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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950124-05-006614.txt : 20051123
<SEC-HEADER>0000950124-05-006614.hdr.sgml : 20051123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051123124112
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950124-05-006614
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051117
ITEM INFORMATION:		Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051123
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051123

FILER:

	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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26719
		FILM NUMBER:		051223841

	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>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>k00348e8vk.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CURRENT REPORT, DATED NOVEMBER 17, 2005
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                ----------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): NOVEMBER 17, 2005

                              --------------------

                           MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


           MICHIGAN                  000-26719                38-3360865
(State or other jurisdiction      (Commission File           (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)               Number)            Identification Number)



310 LEONARD STREET NW, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN                       49504
  (Address of principal executive offices)                        (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code      616-406-3000


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):


[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)


[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)


[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))


[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



<PAGE>


ITEM 1.01.  ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

Adoption of Non-Lender Bonus Plan 2006

         On November 17, 2005, the Board of Directors of Mercantile Bank of
Michigan (the "Bank"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercantile Bank Corporation
("Mercantile"), adopted the Mercantile Bank of Michigan Non-Lender Bonus Plan
2006 (the "2006 Plan"). The 2006 Plan provides for cash bonuses for all
non-lender and non-commissioned employees of the Bank, including Gerald R.
Johnson, Jr., Michael H. Price, Robert B. Kaminski, Jr., and Charles E.
Christmas, who are executive officers of Mercantile and the Bank. Pursuant to
the 2006 Plan, employees of the Bank may receive cash bonuses for 2006 equal to
between 10% and 50% of their annual base salary, with the higher percentages
applying to the more senior officers of the Bank. Bonuses are payable under the
2006 Plan only to the extent that after taking into account payments to be made
under the 2006 Plan, the after tax net operating income of Mercantile for 2006
would exceed 115% of the prior year's after tax net income. A copy of the 2006
Plan is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Executive Officer Employment Agreements

         Mercantile and the Bank have previously entered into Employment
Agreements with their four executive officers, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Price, Mr.
Kaminski and Mr. Christmas, that are described in Mercantile's annual proxy
statement. On November 17, 2005, the Boards of Directors of Mercantile and the
Bank approved amendments to the Employment Agreements that have been executed by
Mercantile, the Bank, and each of the four executive officers as of November 17,
2005. The amendments to the Employment Agreements are intended to cause payments
that are made under the Employment Agreements to be in compliance with Section
409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), that was
added to the Code by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. The amendments
specify or revise the timing for certain payments, including severance payments
and certain expenses already provided for under the Employment Agreements, and
change the definition of when an officer is deemed disabled to conform to the
definition of that term in the Code.

         On November 17, 2005, the Boards of Directors of Mercantile and the
Bank also approved the annual base salaries under the Employment Agreements for
2006. The Boards also determined to permit the "employment period" set forth in
each of the Employment Agreements to extend on December 31, 2005 for an
additional year, so that the employment period provided in each executive
officer's Employment Agreement would extend through December 31, 2008.



<PAGE>



ITEM 9.01         FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d)  Exhibits.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Exhibit Number                                  Description
- --------------                                  -----------
<S>                                       <C>
10.1                                      Non-Lender Bonus Plan 2006.

</TABLE>





                                   SIGNATURES

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


                                   MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION


                                   By:  /s/ Charles E. Christmas
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                        Charles E. Christmas
                                        Senior Vice President,
                                        Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer


Date:  November 22, 2005






<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Exhibit Number                                  Description
- --------------                                  -----------
<S>                                       <C>
10.1                                      Non-Lender Bonus Plan 2006.

</TABLE>





















</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>k00348exv10w1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>NON-LENDER BONUS PLAN 2006
<TEXT>
<PAGE>


                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                           MERCANTILE BANK OF MICHIGAN
                           NON-LENDER BONUS PLAN 2006


The Mercantile Bonus Plan is designed to reflect the fact that the directors and
management of Mercantile Bank of Michigan and Mercantile Bank Corporation
believe that the company's shareholders are willing to share financially in
operation results that are superior to those forecast by the company and
approved by the Board of Directors.

The purpose of the Plan is to:

    o    promote the growth, profitability and expense control necessary to
         accomplish corporate strategic long term plans

    o    encourage superior results by providing a meaningful incentive

    o    support the Mercantile Teamwork

ELIGIBILITY

All non-lenders and non-commissioned employees are included in the Plan. The
employee must be an active employee on the day that the bonus awards are
distributed. An employee that is out on medical leave at the time the awards are
distributed will be eligible to receive a bonus. An employee that is suspended
with or without pay at the time the awards are distributed will not be eligible
to receive the bonus award. If an employee terminates his or her association
with Mercantile Bank of Michigan, any accrued but unpaid bonus award is
cancelled.

PERFORMANCE GOALS

The bonus payout is determined by the overall performance of Mercantile Bank
Corporation. The total payout is calculated by comparing current year after tax
net operating income (NOI), inclusive of pre-tax bonus accrual expense, with the
prior year NOI. If current year NOI is not greater than 115% of the prior year
NOI, the pre-tax bonus accrual will be adjusted downward until current year NOI,
inclusive of pre-tax bonus accrual expense, exceeds 115% of prior year NOI.

The maximum bonus payout for each employee is calculated as a percentage of
salary with the percentage applied to each salary based on the employee's job
title within the organization. The maximum bonus pool is the sum of each
employee's maximum bonus payout, and once this maximum pool is achieved, no
additional bonus expense will be accrued. The Board of Directors annually
approves the percentages that are applied to employee salaries.


<PAGE>


                  MAXIMUM BONUS PAYOUTS FOR EMPLOYEES FOR 2006
                        UNDER MERCANTILE BANK OF MICHIGAN
                           NON-LENDER BONUS PLAN 2006


<Table>
<Caption>


                      EMPLOYEE LEVEL                                                PERCENTAGE
                      --------------                                                ----------
<S>                                                                                 <C>
Non-Exempt / Exempt                                                                    10%

Officer                                                                                15%

Assistant Vice President                                                               25%

Vice President                                                                         30%

Senior Vice President                                                                  40%

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer                                    45%

Chairman and President                                                                 50%

</Table>























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