<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001415889-22-008927.txt : 20220822
<SEC-HEADER>0001415889-22-008927.hdr.sgml : 20220822
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20220822151648
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001415889-22-008927
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20220818
FILED AS OF DATE:		20220822
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20220822

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RAMAKER DAVID B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213672

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26719
		FILM NUMBER:		221183590

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		235 E. MAIN STREET
		CITY:			MIDLAND
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48640

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:		310 LEONARD STREET NW
		CITY:			GRAND RAPIDS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49504
		BUSINESS PHONE:		616 406-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		310 LEONARD STREET NW
		CITY:			GRAND RAPIDS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49504
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4-08222022_120829.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2022-08-18</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213672</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RAMAKER DAVID B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>310 LEONARD STREET NW</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GRAND RAPIDS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>49504</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>false</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2022-08-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.58</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5894</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $36.40 to $36.69, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to Mercantile Bank Corporation, any security holder of Mercantile Bank Corporation, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in the preceding sentence.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 920 shares that were properly reported as acquired but excluded in prior Form 4 filing from this column due to a mathematical error.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Bradley J. Wyatt, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-08-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
