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): APRIL 7, 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)

5650 BYRON CENTER AVENUE SW, WYOMING, MICHIGAN                           49519
   (Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code                  616-406-3777

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))



ITEM 2.02. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

      Earnings Release. On April 7, 2005, Mercantile Bank Corporation issued a
press release reporting earnings and other financial results for the quarter
ended March 31, 2005. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1
and incorporated here by reference.

      The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit
99.1, shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor
shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities
Act of 1933.

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c) Exhibits.



Exhibit Number                               Description
--------------                               -----------
                     
   99.1                 Press release of Mercantile Bank Corporation reporting
                        financial results and earnings for the quarter ended
                        March 31, 2005.


                                       2


                                   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: April 7, 2005

                                       3


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit Number                              Description
--------------                              -----------
                     
   99.1                 Press release of Mercantile Bank Corporation reporting
                        financial results and earnings for the quarter ended
                        March 31, 2005.


                                       4