EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     This certification is provided pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. § 1350, and accompanies the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (the “Form 10-K”) of Mercantile Bank Corporation (the “Issuer”).

     I, Michael H. Price, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Issuer, certify that to my knowledge:

(i)	the Form 10-K fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)); and
(ii)	the information contained in the Form 10-K fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer.

Dated: March 15, 2010

/s/ Michael H. Price  

Michael H. Price. 

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer