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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * PRICE MICHAEL H   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol MERCANTILE BANK CORP [MBWM] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) President & COO (Last) (First) (Middle) MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION, 310 LEONARD STREET NW 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 04/18/2006 (Street) GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49504 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 04/18/2006   F   4,233 D $ 41.71 15,282 (1) D   Common Stock 04/18/2006   F   3,258 D $ 41.38 12,024 D   Common Stock 04/18/2006   M   6,829 A $ 8.228 18,853 D   Common Stock 04/18/2006   M   8,932 A $ 10.68 27,785 D   Common Stock 04/18/2006   M   2,551 A $ 9.795 30,336 D   Common Stock 04/18/2006   M   2,551 A $ 9.06 32,887 D   Common Stock 04/18/2006   M   3,645 A $ 13.719 36,532 D   Common Stock 04/18/2006   M   3,472 A $ 17.788 40,004 D   Common Stock               8,950 I 401(k) Plan

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)

$ 8.228

04/18/2006

M

6,829

(2)

11/30/2007

Common Stock

6,829

$ 0

0

D

Employee Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 10.68

04/18/2006

M

8,932

12/01/2000

10/21/2008

Common Stock

8,932

$ 0

0

D

Employee Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 9.795

04/18/2006

M

2,551

12/01/2001

02/16/2010

Common Stock

2,551

$ 0

0

D

Employee Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 9.06

04/18/2006

M

2,551

11/09/2001

11/08/2010

Common Stock

2,551

$ 0

0

D

Employee Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 13.719

04/18/2006

M

3,645

10/18/2002

10/17/2011

Common Stock

3,645

$ 0

0

D

Employee Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 17.788

04/18/2006

M

3,472

10/17/2003

10/16/2012

Common Stock

3,472

$ 0

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
PRICE MICHAEL H MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION 310 LEONARD STREET NW GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49504	X		President & COO

Signatures

/s/ Jerome M. Schwartz Attorney-in-fact		04/20/2006
**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 shares not previously reported or required to be reported, that were acquired by reinvesting cash dividends under the issuer's dividend reinvestment plan.
(2)	The option, the exercise of the remaining portion of which is being reported here, vested in three equal annual installments, beginning 12/01/1997.

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