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 _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP AND CFO (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION, 310 LEONARD ST. 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 11/29/2018 (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 11/29/2018   A   5,302 (1) A $ 0 36,813 D   Common Stock               380 (2) I By spouse Common Stock               34,872 (3) I 401(k) Plan Common Stock               1,570 (3) 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)

$ 22.15

11/13/2016

11/12/2021

Common Stock

1,000

1,000

D

Employee Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 27.66

11/19/2017

11/18/2022

Common Stock

1,000

1,000

D

Employee Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 36.22

11/17/2018

11/16/2023

Common Stock

1,000

1,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
CHRISTMAS CHARLES E C/O MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION 310 LEONARD ST. GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49504			EVP AND CFO

Signatures

/s/ Bradley J. Wyatt, Attorney-in-Fact		12/03/2018
**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)	This award of shares is being made pursuant to the Issuer's performance-based restricted stock award agreement, such that a portion or all of this award of restricted stock may be forfeited in the future if certain performance metrics are not met.
(2)	Includes shares acquired since last report of common stock ownership by reinvesting cash dividends under the issuer's dividend reinvestment plan.
(3)	Includes shares acquired pursuant to the issuer's 401(k) Plan since last report of common stock ownership.

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