Exhibit 10.23
$4,000,000 SECURED DEMAND PROMISSORY NOTE

      $4,000,000.00   February 5, 2009

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, MERCANTILE BANCORP, INC., a Delaware
corporation (“Mercantile”), jointly and severally, promises to pay to the order
of GREAT RIVER BANCSHARES, INC., a Nevada corporation (“Lender”), ON DEMAND, at
8620 West Tropicana, Las Vegas, Nevada 89180 or such other place as may be
designated by the holder of this Note, the principal sum of FOUR MILLION AND
00/100 DOLLARS ($4,000,000.00) or so much thereof as may be advanced and
outstanding from time to time under this $4,000,000 Secured Demand Promissory
Note (this “Note”), together with interest on said principal sum from the date
hereof until this Note is paid in full, at the Interest Rate. As used herein,
the term “Interest Rate” shall mean, until the occurrence of an event described
in Paragraph 7 below, when the Interest Rate shall thereafter equal the Default
Rate, a per annum rate of interest equal to seven and one-half percent (7.50%).
     1 . Payment. The principal sum of this Note and interest thereon shall be
paid as follows:
     (a) Interest at the Interest Rate shall accrue on the principal amount of
this Note from the date hereof and shall be payable on the first (1st) day of
each month, beginning with March 1, 2009.
     (b) If not sooner paid, the principal sum of this Note, together with
accrued interest thereon, shall be repaid immediately upon Lender’s written
demand. The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that Lender may require immediate
repayment of either all or a portion of the indebtedness evidenced hereby.
     2. Late Charge; Default Rate. In the event that any scheduled monthly
installment of principal and/or interest under this Note is received by Lender
more than two (2) days after the same is due, Borrower shall pay to Lender a
late charge equal to five percent (5.0%) of such delinquent payment. In the
event that an Event of Default (as defined below) shall occur and Lender shall
exercise its right to declare this Note to be due and payable as set forth in
Paragraph 7 below, then the unpaid principal balance under this Note shall
thereafter bear interest at the Default Rate. As used herein, the term “Default
Rate” shall mean a per anum rate of interest equal to twelve and one-half
percent (12.5%).
     3. Prepayment. The unpaid principal balance of this Note may be prepaid in
whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, without prepayment charge
or penalty. All prepayments shall be applied first to all charges and payments
due from Borrower to Lender under this Note other than principal and interest,
second to accrued and unpaid interest, and third to principal.
     4. Payments and Computations. All payments on account of indebtedness
evidenced by this Note shall be made not later than 2:00 P.M. (Central time) on
the day when due in lawful money of the United States and shall be first applied
to all charges and payments due from Borrower to Lender under this Note other
than principal and interest, second to interest on the

 

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unpaid principal balance of this Note and the remainder to principal. All
computations of interest shall be made by Lender on the actual days outstanding
on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day calendar year. Said payments are
to be made via wire transfer of funds to Lender’s office at 8620 West Tropicana,
Las Vegas, Nevada 89180 or at such place as Lender or the legal holder of this
Note may, from time to time, in writing appoint. Unless otherwise specified
herein, all interest payable under this Note is paid in arrears.
     5. Applicable Laws. This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance
with the laws of the State of Illinois and shall be conclusively deemed for all
purposes to have been executed and delivered in the State of Illinois for
performance therein. This Note is given for an actual loan of money for business
purposes and is not for agricultural, consumer, personal or residential
purposes.
     6. Collateral Security. The payment of this Note and all obligations of
Borrower in connection with this Note are secured by that certain Stock Pledge
Agreement (Borrower), dated as of the date hereof, by and between Lender and
Borrower (the “Pledge Agreement”) and by that certain Collateral Assignment of
Promissory Note and Other Loan Documents, dated as of the date hereof, by and
between Lender and Borrower (the “Collateral Assignment”).
     7. Event of Default. An “Event of Default” hereunder shall be deemed to
have occurred (i) if Borrower shall fail to pay when due any sum of money due
and owing under this Note; (ii) Borrower uses the proceeds from this Note for
any purposes other than purchasing a $4,000,000.00 promissory note executed by
Mid-American Bancshares, Inc. (“Mid-America”), Robert S. Wholey and Janet F.
Wholey in favor of First Community Bank, a Missouri state chartered bank (“First
Community”); (iii) Borrower breaches any covenant, representation or warranty
set forth in this Note, the Pledge Agreement or the Collateral Assignment;
(iv) an “Event of Default” occurs under the Loan Agreement, dated August 28,
2008, among Mid-America, Robert S. Wholey, Janet F. Wholey and Borrower, as
successor in interest to First Community (the “Loan Agreement”), the Pledge and
Security Agreement, dated August 28, 2008, between Mid-America and Borrower as
successor in interest to First Community (the “Mid-America Pledge Agreement”) or
the Pledge and Security Agreement, dated August 28, 2008, between Robert S.
Wholey, Janet F. Wholey and Borrower as successor in interest to First Community
(the “Wholey Pledge Agreement”); (v) the Lender determines in its sole
discretion that there has been any change in the business, operations or
condition, financial or otherwise, of Borrower or any direct or indirect
subsidiary of Borrower that could have (x) a material adverse effect on the
properties, assets, liabilities, business, operations, prospects, income or
condition (financial or otherwise) of Borrower or any such direct or indirect
subsidiary, or (y) an impairment of the enforceabilty of the rights of, or
benefits available to, Lender under this Note, the Pledge Agreement or the
Collateral Assignment; (vi) the Restrictive Stock Agreement, dated as of
October 7, 1998, among Mid-America and the stockholders of Mid-America (the
“Restrictive Stock Agreement”) is not terminated on or before February 27, 2009
or (vii) any stockholder of Mid-America attempts to transfer, sell, hypothecate,
pledge or assign, voluntarily or involuntarily, any stock of Mid-America or
makes or threatens to make a claim or allegation that any termination of the
Restrictive Stock Agreement is invalid or that he/she/it is entitled to any
payments under or as a result of the Restrictive Stock Agreement. It is agreed
that at the election of Lender or the holder or holders hereof, and in addition
to any other rights or remedies set forth herein, upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default, the principal sum remaining unpaid

 

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hereunder, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall become
at once due and payable at the place of payment aforesaid.
     8. Waiver. Except as expressly provided herein, Borrower and each surety,
endorser and guarantor hereof, jointly and severally, waive grace, presentment
for payment, notice of nonpayment, demand of payment, protest and notice of
protest, notice of dishonor, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of
acceleration, and diligence in the collection of this Note and in filing suit
hereon and consent and agree that their liability for the payment hereof shall
not be affected or impaired by any release or change in the security for the
payment of this Note or any party hereto, by any extension of the time of
payment, or the addition of any parties hereto, which extension and addition may
be made without notice to any party hereto and without affecting their liability
hereunder.
     9. Collection, Borrower and each surety, endorser and guarantor hereof,
jointly and severally, agree that if this Note is not paid promptly in
accordance with its terms and is placed in the hands of an attorney for
collection or if suit be instituted hereon or to foreclose the security granted
under the Pledge Agreement and as often as this Note is placed in the hands of
the attorney for collection and as often as suit is filed to collect this Note,
they, and each of them, shall pay, in addition to the unpaid principal balance
hereof and all accrued and unpaid interest due hereon, all costs of collection,
including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees.
     10. Records. All amounts advanced to Borrower under this Note or otherwise
and all other debits and credits provided in this Note and in the Loan Agreement
shall be evidenced by entries made by Lender on records to be maintained at
Lender’s office in Las Vegas, Nevada. All payments of principal and interest
made by the Borrower shall be similarly evidenced by entries made by Lender in
such records, showing the date and amount of each such payment and the principal
balance remaining unpaid immediately thereafter. The balance due Lender, as set
forth in such records, shall be conclusive evidence of the amounts due and owing
Lender by Borrower, absent manifest error. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
failure of Lender to make any such entries shall not limit or otherwise affect
the obligations of Borrower hereunder with respect to payments of principal and
interest.
     11. Notice. Each notice, request, demand, consent, confirmation and/or
other communication under this Note shall be in writing and delivered in person
or sent by telecopy, recognized overnight courier or registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Borrower, to:
Mercantile Bancorp, Inc.
220 North 33rd
P.O. Box 371
Quincy, Illinois 62301
Facsimile: 217-223-7340
With a copy to:

 

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William G. Keller, Jr.
Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu & Mitchell LLP
525 Jersey
Quincy, Illinois 62306
Facsimile: 217-223-1005
If to the Lender, to:
R. Dean Phillips
Great River Bancshares, Inc.
8620 West Tropicana
Las Vegas, Nevada 89180
Facsimile: 217-222-2268
With a copy to:
Jason A. Reschly
Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP
4801 Main Street, Suite 1000
Kansas City, Missouri 64112
Facsimile: 816-983-8080
or at such other address or telecopy number as any party hereto may designate as
its address or telecopy number for communications under this Note by notice so
given. Such notices shall be deemed effective on the day on which delivered or
sent if delivered in person or sent by telecopy, on the first (1st) business day
after the day on which sent, if sent by recognized overnight courier or on the
third (3rd) business day after the day on which mailed, if sent by registered or
certified mail.
     12. Representations and Warranties. The Borrower represents and warrants to
Lender as follows:
     (a) Borrower is duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
organization; (ii) has all requisite corporate or other powers and all
governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry
on its business as now conducted; and (iii) is duly qualified to do business in
all jurisdictions in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such
qualification necessary and where failure to so qualify would have a material
adverse effect on its business, financial condition or operations.
     (b) Borrower is a “bank holding company” as defined in and within the
meaning of 12 U.S.C. §1841(a), and as such Borrower has filed all necessary
reports with and received all necessary approvals from The Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System.
     (c) The execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of this Note, the
Pledge Agreement and the Collateral Assignment are within the corporate powers
of Borrower and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action.

 

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     (d) This Note, the Pledge Agreement and the Collateral Assignment have been
duly authorized, executed and delivered and constitute the legal, valid and
binding obligations of Borrower, enforceable in accordance with their respective
terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights in general.
     (e) Borrower represents and warrants to Lender that each of Mid-America,
Robert S. Wholey and Janet F. Wholey have represented and warranted to Borrower
that all of their respective representations and warranties set forth in the
Loan Agreement, the Mid-America Pledge Agreement and the Wholey Pledge Agreement
are true and correct as of the date hereof as if made on the date hereof and
that Lender is a direct, intended third party beneficiary of the representations
of Mid-America, Robert S. Wholey and Janet F. Wholey to Borrower.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has executed and delivered this Note as of the
day and year first set forth above.

                  MERCANTILE BANCORP, INC.,         a Delaware corporation    
 
           
 
  By:   /s/ Ted T. Awerkamp
 
        Name: Ted T. Awerkamp, President & CEO