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): OCTOBER 7, 2003

                              --------------------

                           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                   49509
         (Address of principal executive offices)              (Zip Code)


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






ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c)      Exhibits.

Exhibit Number                      Description

         99.1                       Press release of Mercantile Bank Corporation
                                    reporting financial results and earnings for
                                    the third quarter of 2003


ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

         Earnings Release. On October 7, 2003, Mercantile Bank Corporation
issued a press release reporting earnings and other financial results for its
third quarter of 2003. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

         The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit
99.1, shall be considered "filed" under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.




                                   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:  October 7, 2003







                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number                      Description

      99.1                          Press release of Mercantile Bank Corporation
                                    reporting financial results and earnings for
                                    the third quarter of 2003