Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
CHRISTMAS CHARLES E
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
MERCANTILE BANK CORP [MBWM]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Senior V.P. & CFO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION, 5650 BYRON CENTER AVENUE SW
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/28/2005
(Street)

WYOMING, MI 49509
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 01/28/2005   F   218 D $ 43.495 948 (1) D  
Common Stock 01/28/2005   M   1,000 A $ 9.513 1,948 D  
Common Stock               7,466 (2) I 401(k) Plan
Common Stock               1,229 (2) I 401(k) Plan for spouse

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 9.513 01/28/2005   M     1,000 11/09/2001 11/08/2010 Common Stock 1,000 (3) 4,026 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 9.513             11/09/2001 11/08/2010 Common Stock 120   120 I By Spouse

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
CHRISTMAS CHARLES E
MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION
5650 BYRON CENTER AVENUE SW
WYOMING, MI 49509
      Senior V.P. & CFO  

Signatures

 /s/Jerome M. Schwartz Attorney-in-fact   02/01/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Includes approximately 50 shares acquired pursuant to the issuer's 5% stock dividend paid May 3, 2004, and approximately 106 shares acquired pursuant to purchases by the reporting person in 2004 under the issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan of 2002.
(2) Includes shares acquired pursuant to the issuer's 5% stock dividend paid May 3, 2004.
(3) No price is entered here as this is an employee stock option.

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