-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ReENF8M72WSqiY+Ml+SS8T2XmfZQIVX5zal3dgKzAbRffBb/xdsCOwd6CHwTXOiP
 y9U1FLgyOPlbg/g9/VssWA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-027276.txt : 20040521
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-027276.hdr.sgml : 20040521
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040521180346
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-027276
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040513
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040521

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Prins Merle J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001291397

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26719
		FILM NUMBER:		04825215

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		616-494-0009

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		603 EAST 16TH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE #22
		CITY:			HOLLAND
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49423

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERCANTILE BANK CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001042729
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				383360865
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5650 BYRON CENTER AVENUE S. W.
		CITY:			WYOMING
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49509
		BUSINESS PHONE:		616 406-3777

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5650 BYRON CENTER AVENUE S. W.
		CITY:			WYOMING
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49509
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc3.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-13</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001042729</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MERCANTILE BANK CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MBWM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001291397</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Prins Merle J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>603 EAST 16TH STREET, SUITE 22</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOLLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>49423</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jerome M. Schwartz
Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24.3_43154
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poa.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POA DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
 POWER OF ATTORNEY

	Know all by these presents, that the undersigned
hereby constitutes and appoints each of Jerome M. Schwartz, John K.
Lawrence, Verne C. Hampton, II, Stephanie A. Asheim and Venu V. Talanki,
signing singly, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:


(1)	execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's
capacity as an officer and/or director of Mercantile Bank Corporation (the
"Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder; and Form ID,
adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(2)	do and perform
any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which may be
necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5, or
Form ID, and timely file such form with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission and any stock exchange, stock market or similar
authority; and

(3)	take any other action of any type whatsoever in
connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such
attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally
required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the documents
executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to
this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms
and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such
attorney-in-fact's discretion.

	The undersigned hereby grants to each
such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform any and
every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be done
in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to
all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally
present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's
substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
of this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.  The
undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving
in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor
is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to
comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

	This
Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to
the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the
Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing
delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this
19th  day of May, 2004.


					/s/ MERLE J. PRINS
					Merle J.
Prins










</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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