UNITED STATES
                     SECURITIES AND EXHCANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  FORM 8-K

                         CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO
                         SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                       SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

              Date of report(Date of earliest event reported):
                             SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

                     FIRST MID-ILLINOIS BANCSHARES, INC.
           (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                                  DELAWARE
               (State of Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

                     0-13368                       37-1103704
             (Commission File Number)            (IRS Employer
                                               Identification No.)

              1515 CHARLESTON AVENUE
                     MATTOON, IL                     61938
              (Address of Principal                (Zip Code)
                Executive Offices)

             Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                               (217) 234-7454

                               NOT APPLICABLE
        (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)


   Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
   simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under
   any of the following provisions:

   [ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
        Act (17 CFR 230.425)

   [ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
        Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

   [ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
        the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

   [ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
        the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



   ITEM 1.01. ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

   On September 22, 2009, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of First
   Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. (the "Corporation") declared a dividend
   distribution of one right (each a "Right") for each outstanding share
   of the common stock, par value $4.00 per share, of the Corporation
   ("Common Stock") to stockholders of record at the close of business on
   October 16, 2009 (the "Record Date"). Each Right will entitle the
   registered holder to purchase from the Corporation one share of Common
   Stock at an exercise price of $75.00, subject to adjustment (as
   adjusted from time to time, the "Purchase Price"). The description and
   terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated as of
   September 22, 2009 (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Corporation
   and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent.  The
   Corporation previously entered into that certain Rights Agreement,
   dated as of September 21, 1999, between the Corporation and Harris
   Trust and Savings Bank, as Rights Agent, which expired by its terms at
   the close of business on September 21, 2009.

        Initially following the Record Date, the Rights will be attached
   to all certificates representing shares of Common Stock then
   outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates (as defined in the
   Rights Agreement) will be distributed. Unless previously redeemed by
   the Board in accordance with the Rights Agreement, the Rights will
   separate from the Common Stock and a "Distribution Date" will occur
   upon the earlier of (i) 20 days following the Stock Acquisition Date
   (as defined below) or (ii) 20 days (or such later date as the Board
   shall determine, provided that no deferral of such date may be made by
   the Board at any time during the Special Period (as defined below))
   after the date a tender or exchange offer that would result in a
   person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding
   shares of Common Stock is first published, sent or given to the
   Corporation's stockholders.  The "Special Period" is defined as the
   180-day period following the effectiveness of any election of
   directors, occurring after a public announcement (and prior to the
   withdrawal or abandonment of such announcement) by a third party of an
   intent or proposal to engage (without the current and continuing
   concurrence of the Board) in a transaction involving an acquisition of
   or business combination with the Corporation or otherwise to become an
   Acquiring Person (as defined below), which election results in a
   majority of the Board being comprised of persons who were not
   nominated by the Board in office immediately prior to such election.

        The "Stock Acquisition Date" is defined as the earlier of (x) the
   first date of public announcement by the Corporation that any person
   or group (other than certain exempt persons or groups) has acquired,
   or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more
   of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding or (y) the date that
   any person enters into an agreement with the Corporation or any of its
   subsidiaries providing for an Acquisition Transaction (as defined
   below) (any person described in clause (x) or clause (y) above is
   referred to as an "Acquiring Person").  None of Margaret Lumpkin Keon,
   Mary Lumpkin Sparks and Richard Anthony Lumpkin or any of their
   respective spouses or descendants or certain related trusts or other



   entities (or a group comprised solely of such persons) will be deemed
   to be an Acquiring Person as long as all such persons beneficially own
   less than 40.1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.  An
   "Acquisition Transaction" is defined as (a) a merger, consolidation or
   similar transaction as a result of which stockholders of the
   Corporation will own less than 60% of the outstanding shares of Common
   Stock or the common stock of a publicly traded entity which controls
   the Corporation or into which the Corporation has been merged or
   otherwise combined (based solely on the shares of Common Stock
   received by such stockholders, in their capacity as stockholders of
   the Corporation, pursuant to such transactions), (b) a purchase or
   other acquisition of all or a substantial portion of the assets of the
   Corporation and its subsidiaries, or (c) a purchase or other
   acquisition of securities representing 15% or more of the shares of
   Common Stock then outstanding.

        Following the Record Date and until the Distribution Date, (i)
   the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates and will
   be transferred only with such Common Stock certificates, (ii) new
   Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date will contain a
   notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the
   surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common Stock outstanding
   will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
   Common Stock represented by such certificate.

        The Rights will not be exercisable until the Distribution Date
   and will expire at the close of business on September 22, 2019, unless
   earlier redeemed by the Corporation as described below.

        As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
   Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock
   as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter,
   the separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights.
   Except as otherwise determined by the Board, only shares of Common
   Stock issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with
   Rights.

        In the event (a "Flip-in Event") that any person, at any time
   after the date of the Rights Agreement, becomes an Acquiring Person,
   each holder of a Right thereafter will have the right to receive, upon
   exercise thereof, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash,
   property or other securities of the Corporation) having a value equal
   to two times the Purchase Price. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing,
   following the occurrence of a Flip-in Event, all Rights that are, or
   (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were,
   beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person, any of its associates or
   affiliates, and certain of its transferees, will be null and void.
   Moreover, the Rights will not be exercisable following the first
   occurrence of a Flip-in Event until such time as the Rights are no
   longer redeemable by the Corporation as described below.

        In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
   Date, (i) the Corporation is acquired in a merger or other business
   combination transaction, or (ii) 50% or more of the Corporation's



   assets or earning power is sold or transferred (each, a "Flip-over
   Event"), each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have
   been voided as described above) shall thereafter have the right to
   receive, upon exercise thereof, common stock or other securities of
   the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the Purchase
   Price.

        The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Common
   Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the
   Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with
   customary anti-dilution provisions.

        With certain exceptions, no adjustment to the Purchase Price will
   be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the
   Purchase Price. No fractional shares will be issued.  Instead, a cash
   payment will be made in lieu of fractional shares based on the market
   price of the Common Stock on the most recent trading day during which
   a trade occurred prior to the date of exercise.

        At any time after the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock,
   the Board may exchange the unexercised Rights (other than Rights owned
   by any Acquiring Person which have become void), in whole or in part,
   at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right (subject
   to adjustment). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such exchange of the
   Rights may be authorized by the Board during the Special Period or at
   any time when the Rights are not redeemable.

        The Board is empowered to redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
   part, at a price of $0.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price") at any
   time before the earlier of (i) the close of business on the 20th day
   following the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the final expiration date
   of the Rights.  Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering
   redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right
   of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that after a public
   announcement (and prior to the withdrawal or abandonment of such
   announcement) by a third party of an intent or proposal to engage
   (without the current and continuing concurrence of the Board) in a
   transaction involving an acquisition of or business combination with
   the Corporation or otherwise to become an Acquiring Person, there is
   an election of directors (whether at one or more stockholder meetings
   and/or pursuant to written stockholder consents) resulting in a
   majority of the Board being comprised of persons who were not
   nominated by the Board in office immediately prior to such election,
   then following the Special Period, the Rights, if otherwise then
   redeemable, will only be redeemable by the Board either (1) if the
   Board has followed certain prescribed procedures or (2) in any other
   case, provided that, if in any such other case the Board's decision
   regarding redemption and any acquisition or business combination is
   challenged as a breach of fiduciary duty of care or loyalty, the
   directors can establish the entire fairness of such decision without
   the benefit of any business judgment rule or other presumption.  The
   procedures required under clause (1) include: (a) the retention of an



   independent financial advisor, and the receipt by the Board of (i) the
   views of such advisor regarding whether redemption of the Rights will
   serve the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders, or
   (ii) such advisor's statement that it is unable to express such a
   view, setting forth the reason therefor; and (b) with respect to any
   pending acquisition or business combination proposal, (i) the
   implementation by the Board, with the advice of its independent
   financial advisor, of a process and procedures which the Board and
   such advisor conclude would be most likely to result in the best value
   reasonably available to stockholders, (ii) receipt of a fairness
   opinion from such advisor, and the Board determining, and such advisor
   confirming, that it has no reason to believe that a superior
   transaction is reasonably available, and (iii) execution of a
   definitive transaction agreement.

        Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will
   have no rights as a stockholder of the Corporation, including, without
   limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.  While the
   distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to
   the Corporation, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances,
   recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
   exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) or for common
   stock of an acquiring company as set forth above.

        The Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board without the
   approval of any holders of Rights (a) prior to the Distribution Date,
   in any manner and (b) after the Distribution Date, in order to (i)
   cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement provisions which may be
   defective or inconsistent, (iii) make changes which do not adversely
   affect the interests of holders of Rights (other than those held by an
   Acquiring Person or certain related persons) or (iv) shorten or
   lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement (including the
   time period governing redemption), provided that no supplement or
   amendment to the Rights Agreement may be made during the Special
   Period or at any time when the Rights are nonredeemable other than
   supplements or amendments of the type contemplated by clause (i) or
   (ii) above.

        The Rights may have certain anti-takeover effects.  The Rights
   will cause a substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts
   to acquire the Corporation unless the acquisition is conditioned on a
   substantial number of Rights being acquired.  The Rights should not
   interfere with any merger or other business combination properly
   approved by the Board.

        The Rights Agreement is filed hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and is
   incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing summary description of
   the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
   entirety by reference to the full text of the Rights Agreement.





   ITEM 3.03.     MATERIAL MODIFICATION TO RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

        See the information set forth under Item 1.01 of this report
   which is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

   ITEM 9.01.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

   (d)  Exhibits.


        4.1  Rights Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2009, between
             First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. and Computershare Trust
             Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to
             Exhibit 4.1 to First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc.'s
             Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities
             and Exchange Commission on September 24, 2009).



                                  SIGNATURE
                                  ---------

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
   1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be
   signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                      FIRST MID-ILLINOIS BANCSHARES, INC.


   Dated:  September 24, 2009         By: /s/ William S. Rowland
                                          ------------------------------
                                      Name:  William S. Rowland
                                      Title: President and Chief
                                               Executive Officer



                                EXHIBIT INDEX
                                -------------


   EXHIBIT NO.    DESCRIPTION
   -----------    -----------

       4.1        Rights Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2009,
                  between First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. and
                  Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent
                  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to First Mid-
                  Illinois Bancshares, Inc.'s Registration Statement on
                  Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange
                  Commission on September 24, 2009).