Mercantile Bank Corporation Increases Dividend

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercantile Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: MBWM) ("Mercantile") announced today that on April 11, 2013 its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.11 per common share, payable June 10, 2013 to holders of record as of May 10, 2013. The $0.11 cash dividend represents an increase of 10 percent from the $0.10 cash dividend paid during the first quarter of 2013.

"We are pleased that our strong capital position and enhanced financial performance have afforded us the ability to grow the cash dividend once again," said Michael Price, Chairman and CEO of Mercantile.  "The increased dividend represents not only the confidence of our Board of Directors and management team in Mercantile's future, but is also another example of our sustained commitment to provide a meaningful return to shareholders."

About Mercantile Bank Corporation

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mercantile Bank Corporation is the bank holding company for Mercantile Bank of Michigan. Founded in 1997 to provide banking services to businesses, individuals and governmental units, the Bank differentiates itself on the basis of service quality and the expertise of its banking staff. Mercantile has seven full-service banking offices in Grand Rapids, Holland and Lansing, 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.

SOURCE Mercantile Bank Corporation