Mercantile Bank Names Nancy Turtle Community Bank President for Kalamazoo/Southwest Michigan Market

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 13, 2017

"We are delighted to welcome Nancy to Mercantile," said Ray Reitsma, President of Mercantile Bank.  "Her 20 years of commercial banking experience in Southwest Michigan and her understanding of Mercantile's relationship-based approach to business are terrific assets for the bank as we grow our base of business in these key markets."

Turtle has held leadership positions with several financial institutions throughout her banking career.  "Mercantile has been successful because of its strong customer relationships," said Turtle.  "I look forward to being a part of the team and building on the track record we have established to date."

Founded in 1997, Mercantile Bank has grown to be known as Michigan's premier community bank and employs many of the most talented and seasoned professionals in their markets across the state.  The organization, committed to relationship banking, recognizes that personal connections with customers, communities, and vendors and a focus on corporate sustainability are essential to remain exceptional.  As the third largest Michigan-domiciled bank, Mercantile Bank is large enough to bring considerable capacity for customers' needs, yet its community banking culture keeps the company small enough to concentrate on the best results for customers.

About Mercantile Bank Corporation  
Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mercantile Bank Corporation is the bank holding company for Mercantile Bank of Michigan.  Mercantile provides banking services to businesses, individuals and governmental units, and differentiates itself on the basis of service quality and the expertise of its banking staff.  Mercantile has assets of approximately $3.0 billion and operates 49 banking offices.  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.