Note 5 - Deposits (Details Textual) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Deposits, Total	$ 2,540,053,000	$ 2,522,365,000
Increase (Decrease) in Deposits, Total	$ 17,700,000
Aggregate Increase (Decrease) in Percentage of Deposits	0.70%
Time Deposits, at or Above FDIC Insurance Limit	$ 252,000,000	$ 266,000,000

The percentage of increase or (decrease) during the period in deposit liabilities.

No definition available.

Name:	mbwm_AggregateIncreaseDecreaseInPercentageOfDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	mbwm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate of all deposit liabilities held by the entity, including foreign and domestic, interest and noninterest bearing; may include demand deposits, saving deposits, Negotiable Order of Withdrawal (NOW) and time deposits among others.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Deposits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The net cash inflow or outflow for the increase (decrease) in the beginning and end of period deposits balances.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3095-108585

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 230
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6477933&loc=d3e60009-112784

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of time deposit liabilities, including certificates of deposit, in denominations that meet or exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance limit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 405
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50488274&loc=d3e64164-112818

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositsAtOrAboveFDICInsuranceLimit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant