BankUnited, National Association vs First Merchants Bank

As of Q1 2026, BankUnited, National Association carries a larger commercial real estate loan book than First Merchants Bank, roughly 1.6× the size — $8.6B versus $5.4B. CRE book size is one gauge of how much lending capacity a bank is actively deploying, though a bigger book is not automatically better for a borrower; what matters is whether the bank is still growing that book and how concentrated it has become.

Their trajectories diverge: First Merchants Bank is growing its CRE book (24.3% quarter over quarter) while BankUnited, National Association is contracting (0.7%). For a borrower weighing the two, the expanding lender is the more likely to be competing for new business right now.

Neither bank has run past the 300% CRE concentration guideline — BankUnited, National Association is at 197% and First Merchants Bank at 181%. Banks well below the guideline typically have more room to keep adding commercial real estate loans, which tends to mean more competitive pricing and terms for borrowers.

BankUnited, National Association carries a higher nonaccrual CRE ratio (1% of its CRE book, versus 1% at the other). Rising nonaccruals consume management attention and provisions and often precede tighter credit standards — a useful caution flag when comparing the two as a potential lender.

County recorded documents show both lenders actively closing commercial loans — 1 recent for BankUnited, National Association and 3 for First Merchants Bank. First Merchants Bank shows the heavier recent activity in the records we track. Filed deeds of trust are the ground truth of a closed, secured loan, so a presence here confirms the bank is writing business, not just quoting it.

The short version: BankUnited, National Association runs the larger CRE book. The right lender for any specific deal still depends on property type, sponsorship, and the current terms each is quoting — the table above and each bank's full profile carry the detail.