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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS




We hereby consent to the use of our report dated January 19, 2001, except Note
15, which is dated March 22, 2001, on the consolidated financial statements of
Mercantile Bank Corporation as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000, included within the
Registration Statement on Form S-2 and Prospectus of Mercantile Bank
Corporation. We also consent to the use of our name as "Experts" in the
Prospectus.





                                               /s/ Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP

Grand Rapids, Michigan
July 11, 2001