Displaying items by tag: Mercantile Bank Corp
Initiatives offer loan assistance for urban small businesses
A pair of initiatives across Southwest Michigan have a similar goal: supporting entrepreneurs starting small businesses in their respective cities and urban cores.
Cautious and appropriate: Businesses slow to take on debt, even as optimism grows, bankers say
Despite strong business optimism and continued economic expansion, bankers say they still see their West Michigan business clients taking a cautious approach to debt.
Mercantile Bank sees increased earnings in first quarter
A lower federal tax rate and collecting on problem commercial loans helped boost Mercantile Bank Corp.’s earnings for the first quarter.
Banks, credit unions unite in support of regulatory reform bill
Executives at banks and credit unions across Michigan found common ground in advocating for legislation to ease federal regulations they say hurt smaller financial institutions and their ability to lend.
Mercantile Bank posts lower earnings for 2017 amid ‘solid performance,’ loan growth
Mercantile Bank recorded slightly lower earnings for 2017, although executives say they’re satisfied with the bank’s performance.
After a pause in 2017, bank M&A expected to pick up
John Donnelly considers Independent Bank Corp.’s proposed $63.1 million deal to buy Traverse City-based TCSB Bancorp Inc. as indicative of the bank mergers likely to occur in Michigan next year.
2018 Outlook: Robert Kaminski, Mercantile Bank Corp.
The further the U.S. gets from the last downturn, the greater the likelihood that another challenge will eventually “rear its head again,” says Mercantile Bank Corp. President and CEO Robert Kaminski. Yet as 2018 approaches, Kaminski doesn’t see any warnings signs from the Grand Rapids-based bank’s clients that portend a downturn is imminent. Instead, he expects the U.S. economy to stay on track.
2018 banking outlook: Easing regulations, preparing clients for future cycles
Many of the forces that affected banks in 2017 — from rising interest rates and a good economy, to balancing digital technology investments with cybersecurity — remain the top issues bankers must manage in the year ahead.
Mercantile Bank reports better than expected third quarter performance
Mercantile Bank Corp. today reported higher quarterly earnings.
Developers slow to build new condos in downtown Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS — Citing demand for more diverse housing products, developers cautiously have started exploring whether to market new condominiums for sale in Grand Rapids’ downtown district.
Grand Rapids-based PE firm Auxo closes on first two acquisitions
GRAND RAPIDS — Closing on its first acquisitions should provide private equity firm Auxo Investment Partners momentum as it pursues additional deals in an active M&A market.
Business borrowers undeterred by higher interest rates — so far
Higher interest rates during 2017 haven’t acted as a damper on commercial lending in West Michigan, although some lenders are seeing borrowers moving to fixed-rate business loans.
Commercial lending volumes rise as borrowers reach capacity
Among the commercial and industrial borrowers at Lake Michigan Credit Union, about one-third are expanding or buying new equipment that’s needed to grow their businesses.
Mercantile Bank reports strong loan growth for Q2
Mercantile Bank Corp. today reported net income of $7.3 million, or 45 cents per share, for the second quarter with strong loan growth that’s projected to continue through the year.
West Michigan bankers hopeful for improving — if not repealing — Dodd-Frank
Bankers in West Michigan and nationwide could get some regulatory relief this year.
Borrowing at last: Small business owners return to banks for financing, even amid emerging economic concerns
Over the past decade, many small business owners put off expansions or capital equipment purchases for as long as they could.
Mercantile reports ‘very strong’ start to 2017
Mercantile Bank Corp.’s net income dipped in the first quarter, the result of one-time events.
MiBiz Growth Report: March 6, 2017
Here is the MiBiz Growth Report for March 6, 2017:
• M&A: American Grease Stick Co. of Muskegon was acquired last year by 3 Rivers Capital, a Pittsburgh, Pa.-based private equity firm. A manufacturer of branded automotive fluid transfer lines and related products for the automotive aftermarket industry, AGS has operations in Muskegon and the U.K. The company, which was founded in 1931, sells products through a variety of aftermarket retailers, including Advanced Auto Parts, AutoZone and Pep Boys, according to a statement. 3 Rivers purchased the company for $10 million from the Rosen family, according to a report in the Pittsburgh Business Times. The deal was backed by $9.75 million in subordinated debt and an equity co-investment from PNC Mezzanine Capital. JP Morgan Chase also provided debt financing for the transaction. Metz Lewis Brodman Must O’Keefe LLC of Pittsburgh served as legal counsel to 3 Rivers Capital. The sellers worked with investment banker Stout Risius Ross Inc. of Chicago.
Mercantile Bank plans return to Southeast Michigan market with new office in Troy
Mercantile Bank Corp. plans to open a commercial loan office in Troy that will eventually grow to a full-service branch.
Mercantile Bank reports higher earnings for the fourth quarter of 2016
Mercantile Bank Corp. today reported higher earnings to end 2016, driven by strong loan growth.
Fifth Third CEO prioritizes customer trust amid digital shift in banking
Of all the issues Greg Carmichael deals with each day, trust and reputation are the ones that concern him the most.
Mercantile Bank shows strong growth in Q3 report
Mercantile Bank Corp. grew earnings by nearly 7 percent in the third quarter while recording strong loan growth.
Mercantile plans ahead for smooth leadership change
GRAND RAPIDS — The recently announced leadership transition at Mercantile Bank Corp. has been in the works for years and should provide continuity going from one CEO to another, executives say.
Arena Place developer amends loan agreement with state of Michigan
Citing decisions to restructure leasing and make tenant improvements on their own, the owners of a major Grand Rapids development today asked the state for administrative approval to amend its loan agreement.
Two Michigan bank deals move ahead
Two large bank mergers affecting the Michigan market are progressing, with one securing shareholder approval and another awaiting a vote in the coming weeks.
Post-Brexit, West Michigan public company stocks take a beating
Stock prices of West Michigan’s publicly traded companies tumbled on Friday as Wall Street succumbed to the uncertainty caused by the U.K.’s decision to exit the European Union.
MiBiz Growth Report: May 16, 2016
Here is the MiBiz Growth Report for May 16, 2016:
• M&A: Indianapolis-based The XLerate Group, a portfolio company of Detroit-based private equity firm Huron Capital Partners LLC, has acquired Jenison-based Grand Rapids Auto Auction. The deal represents the second acquisition in a year for The XLerate Group, which acquired Schoolcraft-based Greater Kalamazoo Auto Auction in May 2015. XLerate provides dealer-to-dealer auto auctions for used vehicles. Grand Rapids Auto Auction, located at 2380 Port Sheldon Ct., provides used vehicle remarketing to fleet and leasing companies and dealers in Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. Through the acquisition, XLerate now has local auto auctions that operate 17 physical and mobile sites in Michigan, South Carolina, California, Texas, Wisconsin and Florida.
Crystal Flash sold to employees through ESOP transaction
Following a two-year preparation process, Crystal Flash has successfully transitioned to a 100-percent employee-owned company.
MiBiz Growth Report: May 2, 2016
Here is the MiBiz Growth Report for May 2, 2016.
- M&A: Brad Davis and Lynne Bosgraaf, both formerly executive team members at Grand Haven-based Light Corp., have acquired Ram Electronics Inc., a manufacturer in Fruitport of printed circuit boards, custom wire harnesses and other components. The deal came about as Ram’s previous owner, Don Neidlinger, looked to retire. Zeeland-based Rua Associates LLC advised Davis and Bosgraaf on the deal, the terms of which were not disclosed. The executives partnered with Mercantile Bank Corp. to structure a loan through the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s collateral support program. The program provides collateral to fund down payments on expansions or mergers and acquisitions.
- M&A: Lansing-based Neogen Corp., a manufacturer of food and animal safety products, acquired Brazil-based Deoxi Biotecnologia Ltda, an operator of an animal genomics laboratory, according to a statement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Deoxi’s management and staff will remain with the company.
Federal regulators ease burden to launch new banks
When Mike Price and his colleagues formed Mercantile Bank Corp. nearly 20 years, they faced a vastly different landscape versus what exists today.