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<P id=PARA1 style="TEXT-ALIGN: right; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Registration No. 333--_______</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: right; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA3 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA4 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA5 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA6 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>FORM S-8</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA7 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA8 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA9 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">_________________</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA10 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Mercantile Bank Corporation</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA11 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA234 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;<B>Michigan</B></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 50%">
<P id=PARA235 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;<B>38-3360865</B></P></TD></TR>
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<TD>
<P id=PARA236 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;(State or other jurisdiction of of incorporation or organization) </P></TD>
<TD>
<P id=PARA237 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P id=PARA12 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"></FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA15 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>310 Leonard Street NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49504</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA16 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Zip Code)</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA17 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA18 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Mercantile Bank Corporation </B><B>Stock Incentive Plan of 2016</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA19 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(Full title of the plan)</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA20 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA21 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Charles E. Christmas</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA22 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Mercantile Bank Corporation</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA23 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>310 Leonard Street NW, </B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA24 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA25 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(Name and address of agent for service)</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA26 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA27 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>(616) 406-3000</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA28 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA29 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA30 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Copies of Communications to:</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA31 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Bradley J. Wyatt</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA32 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Dickinson Wright PLLC</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA33 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>350 S. Main Street, Suite 300</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA34 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA35 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA36 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer&#8221; and &#8220;smaller reporting company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA37 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
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<TD style="WIDTH: 65.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">
<P id=PARA38 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Large accelerated filer &#9744;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 34.2%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">
<P id=PARA39 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Accelerated filer &#9746;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<TD style="WIDTH: 65.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">
<P id=PARA40 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Non-accelerated filer &#9744;</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"> (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 34.2%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">
<P id=PARA41 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Smaller reporting company &#9744;</FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P id=PARA43 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA44 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B></FONT></P>
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<TD style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; WIDTH: 19%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA45 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Title of securities</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA46 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">to be registered</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid; WIDTH: 16%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA47 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Amount to be</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA48 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">registered (1)</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; WIDTH: 24%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA49 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Proposed maximum</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA50 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">offering price per share(2)</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid; WIDTH: 24%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA51 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Proposed maximum aggregate</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA52 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">offering price (2)</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; WIDTH: 17%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA53 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Amount of</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA54 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">registration fee</FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; WIDTH: 19%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA55 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Common Stock</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 16%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA56 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">500,000 Shares</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; WIDTH: 24%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA57 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">$24.77</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 24%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA58 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">$12,385,000</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; WIDTH: 17%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA59 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">$1,247.17</FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P id=PARA61 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA62 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Plus an indeterminate number of additional shares which may be required to be issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA63 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Estimated pursuant to rule 457(h) and (c) solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee, based upon the average of the high and low prices of the common stock on June 2, 2016, as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA64.1 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
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<DIV id=PGHDR64  style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>
<P id=PARA64.2 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA66 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>PART I</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA67 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA68 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA69 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Item 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Plan Information.*</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA70 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA72 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA73 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Item 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.*</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA74 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA75 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>*</B>As permitted by Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this registration statement omits the information specified in Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants in the plans covered by this registration statement as required by Rule 428(b). Such documents are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA76 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA77 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA78 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>PART II</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA79 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA80 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA81 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA82 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Item 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA83 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA84 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Mercantile Bank Corporation (&#8220;Mercantile&#8221;) incorporates by reference in this registration statement the following documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"):</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA85 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA86 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mercantile&#39;s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA87 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA88 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All other reports filed by Mercantile pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the annual report referred to in paragraph 1 above.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA89 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA90 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The description of Mercantile&#39;s common stock in Item 1 of Mercantile&#39;s amended Form 8-A registration statement dated November 23, 2005, filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act on November 23, 2005, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating the description. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA91 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA92 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">All documents subsequently filed with the Commission by Mercantile pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated in this registration statement by reference and to be a part of this registration statement from the date of filing of such documents.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA93 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
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<DIV id=PGNUM238  style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">1</DIV>
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<P id=PARA238.2 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA94 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Any statements contained in this registration statement or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained in this registration statement or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA95 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA96 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Item 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Description of Securities.</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA97 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA98 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Not Applicable.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA99 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA100 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Item 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA101 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA102 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Not Applicable. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA103 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA104 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Item 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA105 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA106 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><I>Indemnification</I></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA107 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA108 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Sections 561-571 of the Michigan Business Corporation Act, as amended, grant Mercantile broad powers to indemnify any person in connection with legal proceedings brought against that person by reason of their present or past status as an officer or director of Mercantile, provided that the person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to Mercantile&#39;s best interests, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The Michigan Business Corporation Act also gives Mercantile broad powers to indemnify defined persons against expenses and reasonable settlement payments in connection with any action by or in the right of Mercantile, provided the person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to Mercantile&#39;s best interests, except that no indemnification may be made if that person is adjudged to be liable to Mercantile unless and only to the extent the court in which that action was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for reasonable expenses as the court deems proper. In addition, to the extent that any specified person is successful in the defense of any defined legal proceeding, Mercantile is required by the Michigan Business Corporation Act to indemnify him or her against expenses, including attorneys&#39; fees, that are actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the proceeding. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA109 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA110 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Mercantile&#39;s Articles of Incorporation provide that it shall indemnify its present and past directors, officers, and such other persons as the Board of Directors may authorize to the full extent permitted by law. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA111 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA112 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Mercantile&#39;s Bylaws contain indemnification provisions concerning third party actions as well as actions in the right of Mercantile. The Bylaws provide that Mercantile shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of Mercantile) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of Mercantile or while serving as such a director or officer, is or was serving at the request of Mercantile as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, whether for profit or not, against expenses (including attorney&#39;s fees), judgments, penalties, fees and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Mercantile or its shareholders and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA113 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA239.1 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA239.2 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA114 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation regulations impose limitations on indemnification payments which could restrict, in certain circumstances, payments by Mercantile or its bank subsidiaries to their respective directors or officers otherwise permitted under the Michigan Business Corporation Act or the Michigan Banking Code. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA115 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA116 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">With respect to derivative actions, the Bylaws provide that Mercantile shall indemnify any person who was or is a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of Mercantile to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of Mercantile, or while serving as such a director or officer, is or was serving at the request of Mercantile as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, whether for profit or not, against expenses (including attorney&#39;s fees) and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Mercantile or its shareholders. No indemnification is provided in the Bylaws in respect of any claim, issue or matter in which such person has been found liable to Mercantile except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA117 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA118 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Mercantile pursuant to the provisions discussed above or otherwise, Mercantile has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA119 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA120 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">The Michigan Business Corporation Act permits Mercantile to purchase insurance on behalf of its directors and officers against liability arising out of their positions with Mercantile (or positions held with another entity at the request of Mercantile), whether or not the liabilities would be within the indemnification provisions described above. Under an insurance policy maintained by Mercantile, its directors and officers are insured within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policy, against specified expenses in connection with the defense of specified claims, actions, suits or proceedings, and specified liabilities which might be imposed as a result of claims, actions, suits or proceedings, which may be brought against them by reason of being or having been directors and officers of Mercantile.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA121 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA122 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><I>Limitation of Director Liability </I></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA123 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA124 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Section 209(1)(c) of the Michigan Business Corporation Act permits corporations to limit the personal liability of their directors in certain circumstances. However, under the Michigan Business Corporation Act, a corporation may not eliminate or limit a director&#39;s liability to the corporation or its shareholders for money damages for any action taken or any failure to take any action as a director for any of the following: (1) the amount of a financial benefit received by a director to which he or she is not entitled; (2) intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or its shareholders; (3) a violation of Section 551 of the Michigan Business Corporation Act; and (4) an intentional criminal act. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA125 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA240.1 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
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<DIV id=PGNUM240  style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">3</DIV>
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<DIV id=PGHDR240  style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>
<P id=PARA240.2 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA126 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Mercantile&#39;s Articles of Incorporation provide that its directors shall not be personally liable to it or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty, except for liability (1) for any breach of the director&#39;s duty of loyalty to Mercantile or its shareholders; (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (3) for a violation of Section 551(1) of the Michigan Business Corporation Act; or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived any improper personal benefit. Under the Michigan Business Corporation Act, if prior to October 24, 1997 the articles of incorporation of a corporation contained a provision which, subject to exceptions, eliminated liability of a director as Mercantile&#39;s does, that provision is considered to eliminate liability of a director to the extent permitted in Section 209(1)(c) of the Michigan Business Corporation Act. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA127 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA128 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Pursuant to Mercantile&#39;s Articles of Incorporation, if the Michigan Business Corporation Act is amended after the date of the Articles of Incorporation to authorize corporate action eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of Mercantile shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Michigan Business Corporation Act, as so amended.</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA130 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA131 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA132 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Item 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exemption from Registration Claimed.</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA133 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA134 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Not Applicable</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA136 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA137 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA138 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Item 8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibits.</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA139 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA140 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">The following exhibits are filed with this registration statement:</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA141 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA142 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Exhibit<BR><U>Number</U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>Exhibit</U></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA143 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA144 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">4.(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Article III of Mercantile&#8217;s Articles of Incorporation is incorporated by reference&nbsp;to Exhibit 3.1 of its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA145 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA146 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">4.(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mercantile Bank Corporation Stock Incentive Plan of 2016 </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA147 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA150 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Opinion of Counsel, Dickinson Wright PLLC</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA151 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA152 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">23.(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Consent of BDO USA, LLP</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA153 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA154 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">23.(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Consent of Dickinson Wright PLLC is included in exhibit 5</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA155 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA156 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">24&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Power of Attorney is included on the signature pages of the registration statement</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA157 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA158 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
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<DIV id=PGNUM241  style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">4</DIV>
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<P id=PARA159 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Item 9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Undertakings.</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA160 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA161 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA162 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA163 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA164 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA165 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 54pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA166 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 54pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA167 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 54pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), if in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA168 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 54pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA169 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 54pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA170 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA171 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA172 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA173 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA174 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA175 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant&#39;s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#39;s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA176 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA177 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA178 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
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<DIV id=PGNUM242  style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">5</DIV>
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<P id=PARA180 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>SIGNATURES</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA181 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA182 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>The Registrant.</B> Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Grand Rapids, State of Michigan on June 6, 2016.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA183 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA243.2 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Mercantile Bank Corporation</FONT></P></TD>
<TD vAlign=top width="12%">
<P id=PARA243.3 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<TD vAlign=top width="50%">
<P id=PARA243.8 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD vAlign=top width="3%">
<P id=PARA243.9 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD vAlign=bottom width="35%" noWrap align=left>
<P id=PARA243.10 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD vAlign=top width="12%">
<P id=PARA243.11 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" vAlign=top width="50%" align=left>
<P id=PARA243.12 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" vAlign=top width="3%">
<P id=PARA243.13 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">By: </FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" vAlign=top width="35%" noWrap align=left>
<P id=PARA243.14 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">/s/&nbsp;Charles E. Christmas</FONT></P></TD>
<TD vAlign=top width="12%">
<P id=PARA243.15 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<TD vAlign=top width="50%">
<P id=PARA243.16 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD vAlign=top width="3%">
<P id=PARA243.17 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD vAlign=top width="35%">
<P id=PARA243.18 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"></FONT>Charles E. Christmas, Executive Vice President, </P></TD>
<TD vAlign=top width="12%">
<P id=PARA243.19 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<TD vAlign=top width="50%">
<P id=PARA243.20 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD vAlign=top width="3%">
<P id=PARA243.21 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA243.22 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</FONT></P></TD>
<TD vAlign=top width="12%">
<P id=PARA243.23 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P id=PARA184 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 216pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA189 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 234pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA190 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Michael H. Price, Robert B. Kaminski, Jr. and Charles E. Christmas, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him or her, and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA191 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA192 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on June 6, 2016.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA193 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA194 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">/s/ Michael H. Price<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"></FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA196 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">/s/ David Cassard<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"></FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
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<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">Michael H. Price, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer), Chairman of the Board of Directors </TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">David Cassard, Director </TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA198 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">/s/ Jeff A. Gardner</P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA200 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">/s/ Edward B. Grant</P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">Jeff A. Gardner, Director </TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">Edward B. Grant, Director </TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
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<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
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<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA202 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">/s/ Edward J. Clark</P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA204 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">/s/ Thomas R. Sullivan</P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">Edward J. Clark, Director</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">Thomas R. Sullivan, Director</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA206 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">/s/ Charles E. Christmas</P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp; </TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
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<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">Charles E. Christmas, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal accounting officer)</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 35%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 15%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>
<P id=PARA208 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA209 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B></B></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
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<DIV id=PGNUM244  style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">6</DIV>
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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B></FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA245 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">Exhibit</P>
<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt"><U>Number</U></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 7%">
<P id=PARA246 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></TD>
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<P id=PARA247 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><U>Exhibit</U></P></TD></TR>
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<TD style="WIDTH: 7%">
<P id=PARA249 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 73%">
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<TD style="WIDTH: 20%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">
<P id=PARA251 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;4.(a)</P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 7%">
<P id=PARA252 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 73%">
<P id=PARA253 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">Article III of Mercantile&#8217;s Articles of Incorporation is&nbsp;incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of its Form 10-Q&nbsp;for the quarter ended June 30, 2009</P></TD></TR>
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<TD style="WIDTH: 20%">
<P id=PARA254 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 7%">
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<P id=PARA257 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;4.(b)&nbsp;</P></TD>
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<P id=PARA258 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></TD>
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<P id=PARA259 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">Mercantile Bank Corporation Stock Incentive Plan of 2016 </P></TD></TR>
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<P id=PARA260 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></TD>
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<P id=PARA263 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;5</P></TD>
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<P id=PARA265 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">Opinion of Counsel, Dickinson Wright PLLC</P></TD></TR>
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<P id=PARA266 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></TD>
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<P id=PARA269 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;23.(a)</P></TD>
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<P id=PARA270 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></TD>
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<P id=PARA271 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">Consent of BDO USA, LLP</P></TD></TR>
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<P id=PARA272 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></TD>
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<TD style="WIDTH: 20%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp; 23.(b)&nbsp;</TD>
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<TD style="WIDTH: 73%">Consent of Dickinson Wright PLLC is included in exhibit 5</TD></TR>
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<TD style="WIDTH: 20%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">24&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 7%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 73%">Power of Attorney is included on the signature pages of the </FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">registration statement</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
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mbwm20160603_s8.htm
Registration No. 333--_______
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
_________________
Mercantile Bank Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Michigan
38-3360865
(State or other jurisdiction of of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
310 Leonard Street NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49504
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)
Mercantile Bank Corporation
Stock Incentive Plan of 2016
(Full title of the plan)
Charles E. Christmas
Mercantile Bank Corporation
310 Leonard Street NW,
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504
(Name and address of agent for service)
(616) 406-3000
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies of Communications to:
Bradley J. Wyatt
Dickinson Wright PLLC
350 S. Main Street, Suite 300
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated filer ☒
Non-accelerated filer ☐
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of securities
to be registered
Amount to be
registered (1)
Proposed maximum
offering price per share(2)
Proposed maximum aggregate
offering price (2)
Amount of
registration fee
Common Stock
500,000 Shares
$24.77
$12,385,000
$1,247.17
(1)     Plus an indeterminate number of additional shares which may be required to be issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
(2)     Estimated pursuant to rule 457(h) and (c) solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee, based upon the average of the high and low prices of the common stock on June 2, 2016, as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS
Item 1.          Plan Information.*
Item 2.          Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.*
*
As permitted by Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this registration statement omits the information specified in Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants in the plans covered by this registration statement as required by Rule 428(b). Such documents are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.          Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
Mercantile Bank Corporation ("Mercantile") incorporates by reference in this registration statement the following documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"):
1.     Mercantile's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
2.     All other reports filed by Mercantile pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the annual report referred to in paragraph 1 above.
3.     The description of Mercantile's common stock in Item 1 of Mercantile's amended Form 8-A registration statement dated November 23, 2005, filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act on November 23, 2005, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating the description.
All documents subsequently filed with the Commission by Mercantile pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated in this registration statement by reference and to be a part of this registration statement from the date of filing of such documents.
1
Any statements contained in this registration statement or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained in this registration statement or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.
Item 4.          Description of Securities.
Not Applicable.
Item 5.          Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not Applicable.
Item 6.          Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Indemnification
Sections 561-571 of the Michigan Business Corporation Act, as amended, grant Mercantile broad powers to indemnify any person in connection with legal proceedings brought against that person by reason of their present or past status as an officer or director of Mercantile, provided that the person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to Mercantile's best interests, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The Michigan Business Corporation Act also gives Mercantile broad powers to indemnify defined persons against expenses and reasonable settlement payments in connection with any action by or in the right of Mercantile, provided the person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to Mercantile's best interests, except that no indemnification may be made if that person is adjudged to be liable to Mercantile unless and only to the extent the court in which that action was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for reasonable expenses as the court deems proper. In addition, to the extent that any specified person is successful in the defense of any defined legal proceeding, Mercantile is required by the Michigan Business Corporation Act to indemnify him or her against expenses, including attorneys' fees, that are actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the proceeding.
Mercantile's Articles of Incorporation provide that it shall indemnify its present and past directors, officers, and such other persons as the Board of Directors may authorize to the full extent permitted by law.
Mercantile's Bylaws contain indemnification provisions concerning third party actions as well as actions in the right of Mercantile. The Bylaws provide that Mercantile shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of Mercantile) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of Mercantile or while serving as such a director or officer, is or was serving at the request of Mercantile as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, whether for profit or not, against expenses (including attorney's fees), judgments, penalties, fees and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Mercantile or its shareholders and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
2
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation regulations impose limitations on indemnification payments which could restrict, in certain circumstances, payments by Mercantile or its bank subsidiaries to their respective directors or officers otherwise permitted under the Michigan Business Corporation Act or the Michigan Banking Code.
With respect to derivative actions, the Bylaws provide that Mercantile shall indemnify any person who was or is a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of Mercantile to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of Mercantile, or while serving as such a director or officer, is or was serving at the request of Mercantile as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, whether for profit or not, against expenses (including attorney's fees) and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Mercantile or its shareholders. No indemnification is provided in the Bylaws in respect of any claim, issue or matter in which such person has been found liable to Mercantile except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Mercantile pursuant to the provisions discussed above or otherwise, Mercantile has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable.
The Michigan Business Corporation Act permits Mercantile to purchase insurance on behalf of its directors and officers against liability arising out of their positions with Mercantile (or positions held with another entity at the request of Mercantile), whether or not the liabilities would be within the indemnification provisions described above. Under an insurance policy maintained by Mercantile, its directors and officers are insured within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policy, against specified expenses in connection with the defense of specified claims, actions, suits or proceedings, and specified liabilities which might be imposed as a result of claims, actions, suits or proceedings, which may be brought against them by reason of being or having been directors and officers of Mercantile.
Limitation of Director Liability
Section 209(1)(c) of the Michigan Business Corporation Act permits corporations to limit the personal liability of their directors in certain circumstances. However, under the Michigan Business Corporation Act, a corporation may not eliminate or limit a director's liability to the corporation or its shareholders for money damages for any action taken or any failure to take any action as a director for any of the following: (1) the amount of a financial benefit received by a director to which he or she is not entitled; (2) intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or its shareholders; (3) a violation of Section 551 of the Michigan Business Corporation Act; and (4) an intentional criminal act.
3
Mercantile's Articles of Incorporation provide that its directors shall not be personally liable to it or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty, except for liability (1) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to Mercantile or its shareholders; (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (3) for a violation of Section 551(1) of the Michigan Business Corporation Act; or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived any improper personal benefit. Under the Michigan Business Corporation Act, if prior to October 24, 1997 the articles of incorporation of a corporation contained a provision which, subject to exceptions, eliminated liability of a director as Mercantile's does, that provision is considered to eliminate liability of a director to the extent permitted in Section 209(1)(c) of the Michigan Business Corporation Act.
Pursuant to Mercantile's Articles of Incorporation, if the Michigan Business Corporation Act is amended after the date of the Articles of Incorporation to authorize corporate action eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of Mercantile shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Michigan Business Corporation Act, as so amended.
Item 7.          Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not Applicable
Item 8.          Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed with this registration statement:
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
4.(a)       Article III of Mercantile's Articles of Incorporation is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009
4.(b)       Mercantile Bank Corporation Stock Incentive Plan of 2016
5            Opinion of Counsel, Dickinson Wright PLLC
23.(a)      Consent of BDO USA, LLP
23.(b)      Consent of Dickinson Wright PLLC is included in exhibit 5
24           Power of Attorney is included on the signature pages of the registration statement
4
Item 9.          Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), if in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
5
SIGNATURES
The Registrant.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Grand Rapids, State of Michigan on June 6, 2016.
Mercantile Bank Corporation
By:
/s/ Charles E. Christmas
Charles E. Christmas, Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Michael H. Price, Robert B. Kaminski, Jr. and Charles E. Christmas, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him or her, and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on June 6, 2016.
/s/ Michael H. Price
/s/ David Cassard
Michael H. Price, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer), Chairman of the Board of Directors
David Cassard, Director
/s/ Jeff A. Gardner
/s/ Edward B. Grant
Jeff A. Gardner, Director
Edward B. Grant, Director
/s/ Edward J. Clark
/s/ Thomas R. Sullivan
Edward J. Clark, Director
Thomas R. Sullivan, Director
/s/ Charles E. Christmas
Charles E. Christmas, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal accounting officer)
6
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
4.(a)
Article III of Mercantile's Articles of Incorporation is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009
4.(b)
Mercantile Bank Corporation Stock Incentive Plan of 2016
5
Opinion of Counsel, Dickinson Wright PLLC
23.(a)
Consent of BDO USA, LLP
23.(b)
Consent of Dickinson Wright PLLC is included in exhibit 5
24
Power of Attorney is included on the signature pages of the
registration statement
7