8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 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): February 27, 2017

 Mercantile Bank Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Michigan	000-26719	38-3360865
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission File	(IRS Employer
of incorporation)	Number)	Identification Number)
310 Leonard Street NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan		49504
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code		616-406-3000

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐  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 8.01     Other Events.

On February 27, 2017, Mercantile Bank Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that Mercantile Bank of Michigan, its banking subsidiary, is expanding its operating area into Southeast Michigan by opening a commercial loan office in Troy, Michigan.

The press release issued is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated into this Item 8.01 by reference.

Item 9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press release of Mercantile Bank Corporation dated February 27, 2017

Signatures

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

Mercantile Bank Corporation
By:	/s/ Charles E. Christmas
	Charles E. Christmas
	Executive Vice President, Chief
	Financial Officer and Treasurer

Date: February 27, 2017

2 

Exhibit Index

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press release of Mercantile Bank Corporation dated February 27, 2017

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Mercantile Bank To Open Southeast Michigan Office

Violet Gintsis named Community Bank President to lead experienced team based in Oakland County

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., February 27, 2017 – Mercantile Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: MBWM) announced today that its banking subsidiary, Mercantile Bank of Michigan (“Mercantile Bank”), is expanding its operating area into Southeast Michigan by opening a commercial loan office in Troy, Michigan.

“This is a great opportunity for Mercantile to bring our brand of customer-relationship focused banking to a new and growing market,” said Robert Kaminski, CEO of Mercantile Bank. “We are fortunate to have brought Violet Gintsis on board who will lead an experienced banking team to develop commercial relationships in the Southeast Michigan market area. Violet and her team bring decades of experience in the greater Detroit market, and we look forward to their success as part of Mercantile. In addition, we are working to expand our commercial lending operations to include a full service branch at this Troy location in the near future.”

The new Mercantile Bank office will be located at 1700 Big Beaver Road in Troy.

Gintsis brings over 35 years of commercial banking experience to Mercantile Bank, all in the Southeast Michigan market area. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the Mercantile team, particularly in light of the company’s commitment to relationship banking,” said Gintsis. “I expect Mercantile Bank’s emphasis on quality, service and support will be well received in the Southeast Michigan area.”

“We are excited to expand into the Southeast Michigan marketplace,” Kaminski continued. “The greater Detroit area is a logical extension of Mercantile’s current service area, and we are encouraged by the strength of the region’s economy and business environment. Starting with our initial team of experienced commercial lenders, we believe we will have the opportunity to grow over time and hire additional staff as we deploy the same kind of strong, relationship-based banking philosophy that has been successful for us in our other markets.”

Founded in 1997, Mercantile Bank has grown to be known as Michigan’s premier community bank, and employs many of the most talented and seasoned professionals in their markets across the state. The organization, committed to relationship banking, recognizes that personal connections with customers, communities, vendors and the environment are essential to remain exceptional. As the third largest Michigan-domiciled bank, Mercantile Bank is large enough to bring considerable capacity for customers’ needs, yet its community banking culture keeps the company small enough to focus on the best results for customers.

About Mercantile Bank Corporation

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mercantile Bank Corporation is the bank holding company for Mercantile Bank of Michigan. Mercantile provides banking services to businesses, individuals and governmental units, and differentiates itself on the basis of service quality and the expertise of its banking staff. Mercantile has assets of approximately $3.0 billion and operates 48 banking offices serving communities primarily in central and western Michigan. Mercantile Bank Corporation's common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MBWM.”

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains comments or information that constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that are based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results expressed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include changes in interest rates and interest rate relationships; demand for products and services; the degree of competition by traditional and nontraditional competitors; changes in banking regulation or actions by bank regulators; changes in tax laws; changes in prices, levies, and assessments; the impact of technological advances; governmental and regulatory policy changes; the outcomes of contingencies; trends in customer behavior as well as their ability to repay loans; changes in local real estate values; changes in the national and local economies; and other factors, including risk factors, disclosed from time to time in filings made by Mercantile with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Mercantile undertakes no obligation to update or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

AT MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION:

Robert B. Kaminski, Jr.	Charles Christmas
President & CEO	Executive Vice President & CFO
616-726-1502	616-726-1202
rkaminski@mercbank.com	cchristmas@mercbank.com