Exhibit 99.1

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

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Merchants Bancshares,
Inc. (the "Company") for the period ending December 31, 2002, as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"),
I, Joseph L. Boutin, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. [SECTION]1350, as adopted pursuant to
[SECTION]906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my
knowledge: (1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (2) the information
contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the
financial condition and the results of operations of the Company.

                                  Merchants Bancshares, Inc.

                                  By: /s/ Joseph L. Boutin
                                      --------------------
                                      Joseph L. Boutin
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer

                                      March 25, 2003
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                                      Date