and Other Personal Expenditures . . . . . . 163 98 55 53 76
Economic Development Bonds. . . . . . . . . . --- --- --- --- ---
Term Federal Funds Sold . . . . . . . . . . . --- --- --- --- ---
---- ---- ---- ---- ----

Total Loans charged-off . . . . . . . . . . 772 339 255 443 1,036
---- ---- ---- ---- -----

Recoveries of previously charged-off Loans:
Real Estate Loans Secured by 1-4 Family
Residential Properties. . . . . . . . . 14 6 6 14 46
Loans to Finance Poultry Production and
Other Related Operations. . . . . . . . . . 47 --- --- --- ---
Loans to Finance Agricultural Production
and Other Loans to Farmers. . . . . . . . . 78 538 --- 500 132
Commercial and Industrial Loans . . . . . . . 118 53 186 148 504
Loans to Individuals for Household, Family
and Other Personal Expenditures . . . . . . 38 25 35 37 28
Economic Development Commission Bonds . . . . --- --- --- --- ---
Term Federal Funds Sold . . . . . . . . . . . --- --- --- --- ---
---- ---- ---- ---- ----

Total Recoveries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295 622 227 699 710
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Net Loans recovered / (charged-off). . . . . (477) 283 (28) 256 (326)
----- ---- ---- ---- ------
Additions to allowance charged to expense . . 160 (19) 567 653 984
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Balance at end of period. . . . . . . . . . . $5,616 $5,933 $5,669 $4,935 $3,862
====== ====== ===== ===== =====
Ratio of net recoveries / (charge-offs) during
the period to average loans outstanding (.20%) .12% (.01%) 0.13% (.17%)
====== ====== ====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
17

The following table indicates the breakdown of the
allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(dollar references in thousands)
December 31, December 31, December 31,
1996 1995 1994

Allowance Ratio of Allowance Ratio of Allowance Ratio of
Loans to Loans to Loans to
Total Total Total
Loans Loans Loans

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Real Estate Loans . . . . . . . $311 30.18% $202 29.78% $185 30.15%
Poultry Loans . . . . . . . . . 518 6.56% 1,493 10.29% 918 11.40%
Agricultural Loans. . . . . . . 506 12.28% 726 11.82% 944 14.23%
Commercial and
Industrial Loans. . . . . . . 2,019 33.91% 1,976 32.84% 1,101 30.92%
Loans to Individuals. . . . . . 179 16.84% 152 15.01% 146 13.02%
Economic Development
Commission Bonds. . . . . . . --- 0.23% --- 0.26% --- 0.28%
Term Federal Funds
Sold. . . . . . . . . . . . . --- --- --- --- --- --
Unallocated . . . . . . . . . . 2,083 N/A 1,384 N/A 2,375 N/A
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

Totals. . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,616 100.00% $5,933 100.00% $5,669 100.00%
====== ====== ======


(dollar references in thousands)
December 31, December 31,
1993 1992

Allowance Ratio of Allowance Ratio of
Loans to Loans to
Total Total
Loans Loans

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Real Estate Loans . . . . . . . $118 27.25% $29 24.67%
Poultry Loans . . . . . . . . . 65 15.05% 60 16.01%
Agricultural Loans. . . . . . . 872 12.24% 148 12.47%
Commercial and
Industrial Loans . . . . . . 906 31.91% 1,229 33.39%
Loans to Individuals. . . . . . 128 13.17% 116 12.65%
Economic Development
Commission Bonds . . . . . . --- 0.38% --- .81%
Term Federal Funds
Sold . . . . . . . . . . . . --- --- --- ---

Unallocated . . . . . . . . . . 2,846 N/A 2,280 N/A
----- -----

Totals. . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,935 100.00% $3,862 100.00%
====== ======
</TABLE>
18

The average amount of deposits is summarized for the
periods indicated in the following table:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(dollar references in thousands)
December 31,

1996 1995 1994

Average Average Average
Balance Rate Balance Rate Balance Rate

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Demand Deposits
Non-interest Bearing . . . . . $35,971 --- $32,576 --- $30,279 ---
Interest Bearing . . . . . . . 38,711 2.14% 40,134 2.29% 41,009 2.30%
Savings Deposits. . . . . . . . . 58,951 3.17% 52,177 3.01% 48,166 2.45%
Time Deposits . . . . . . . . . . 199,813 5.45% 191,202 5.30% 164,422 4.42%
. ------- ------- -------
Totals . . . . . . . . . . . . $333,446 4.08% $316,089 4.00% $283,876 3.31%
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>



Maturities of time certificates of deposit of $100,000 or
more are summarized as follows:


<TABLE>
(in thousands)
December 31,
1996
<S> <C>
3 months or less $9,613
Over 3 through 6 months 5,609
Over 6 through 12 months 3,961
Over 12 months 8,749
-------
Total $27,932
=======
</TABLE>
19

Return on Equity and Assets

The ratio of net income to average shareholders' equity
and to average total assets, and certain other ratios,
are as follows:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Year Ended December 31,

1996 1995 1994

<S> <C> <C> <C>
Percentage of Net Income to:
Average Shareholders' Equity. . . . . . . . 10.77% 11.68% 10.85%
Average Total Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . 1.08% 1.13% 1.08%
Percentage of Dividends
Declared per Common Share
to Net Income per
Common Share (1). . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.26% 34.55% 35.79%
Percentage of Average
Shareholders' Equity to
Average Total Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . 10.05% 9.65% 9.91%

</TABLE>



(1) Based on historical dividends declared by German
American Bancorp without restatement for pooling.
20

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Form 10-K and future filings made by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as
other filings, reports and press releases made or issued
by the Company and the Banks, and oral statements made by
executive officers of the Company and the Banks, may
include forward-looking statements relating to such
matters as (a) assumptions concerning future economic and
business conditions and their effect on the economy in
general and on the markets in which the Banks do
business, (b) expectations regarding revenues, expenses,
and earnings for the Company and the Banks, (c) the
impact of future or pending acquisitions, (d) deposit and
loan volume, and (e) new products or services. Such
forward-looking statements are based on assumptions
rather than historical or current facts and, therefore,
are inherently uncertain and subject to risk.

To comply with the terms of a "safe harbor" provided
by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
that protects the making of such forward-looking
statements from liability under certain circumstances,
the Company notes that a variety of factors could cause
the actual results or experience to differ materially
from the anticipated results or other expectations
described or implied by such forward-looking statements.
These risks and uncertainties that may affect the
operations, performance, development and results of the
Company's business include but are not limited to, the
following: (a) the risk of adverse changes in business
conditions generally and in specific markets in which the
Banks operate, which might adversely affect credit
quality and deposit and loan activity; (b) the risk of
rapid increases or decreases in interest rates, which
could adversely affect the Company's net interest margin
if changes in its cost of funds do not correspond to the
changes in income yields; (c) possible changes in the
legislative and regulatory environment that might
negatively impact the Company and the Banks through
increased operating expenses or restrictions on
authorized activities; (d) the possibility of increased
competition from other financial and non-financial
institutions; (e) the risk that borrowers may
misrepresent information to management of the Banks,
leading to loan losses, which is an inherent risk of the
activity of lending money; (f) the risk that banks that
the Company may acquire in the future may be subject to
undisclosed asset quality problems, contingent
21

liabilities or other unanticipated problems; and (g)
other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Company and the Banks do not undertake any obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements
subsequent to the date on which they are made.



Item 2. Properties

German American Bank conducts its operations from its
main office building at 711 Main Street, in Jasper,
Indiana. The main office building is owned by German
American and contains approximately 23,600 square feet of
office space. There is no indebtedness on such property
on which German American Bank's main office is located.
German American Bank has seven branches, three of which
are located in Jasper, and one each in the Dubois County
towns of Huntingburg, Ferdinand, Dubois and Ireland. Of
these branch facilities, five are owned by German
American Bank and two are leased.

Peoples operates from its main office in Washington,
Indiana, which contains approximately 22,500 square feet,
and three branch offices, all of which (except for one
leased branch) are owned by Peoples, plus its Union
Banking Division facilities. The office of the Union
Banking Division of Peoples in Loogootee, Indiana,
contains approximately 12,000 square feet of space. The
facility was constructed in 1988 and is owned by Peoples.

Community Bank conducts its operations from three
locations, all of which are owned by Community Bank.
Community Bank's principal banking office is located in
Otwell, Indiana, in a building containing approximately
2,850 square feet.

First State Bank's main office facility, located in
Tell City, Indiana, constructed in 1981, contains
approximately 13,900 square feet. First State has three
branches, two of which are located in Tell City and one
in Rockport, Indiana. Of these branch facilities, two
are owned by First State, with one being leased.
22

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

There are no pending legal proceedings, other than
routine litigation incidental to the business of the
Company's subsidiary banks, of a material nature in
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is involved.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security
Holders.

There was no matter submitted during the fourth
quarter of 1996 to a vote of security holders, by
solicitation of proxies or otherwise.
23
Special Item. Executive Officers of the Registrant.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE TITLE AND FIVE YEAR HISTORY

<S> <C> <C>
George W. Astrike (61) Chairman and CEO of the Company since 1995; Chairman and President / CEO
prior thereto. Chairman of German American Bank since 1995; Chairman and
President prior thereto. Director of each of the other Banks since
acquisition by the Company.

Mark A. Schroeder (43) President / Chief Operating Officer / Chief Financial Officer of the
Company since 1995; Vice President / Chief Financial Officer prior thereto.
Director of each of the other Banks since acquisition by the Company.

Urban Giesler (59) Treasurer and Secretary of the Corporation; Senior Vice President -
Personal Banking of German American Bank since January, 1993; Senior Vice
President - Retail Lending of German American Bank prior thereto.

John M. Gutgsell (41) Vice President and Controller of the Company since 1995; Vice President and
Controller of German American Bank prior thereto.

Stan J. Ruhe (45) Executive Vice President - Credit Administration of the Company since 1995.
Executive Vice President of German American Bank since 1995; Senior Vice
President - Credit Administration prior thereto.

James E. Essany (42) Senior Vice President - Marketing of the Company since 1995; Senior Vice
President - Operations / Administration of German American Bank prior
thereto.

</TABLE>

There are no family relationships between any of the
officers of the Corporation. All officers are elected
for a term of one year.
24
PART II

The information in Part II of this report is
incorporated by reference to the indicated sections of
the Registrant's annual report to shareholders for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 ("Shareholders'
Report").

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and
Related Stockholder Matters.

See "Market and Dividend Information" on page 37 of
the Shareholders' Report which is filed as Exhibit 13.1
to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

See "Five Year Summary of Consolidated Financial
Statements and Related Statistics" on page 1 of the
Shareholders' Report which is filed as Exhibit 13.2 to
this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" on pages
2 through 16 of the Shareholders' Report which is filed
as Exhibit 13.3 to this report and is incorporated
herein by reference.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The financial statements of the Company and related
notes on pages 17 through 35 of the Shareholders'
Report and the Auditors' Report thereon on page 36 of
the Shareholders' Report, which are filed as Exhibit
13.4 to this report, are incorporated herein by
reference.

The Interim Financial Data on page 3 of the
Shareholders' Report, which is included as Table 1 of
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" filed as
Exhibit 13.3 to this report, is incorporated herein by
reference.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

Not Applicable.
25
PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the
Registrant.

Information relating to Directors of the
Corporation will be included under the caption
"Election of Directors" in the Corporation's Proxy
Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be
held on April 24, 1997 which will be filed with the
Commission within 120 days of the end of the fiscal
year covered by this Report (the "1997 Proxy
Statement"), which section is incorporated herein by
reference in partial answer to this Item.

Information relating to Executive Officers of the
Corporation is included under the caption "Executive
Officers of the Registrant" under Part I of this Report
on Form 10-K.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

Information relating to compensation of the
Corporation's Executive Officers and Directors will be
included under the captions "Executive Compensation"
and "Election of Directors -- Compensation of
Directors" in the 1997 Proxy Statement of the
Corporation, which sections are incorporated herein by
reference.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management.

Information relating to security ownership of
certain beneficial owners and management of the
Corporation will be included under the captions
"Election of Directors" and "Principal Owners of Common
Shares" of the 1997 Proxy Statement of the Corporation,
which sections are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions.

Information responsive to this Item 13 will be
included under the captions "Executive Compensation -
Certain Business Relationships and Transactions" and
"Executive Compensation - Compensation Committee
Interlocks and Insider Participation" of the 1997 Proxy
Statement of the Corporation, which sections are
incorporated herein by reference.
26

PART IV

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and
Reports on Form 8-K.

a) The following 1996, 1995, and 1994 consolidated
financial statements of the Corporation, and the
Auditors' Report thereon, included on pages 17 through
36 of the Shareholders' Reports, are incorporated into
Item 8 of this report by reference.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Location in
1. Financial Statements Shareholders' Report

German American Bancorp and Subsidiaries
<S>
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, <C>
1996 and December 31, 1995 Page 17

Consolidated Statements of Income, years
ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994 Page 18

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, years
ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994 Page 19

Consolidated Statements of Changes in
Shareholders' Equity, years ended
December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994 Page 20

Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements Pages 21 - 35

Independent Auditors' Report Page 36
</TABLE>

2. Other financial statements and schedules are
omitted because they are not required or because the
required information is included in the consolidated
financial statements or related notes.

b) Reports on Form 8-K

No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the three
months ended December 31, 1996.

c) Exhibits:

The Exhibits described in the Exhibit List
immediately following the "Signatures" page of this
report (which is incorporated herein by reference) are
hereby filed as part of this report.
27

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has
duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP
(Registrant)

Date: March 15, 1997 By/s/George W. Astrike
George W. Astrike,
Chairman of the Board


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below
by the following persons on behalf of the registrant
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION
<S> <C> <C>
Date: March 15, 1997 By/s/George W. Astrike
George W. Astrike,
Chairman of the
Board and Director (Chief
Executive Officer)

Date: March 15, 1997 By/s/Mark A. Schroeder
Mark A. Schroeder,
President and Director
(Principal Financial
Officer)

Date: March 15, 1997 By/s/David G. Buehler
David G. Buehler, Director

Date: March ___, 1997 By
Michael B. Lett, Director

Date: March 15, 1997 By/s/Gene C. Mehne
Gene C. Mehne, Director

Date: March 15, 1997 By/s/Robert L. Ruckriegel
Robert L. Ruckriegel,
Director

Date: March 15, 1997 By/s/William R. Hoffman
William R. Hoffman,
Director
28

Date: March 15, 1997 By/s/Joseph F. Steurer
Joseph F. Steurer,
Director

Date: March __, 1997 By
A. Wayne (Skip) Place Jr.,
Director

Date: March __, 1997 By
Larry J. Seger, Director

Date: March 15, 1997 By/s/John M. Gutgsell
John M. Gutgsell,
Controller (Principal
Accounting Officer)
</TABLE>
29
EXHIBIT LIST

<TABLE>
Executive
Compensation
Plans and Exhibit
Arrangements* Number Description of Exhibit
<S> <C> <C>
3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
Registrant as amended April 24, 1995, are
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1995.

3.2 Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended
August 14, 1990, are incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant's Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.

10.1 Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and
among Peoples Bancorp of Washington, the
Registrant, and certain affiliates, dated
September 27, 1996, is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 2 to the Registrant's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1996.

10.2 Sublease entered by and between Buehler
Foods, Inc. and The German American Bank
dated January 2, 1987 (Huntingburg Banking
Center Branch) is incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed
February 28, 1994 (No. 33-75762).

10.3 Sublease entered by and between Buehler
Foods, Inc. and the Bank dated August 1, 1990
(The Crossing Shopping Center Branch) is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of
the Registrant's Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1990.
30
10.4 Letter dated January 5, 1995 from the German
American Bank to Buehler Foods, Inc.
notifying Buehler Foods, Inc. of exercise of
renewal option on The Crossing Shopping
Center Branch is incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.4 of the Registrant's Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1994.

X 10.5 The Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan is
incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1
to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form S-4 filed January 21, 1993 (No. 33-
55170) (the "Unibancorp S-4")

X 10.6 Schedule identifying material terms of
options (including replacement options)
granted to the Registrant's executive
officers under the Registrant's 1992 Stock
Option Plan.

X 10.7 Executive Deferred Compensation Agreement
dated December 1, 1992, between The German
American Bank and George W. Astrike, is
incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit
10.3 to the Unibancorp S-4.

X 10.8 Director Deferred Compensation Agreement
between The German American Bank and certain
of its Directors, is incorporated herein by
reference from Exhibit 10.4 to the Unibancorp
S-4. (The Agreement entered into by George
W. Astrike, a copy of which was filed as
Exhibit 10.4 to the Unibancorp S-4, is
substantially identical to the Agreements
entered into by the other Directors.) The
schedule following Exhibit 10.4 to the
Unibancorp S-4 lists the Agreements with the
other Directors and sets forth the material
detail in which such Agreements differ from
the Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the
Unibancorp S-4.
31
10.9 Sublease entered by and between Buehler
Foods, Inc. and First State Bank, dated July
25, 1996 (Tell City Branch).

11 Computation of Earnings Per Share.

13.1 Market and Dividend Information (page 37 of
Registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders
for the year ended December 31, 1996).

13.2 Five Year Summary of Consolidated Financial
Statements and Related Statistics (page 1 of
Registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders
for the year ended December 31, 1996).

13.3 Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
(pages 2 through 16 of Registrant's Annual
Report to Shareholders for the year ended
December 31, 1996).

13.4 Consolidated financial statements and related
notes (pages 17 through 35 of Registrant's
Annual Report to Shareholders for the year
ended December 31, 1996), and Auditors'
Report (page 36 of Registrant's Annual Report
to Shareholders for the year ended December
31, 1996).

21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

23 Consent of Crowe Chizek and Company LLP.

27 Financial Data Schedule.

</TABLE>

*Exhibits that describe or evidence all management contracts or
compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as exhibits to this
Report are indicated by an "X" in this column.