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): JULY 8, 2004

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

                           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 12.  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

         Earnings Release. On July 8, 2004, Mercantile Bank Corporation issued a
press release reporting earnings and other financial results for the quarter
ended June 30, 2004. 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.

                                       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:  July 8, 2004



                                       3








                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number                Description

      99.1                    Press release of Mercantile Bank Corporation
                              reporting financial results and earnings for the
                              quarter ended June 30, 2004.



                                       4