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Mercantile Bank (NASDAQ: MBWM) details 2026 performance-based executive bonus plan

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Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Mercantile Bank Corporation adopted a 2026 executive officer cash bonus plan covering its CEO, CFO and other key executives. Bonuses will be funded from a pool tied to six performance metrics for 2026: earnings per share, return on assets, net interest margin, efficiency ratio, non‑performing assets, and loans‑to‑deposits. Each metric has a Target Level and Maximum Level, with associated Target and Maximum Percentages that are combined using linear interpolation to calculate the bonus pool.

If all metrics are achieved at the Target Level, the Target Bonus Pool is $1,206,725; strong performance can increase this amount up to 150% of target, or $1,810,087. Individual awards are paid pro rata as a percentage of 2026 salary, with target and maximum opportunities such as 60.0% and 90.0% for the Chief Executive Officer and 40.0% and 60.0% for the Chief Financial Officer. Earned bonuses, subject to conditions and clawback provisions, will be paid on or before March 15, 2027.

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false 0001042729 0001042729 2026-03-19 2026-03-19
 
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):  March 19, 2026
 

 
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)
     
310 Leonard Street NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
   
Registrant's telephone number, including area code 616-406-3000
 
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))
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock
MBWM
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).                                                                Emerging growth company
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.          ☐
 
 

 
Item 5.02         Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
 
Adoption of Bonus Plan
 
On March 19, 2026, the Boards of Directors of Mercantile Bank Corporation (“Mercantile”), and of Mercantile’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Mercantile Bank (the “Bank”), adopted an executive officer bonus plan for 2026 (the “Executive Officer Plan”).
 
The Executive Officer Plan provides for cash bonuses for Raymond E. Reitsma, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank and Mercantile; Charles E. Christmas, the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Mercantile, and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank; Mark S. Augustyn, the Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Banking Officer of the Bank; Scott P. Setlock, the Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of the Bank and Mercantile; Brett E. Hoover, the Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer of the Bank; and one other member of the Bank's executive team.
 
Payment from the bonus pool under the Executive Officer Plan is based on the achievement of targets under the following 2026 bonus metrics. The specific targets for each metric will be established by the Compensation Committee of Mercantile’s Board of Directors.  The Compensation Committee will establish a target level of performance for each metric (the “Target Level”) and a maximum level of performance for each metric (the “Maximum Level”).  If Mercantile’s performance on a metric is at the Target Level, the percentage associated with that metric which will be credited toward the calculation of the bonus pool will be at the Target Percentage shown in the chart below.  If Mercantile’s performance on a metric is at or above the Maximum Level, the percentage associated with that metric which will be credited toward the calculation of the bonus pool will be at the Maximum Percentage shown in the chart below.  A linear interpolation would be used to determine the percentage assigned to that metric in the event that Mercantile’s performance falls between the Target Level and the Maximum Level.
 
Metric Target Level Maximum Level
Earnings per share 25.0% 37.50%
Return on assets 25.0% 37.50%
Net interest margin 12.5% 18.75%
Efficiency ratio 12.5% 18.75%
Non-performing assets 12.5% 18.75%
Loans-to-deposits 12.5% 18.75%
 
The amount that will be allocated to the bonus pool under the Executive Officer Plan will depend on Mercantile’s performance on each of the 2026 bonus metrics. If performance on each bonus metric is at the Target Level, the amount allocated to the bonus pool will be $1,206,725 (the “Target Bonus Pool”).  The amount allocated to the bonus pool will be increased if performance on one or more bonus metrics exceeds the Target Level, but will not be greater than 150% of the Target Bonus Pool or $1,810,087 (the “Maximum Bonus Pool”).  A linear interpolation would be used to determine the amount allocated to the bonus pool in the event that performance on one or more metrics falls between the Target Level and the Maximum Level.
 
The maximum amount will be appropriately adjusted if (a) a newly hired employee becomes a named executive officer (as defined in Item 402(a)(3) of SEC Regulation S-K) or a designated member of the executive management team and becomes eligible to participate in the Executive Officer Plan, (b) an executive officer's base salary is adjusted during the year, or (c) an executive officer becomes ineligible before December 31, 2026.  
 
Each individual target must be met at the Target Level in order for the percentage associated with that metric to be credited toward payment from the bonus pool.  The accumulated percentage for each individual target attained will be applied to the bonus pool to determine the total amount of the bonus pool to be awarded (the “Award Amount”).  For example, if the first four factors are attained at the Target Level and the next two factors are not attained, the Award Amount under this Plan would be $1,206,725 x 75.0% = $905,044.  As another example, if the first three factors are attained at the Maximum Level and the next three factors are attained at the Target Level, the Award Amount under this Plan would be $1,206,725 x 131.25% = $1,583,827. 
 
2

 
The Award Amount will be paid to each executive officer pro rata based on a uniform percentage of the executive officer's 2026 salary, not to exceed:
 
  Target Percentage Maximum Percentage
Chief Executive Officer 60.0% 90.0%
Chief Financial Officer 40.0% 60.0%
Chief Operating Officer 40.0% 60.0%
Chief Commercial Banking Officer 40.0% 60.0%
Chief Human Resources Officer 35.0% 52.5%
 
The “target percentage” of salary in the chart above will be adjusted downward if Mercantile does not satisfy each bonus metric at the Target Level.  A linear interpolation will be used to determine the percentage of salary to be paid if Company performance on one or more metrics falls between the Target Level and the Maximum Level. 
 
Any bonus awards that are earned under the plan will be paid to the executive officers on or before March 15, 2027. 
 
Payments under the plan are subject to specified conditions, qualifications, and clawback provisions. The plan, to the extent provided for in the plan, may be amended by the Compensation Committee of Mercantile's Board of Directors.
 
A copy of the Executive Officer Plan is attached as Exhibit 10.1.
 
Item 9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits.
 
Exhibit Number                    Description
 
 
 
10.1
2026 Mercantile Executive Officer Bonus Plan***
 
 
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
 
*** Certain confidential portions of this Exhibit were omitted by means of marking such portions with brackets (“[***]”) because the identified confidential portions (i) are not material and (ii) are the type of information that the Company treats as private or confidential.
 
3

 
 
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 Christmas
Charles Christmas
Executive Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer
 
Date: March 19, 2026
 
4

 
Exhibit Index
 
 
Exhibit Number                    Description
 
 
 
10.1
2026 Mercantile Executive Officer Bonus Plan
 
 
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
 
 
 
 

FAQ

What executive bonus plan did Mercantile Bank Corporation (MBWM) approve for 2026?

Mercantile Bank Corporation approved a 2026 Executive Officer Plan providing cash bonuses to key executives based on performance. The plan funds a bonus pool using six financial metrics and distributes awards as a percentage of each executive’s 2026 salary, subject to conditions and clawback provisions.

Which performance metrics determine the 2026 executive bonuses at Mercantile Bank (MBWM)?

The 2026 executive bonus plan uses six metrics: earnings per share, return on assets, net interest margin, efficiency ratio, non‑performing assets, and loans‑to‑deposits. Each metric has Target and Maximum performance levels that drive the percentage credited toward the overall bonus pool.

How large can the 2026 executive bonus pool be at Mercantile Bank Corporation (MBWM)?

If all metrics are achieved at Target Level, the 2026 executive Target Bonus Pool is $1,206,725. Stronger performance can increase funding to a Maximum Bonus Pool of up to 150% of target, or $1,810,087, determined by linear interpolation across the six metrics.

What bonus opportunities do MBWM’s top executives have under the 2026 plan?

Under the 2026 plan, bonus opportunities are set as percentages of salary. The Chief Executive Officer can earn a target of 60.0% and maximum of 90.0%, while the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Commercial Banking Officer each have 40.0% target and 60.0% maximum.

When will Mercantile Bank Corporation (MBWM) pay 2026 executive bonuses, if earned?

Any bonus awards earned under the 2026 Executive Officer Plan will be paid to participating executives on or before March 15, 2027. Payments remain subject to specific conditions, qualifications, potential adjustments, and clawback provisions outlined in the plan document.

Who is eligible to participate in MBWM’s 2026 Executive Officer Plan?

Participants include the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, key banking executives such as the Chief Commercial Banking Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, and one additional member of the bank’s executive team, with possible adjustments for new named officers.

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