MERCANTILE BANK CORP Q1 FY26 Results

Our financial performance remained strong during the first quarter of 2026, further demonstrating our ability to effectively administer the prolonged period of global economic uncertainty and increasing geopolitical tensions. The solid operating results reflected increased net interest income, an improved net interest margin, strong growth in treasury management fees, interest rate swap income, mortgage banking income, and payroll services fees, a negative provision for credit losses, robust local deposit growth, and sustained strength in asset quality and capital measures. The strong net growth in local deposits, which occurred despite the typical level of seasonal deposit withdrawals, provided for a further reduction in our loan-to-deposit ratio. The first quarter of 2026 represented the initial period of financial performance that included Eastern Michigan Bank’s operating results.

The notable increase in net interest income during the first quarter of 2026 reflected solid earning asset growth and a lower cost of funds. Our net interest margin, which remained healthy during the quarter, has been relatively steady over the past seven quarters despite a declining interest rate environment, reflecting the success of interest rate risk mitigation strategies employed to achieve an interest rate agnostic position. We are very pleased with the higher levels of treasury management fees, interest rate swap income, mortgage banking income, and payroll services fees, and will continue our efforts to expand existing customers’ relationships and gain new client relationships to enhance noninterest income revenue streams. Growing our balance sheet in a cost-conscious manner while continuing to provide our customers with outstanding service and market-leading products and services to meet their needs remain important strategic objectives. Excluding costs related to the core and digital banking system conversion and acquisition of Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation, overhead costs as a percentage of net revenue during the first quarter of 2026 increased only slightly compared to the first quarter of 2025.”

The commercial loan portfolio expanded during the first quarter of 2026 despite elevated levels of payoffs and line of credit paydowns, reflecting sustained strength in loan originations. We expect payoffs and paydowns to revert to historical levels during the remainder of 2026. Based on our current pipeline and continuing discussions with existing and prospective borrowers, we believe plentiful opportunities to book commercial loans will exist in future periods. We are pleased with the notable growth in local deposits and the associated decline in our loan-to-deposit ratio during the current-year first quarter, and we will continue our efforts to fund loan originations and investment purchases through local deposit expansion.”

Our asset quality measures remained strong during the first quarter of 2026 as evidenced by ongoing low levels of nonperforming assets, past due loans, and loan charge-offs. We remain focused on underwriting loans across all portfolio segments in a sound and disciplined manner and detecting any weakening credit relationships and evolving systemic or sector-specific credit issues as soon as possible to minimize the impact of such on our overall financial position. Our borrowers have continued to operate effectively during the prolonged and continuing period of uncertain macro-economic conditions and heightened geopolitical concerns.”

Our sustained financial strength allowed us to continue our regular cash dividend program and once again provide shareholders with meaningful cash returns on their investments. We believe we are well positioned to effectively address any issues emerging from the ongoing uncertainty surrounding macro-economic and operating conditions as a result of continuing strength in our operating results, asset quality metrics, and capital measures, along with the attainment of solid financial performance in future periods as anticipated. Our unwavering commitment to meet clients’ needs has proven to be successful in retaining existing and securing new relationships, and we believe the continuation of these efforts will afford us with plentiful opportunities to originate loans and generate local deposits in future periods.”