8-K

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: January 20, 2006
Merchants Bancshares, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware		0-11595	03-0287342
(State or Other jurisdiction of		(Commission File No.)	(IRS Employer
incorporation)			Identification No.)
275 Kennedy Drive			05403
So. Burlington, Vermont			(Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)
(802) 658-3400
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
[   ]	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[   ]	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[   ]	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[   ]	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition
The following information is furnished under Item 2.02 - "Results of Operations and Financial Condition" and such information, including the exhibits attached hereto, shall not be deemed "filed" for any purpose, including for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
On January 19, 2006 Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors had declared an increased quarterly dividend of 28 cents per share on the Company's common stock. A copy of that press release, which is incorporated herein by reference, is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c).	The following exhibits are included with this Report:
	Exhibit No.	Description
	99.1	Press Release, dated January 19, 2006
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.
			MERCHANTS BANCSHARES, INC.
Date: January 20, 2006			/s/ Janet P. Spitler
			Janet P. Spitler
			Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
Exhibit 99.1

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EX-99

Exhibit 99.1

For Release: January 19, 2006

Contact: Lisa Razo

(802) 865-1838

Merchants Bancshares, Inc. Announces Earnings Release Calendar, Increases Dividend

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT - Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBVT), the parent company of Merchants Bank, announced today that its Board of Directors declared a dividend of 28 cents per share payable February 16, 2006, to shareholders of record as of February 2, 2006. Merchants plans to release earnings on or about January 25, 2006.

Mr. Joseph Boutin, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Ms. Janet Spitler, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call to discuss these earnings results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, January 27, 2006. Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing (800) 230-1085; the title of the call is Earnings Release Conference Call for Merchants Bancshares, Inc. Participants are asked to call a few minutes prior to register. A replay will be available until noon on February 3, 2006. The U.S. replay dial-in number is (800) 475-6701. The international replay number is (320) 365-3844. The replay access code for both replay numbers is 806410.

The mission of Merchants Bank is to provide best-in-class community banking services in the state of Vermont. This commitment is fulfilled through a community, branch-based system that includes 35 bank offices throughout Vermont, employees dedicated to quality customer service, and innovative banking products such as Free Checking for LifeÒ checking accounts, MoneyLYNXÒ money market accounts, and CommerceLYNXÒ business banking products. Merchants Bank also includes a trust and investment division, known as Merchants Trust Company, serving individuals and institutions. For more information about Merchants Bank visit our website at www.mbvt.com. Merchants' stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market system under the symbol MBVT. Member FDIC.

Some of the statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. The forward-looking statements reflect Merchants' current views about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause Merchants' actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements should not be relied on since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond Merchants' control and which could materially affect actual results. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include changes in general economic conditions in Vermont, changes in interest rates, changes in competitive product and pricing pressures among financial institutions within Merchants' markets, and changes in the financial condition of Merchants' borrowers. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent Merchants' judgment as of the date of this report, and Merchants cautions readers not to place undue reliance on such statements. For further information, please refer to Merchants' reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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