# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001042729
**File Stem:** 0001437749-25-023156
**Filing Date:** 2025-7
**Character Count:** 355269
**Document Hash:** fec8ee84e54d68914a87ddaacc65f447
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001437749-25-023156.hdr.sgml**: 20250722

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001437749-25-023156

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 68

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20250722

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Results of Operations and Financial Condition

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Regulation FD Disclosure

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20250722

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20250722

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** MERCANTILE BANK CORP
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001042729
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 02 Finance
- **EIN:** 383360865
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** MI
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 000-26719
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251138796

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 310 LEONARD STREET NW
- **CITY:** GRAND RAPIDS
- **STATE:** MI
- **ZIP:** 49504
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 616 406-3000

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 310 LEONARD STREET NW
- **CITY:** GRAND RAPIDS
- **STATE:** MI
- **ZIP:** 49504

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? mbwm20250505_8k.htm

**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

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**FORM**8-K**

**CURRENT REPORT**

**Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the** 

**Securities Exchange Act of 1934**

**Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):**July 22, 2025**

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**Mercantile Bank Corporation**

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Michigan** | **000-26719** | **38-3360865** |
| (State or other jurisdiction <br> of incorporation) | (Commission File <br> Number) | (IRS Employer <br> Identification Number) |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **310 Leonard Street NW**,**Grand Rapids**,**Michigan** | **49504** |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
| Registrant's telephone number, including area code | **616**-**406-3000** |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (*see* General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock | MBWM | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ☐

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 1.01** | **Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.** |

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On July 22, 2025, Mercantile Bank Corporation ("Mercantile") and Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation ("EFIN"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which EFIN will merge with and into an acquisition subsidiary of Mercantile, with the acquisition subsidiary as the surviving corporation (the "Merger"). Following the Merger, Mercantile will operate for a period of time as a two-bank holding company. The newly acquired Eastern Michigan Bank will operate alongside Mercantile's existing bank, Mercantile Bank, until the first quarter of 2027 at which time Mercantile plans to consolidate Eastern Michigan Bank into Mercantile Bank.

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, each outstanding share of EFIN's common stock will be converted into the right to receive $32.32 in cash and 0.7116 shares of Mercantile common stock, for an aggregate transaction value of approximately $95.8 million.

The Merger Agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of each of Mercantile and EFIN. The parties anticipate that the Merger will close in the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to receiving approval of the Merger Agreement by EFIN's shareholders and applicable regulatory agencies, and the fulfillment of other customary closing conditions.

The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties from each of Mercantile and EFIN with respect to its and its subsidiaries' businesses. In addition, the Merger Agreement includes customary covenants, including, among others, (i) covenants by each party relating to the conduct of its business during the interim period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and the effective time of the Merger, (ii) covenants by EFIN relating to EFIN's obligation to call a meeting of its shareholders to approve the Merger Agreement, (iii) a covenant by EFIN, subject to certain exceptions, to recommend that its shareholders approve the Merger Agreement and (iv) covenants regarding exclusivity.

The Merger Agreement may be terminated under certain conditions, including, among others, if the closing of the Merger has not occurred by June 30, 2026. In addition, prior to obtaining shareholder approval of the Merger, EFIN may terminate the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances, including the good faith determination by its board of directors that it has received an unsolicited bona fide "superior proposal," which remains a superior proposal after any proposed modification of the Merger Agreement, if any, by Mercantile. In addition, Mercantile may terminate the Agreement if (i) EFIN fails to hold its shareholder meeting to approve the Merger Agreement within the time frame set forth in the Merger Agreement, or (ii) if EFIN's Board of Directors makes a Company Adverse Recommendation (as defined in the Merger Agreement). If the Merger Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, EFIN must pay Mercantile a termination fee of $3.68 million.

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, on or immediately after the effective time of the Merger, and subject only to any applicable regulatory approvals and Mercantile's customary background screening and evaluation procedures for potential directors, Mercantile will appoint one former non-employee director of EFIN to Mercantile's and Mercantile Bank's Board of Directors. In addition, the other directors of EFIN will be invited to join a regional advisory board.

In connection with the Merger Agreement, the directors and executive officers (in their capacity as shareholders) of EFIN have entered into voting agreements ("Voting Agreements") pursuant to which they have agreed to vote shares of EFIN common stock owned beneficially or of record by such shareholder in favor of the Merger Agreement and related matters.

The Merger Agreement also contains usual and customary representations and warranties that Mercantile and EFIN made to each other as of specific dates. The assertions embodied in those representations and warranties were made solely for purposes of the contract between Mercantile and EFIN, and may be subject to important qualifications and limitations agreed to by the parties in connection with negotiating its terms. Moreover, the representations and warranties are subject to a contractual standard of materiality that may be different from what may be viewed as material to shareholders, and the representations and warranties may have been used to allocate risk between Mercantile and EFIN rather than establishing matters as facts.

The foregoing summaries of the Merger Agreement and Voting Agreements are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the complete text of such document, which are filed as Exhibits 2.1 and 10.1 to this Form 8-K, and which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 2.02** | **Results of Operations and Financial Condition.** |

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***Earnings Release***

On July 22, 2025, Mercantile Bank Corporation (the "Company") issued a press release announcing earnings and other financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and incorporated here by reference.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 7.01** | **Regulation FD Disclosure.**  |

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The Company has prepared presentation materials (the "Conference Call & Webcast Presentation") that management intends to use during its previously announced Second Quarter 2025 conference call on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 10:00 am Eastern Time, and from time to time thereafter in presentations about the Company's operations and performance. The Company has simultaneously released a presentation to investors containing additional information regarding the Merger (the "Merger Presentation" or collectively with the Conference Call & Webcast Presentation, the "Presentations"). The Presentations are included in this Report as Exhibits 99.3 and 99.4, respectively, and are furnished herewith, and shall not be deemed "filed" for any purpose nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

The Company may use the Presentations, possibly with modifications, in presentations to current and potential investors, analysts, lenders, business partners, acquisition candidates, customers, employees and others with an interest in the Company and its business.

The Conference Call & Webcast Presentation is also available on the Company's website at http://ir.mercbank.com. Materials on the Company's website are not part of or incorporated by reference into this report.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibits 99.1, 99.3, and 99.4, shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 9.01** | **Financial Statements and Exhibits.** |

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**(d) Exhibits.**

<u>Exhibit Number</u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Description</u>

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| 2.1 | [Agreement and Plan of Merger dated July 22, 2025, between Mercantile Bank Corporation, Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation and Shamrock Merger Sub Inc.](ex_840374.htm) |

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| 10.1 | [Form of Voting Agreement.](ex_840360.htm) |

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| 99.1 | [Press release of Mercantile Bank Corporation dated July 22, 2025, reporting financial results and earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2025.](ex_840146.htm) |

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| 99.2 | [Joint Press Release of Mercantile Bank Corporation and Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation regarding the Agreement and Plan of Merger.](ex_840358.htm) |

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| 99.3 | [Mercantile Bank Corporation Conference Call & Webcast Presentation dated July 22, 2025.](ex_840359.htm) |

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| 99.4 | [Merger Presentation dated July 22, 2025.](ex_840365.htm) |

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |

---

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**Signatures**

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| Mercantile Bank Corporation | Mercantile Bank Corporation |
| By:  | /s/ Charles E. Christmas |
|  | Charles E. Christmas |
|  | Executive Vice President, Chief |
|  | Financial Officer and Treasurer |

---

Date: July 22, 2025

## Exhibit 2.1

**Exhibit 2.1**

**AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER**

**BY AND AMONG**

**MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION, SHAMROCK MERGER SUB INC.**

**AND**

**EASTERN MICHIGAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION**

**DATED AS OF July 22, 2025**

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**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| ARTICLE 1 THE MERGER; BANK MERGER | ARTICLE 1 THE MERGER; BANK MERGER | 2 |
| Section 1.1 | The Merger | 2 |
| Section 1.2 | Closing | 2 |
| Section 1.3 | Effective Time | 2 |
| Section 1.4 | Effects of the Merger | 2 |
| Section 1.5 | Organizational Documents; Directors and Officers | 2 |
| Section 1.6 | Bank Merger | 3 |
| ARTICLE 2 CONVERSION OF SECURITIES IN THE MERGER | ARTICLE 2 CONVERSION OF SECURITIES IN THE MERGER | 3 |
| Section 2.1 | Consideration | 3 |
| Section 2.2 | Cancellation of Shares | 4 |
| Section 2.3 | No Fractional Shares | 4 |
| Section 2.4 | Exchange of Certificates. | 4 |
| Section 2.5 | Withholding Rights | 6 |
| Section 2.6 | Company Equity Awards. | 6 |
| ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | 6 |
| Section 3.1 | Company Organization | 6 |
| Section 3.2 | Company Subsidiary Organizations | 7 |
| Section 3.3 | Authorization; Enforceability | 7 |
| Section 3.4 | No Conflict | 7 |
| Section 3.5 | Company Capitalization. | 8 |
| Section 3.6 | Company Subsidiary Capitalization | 9 |
| Section 3.7 | Financial Statements and Reports; Regulatory Filings. | 9 |
| Section 3.8 | Books and Records | 10 |
| Section 3.9 | Properties | 10 |
| Section 3.10 | Loans; Allowance for Credit Losses | 11 |
| Section 3.11 | Taxes | 12 |
| Section 3.12 | Employee Benefits. | 13 |
| Section 3.13 | Compliance with Legal Requirements | 15 |
| Section 3.14 | Legal Proceedings; Orders. | 15 |
| Section 3.15 | Absence of Certain Changes and Events | 16 |
| Section 3.16 | Material Contracts | 16 |
| Section 3.17 | No Defaults | 17 |
| Section 3.18 | Insurance | 18 |
| Section 3.19 | Compliance with Environmental Laws | 18 |
| Section 3.20 | Transactions with Affiliates | 19 |
| Section 3.21 | Voting Requirements | 19 |
| Section 3.22 | State Takeover Statutes | 19 |
| Section 3.23 | Opinion of Financial Advisor | 19 |
| Section 3.24 | Brokerage Commissions | 19 |
| Section 3.25 | Approval Delays | 19 |
| Section 3.26 | Labor Matters. | 20 |
| Section 3.27 | Intellectual Property | 20 |
| Section 3.28 | Investments. | 20 |
| Section 3.29 | No Dissenters' Rights | 21 |
| Section 3.30 | Deposits | 21 |
| Section 3.31 | Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity | 21 |
| Section 3.32 | Company Information | 22 |
| Section 3.33 | Risk Management Instruments | 22 |
| Section 3.34 | Mortgage Banking Business | 22 |

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ii

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Section 3.35 | Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering and OFAC, and Customer Information | 23 |
| Section 3.36 | No Other Representations or Warranties | 24 |
| ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB | ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB | 24 |
| Section 4.1 | Organization | 24 |
| Section 4.2 | Acquiror Subsidiary Organizations | 24 |
| Section 4.3 | Authorization; Enforceability | 25 |
| Section 4.4 | No Conflict | 25 |
| Section 4.5 | Acquiror Capitalization. | 26 |
| Section 4.6 | Acquiror Subsidiary Capitalization | 27 |
| Section 4.7 | Acquiror SEC Reports; Financial Statements and Reports; Regulatory Filings | 27 |
| Section 4.8 | Books and Records | 28 |
| Section 4.9 | Properties | 29 |
| Section 4.10 | Loans; Allowance for Credit Losses | 29 |
| Section 4.11 | Taxes | 30 |
| Section 4.12 | Employee Benefits | 31 |
| Section 4.13 | Compliance with Legal Requirements | 32 |
| Section 4.14 | Legal Proceedings; Orders | 32 |
| Section 4.15 | Absence of Certain Changes and Events | 33 |
| Section 4.16 | Compliance with Environmental Laws | 33 |
| Section 4.17 | Brokerage Commissions | 33 |
| Section 4.18 | Approval Delays | 33 |
| Section 4.19 | Financial Capability | 33 |
| Section 4.20 | Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering and OFAC, and Customer Information | 33 |
| Section 4.21 | No Other Representations or Warranties. | 34 |
| ARTICLE 5 COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY | ARTICLE 5 COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY | 34 |
| Section 5.1 | Access and Investigation. | 34 |
| Section 5.2 | Operation of the Company and Company Subsidiaries. | 35 |
| Section 5.3 | Notice of Changes | 38 |
| Section 5.4 | Shareholders' Meeting | 39 |
| Section 5.5 | Information Provided to Acquiror | 39 |
| Section 5.6 | Operating Functions | 39 |
| Section 5.7 | Company Benefit Plans. | 40 |
| Section 5.8 | Takeover Laws | 40 |
| Section 5.9 | Acquisition Proposals | 40 |
| ARTICLE 6 COVENANTS OF ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB | ARTICLE 6 COVENANTS OF ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB | 41 |
| Section 6.1 | Access and Investigation. | 41 |
| Section 6.2 | Operation of Acquiror and Acquiror Subsidiaries. | 42 |
| Section 6.3 | Advisory Board; Acquiror Board. | 43 |
| Section 6.4 | Information Provided to the Company | 43 |
| Section 6.5 | Operating Functions | 43 |
| Section 6.6 | Indemnification. | 43 |
| Section 6.7 | Authorization and Reservation of Acquiror Common Stock | 44 |
| Section 6.8 | Stock Exchange Listing | 44 |
| Section 6.9 | Assumption of Debt Instruments | 44 |
| ARTICLE 7 COVENANTS OF ALL PARTIES | ARTICLE 7 COVENANTS OF ALL PARTIES | 45 |
| Section 7.1 | Regulatory Approvals | 45 |
| Section 7.2 | SEC Registration | 45 |

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iii

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Section 7.3 | Publicity | 46 |
| Section 7.4 | Reasonable Best Efforts; Cooperation | 46 |
| Section 7.5 | Tax Free Reorganization | 46 |
| Section 7.6 | Transaction Structure | 47 |
| Section 7.7 | Takeover Laws | 47 |
| Section 7.8 | Employees and Employee Benefits | 48 |
| Section 7.9 | Section 16 Matters | 49 |
| Section 7.10 | Shareholder Litigation | 49 |
| ARTICLE 8 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB | ARTICLE 8 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB | 49 |
| Section 8.1 | Accuracy of Representations and Warranties | 49 |
| Section 8.2 | Performance by the Company | 50 |
| Section 8.3 | Shareholder Approvals | 50 |
| Section 8.4 | No Proceedings, Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality | 50 |
| Section 8.5 | Regulatory Approvals | 50 |
| Section 8.6 | Registration Statement | 50 |
| Section 8.7 | Legal Opinion | 50 |
| Section 8.8 | Tax Opinion | 50 |
| Section 8.9 | Stock Exchange Listing | 50 |
| Section 8.10 | No Material Adverse Effect | 51 |
| ARTICLE 9 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY | ARTICLE 9 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY | 51 |
| Section 9.1 | Accuracy of Representations and Warranties | 51 |
| Section 9.2 | Performance by Acquiror | 51 |
| Section 9.3 | Shareholder Approvals | 51 |
| Section 9.4 | No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality | 51 |
| Section 9.5 | Regulatory Approvals | 52 |
| Section 9.6 | Registration Statement | 52 |
| Section 9.7 | Legal Opinion | 52 |
| Section 9.8 | Tax Opinion | 52 |
| Section 9.9 | Stock Exchange Listing | 52 |
| Section 9.10 | No Material Adverse Effect | 52 |
| ARTICLE 10 TERMINATION | ARTICLE 10 TERMINATION | 52 |
| Section 10.1 | Termination of Agreement | 52 |
| Section 10.2 | Effect of Termination or Abandonment | 54 |
| Section 10.3 | Fees and Expenses. | 55 |
| ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS | ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS | 55 |
| Section 11.1 | Survival | 55 |
| Section 11.2 | Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial | 56 |
| Section 11.3 | Assignments, Successors and No Third Party Rights | 56 |
| Section 11.4 | Modification | 56 |
| Section 11.5 | Extension of Time; Waiver | 57 |
| Section 11.6 | Notices | 57 |
| Section 11.7 | Entire Agreement | 58 |
| Section 11.8 | Severability | 58 |
| Section 11.9 | Further Assurances | 58 |
| Section 11.10 | Counterparts | 58 |
| ARTICLE 12 DEFINITIONS | ARTICLE 12 DEFINITIONS | 58 |
| Section 12.1 | Definitions | 58 |
| Section 12.2 | Principles of Construction. | 65 |

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iv

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**SCHEDULES & EXHIBITS**

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| Schedule 7.8(d) | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Severance Pay Schedule |
| Exhibit A | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Form of Voting Agreement |
| Exhibit B | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bank Merger Agreement |

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v

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

**INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS**

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Acquiror | 6 | Company Investment Securities | 27 |
| Acquiror Articles of Incorporation | 58 | Company Loans | 18 |
| Acquiror Bank | 9 | Company Material Contract | 22 |
| Acquiror Benefit Plan | 63 | Company Permitted Exceptions | 17 |
| Acquiror Board | 63 | Company Preferred Stock | 14 |
| Acquiror Bylaws | 63 | Company Restricted Shares | 13 |
| Acquiror Capital Stock | 63 | Company Shareholder Approval  | 25 |
| Acquiror Capitalization Date | 30 | Company Shareholders' Meeting | 43 |
| Acquiror Common Stock | 63 | Company Stock Certificates | 11 |
| Acquiror Equity Award | 64 | Company Stock Plans | 65 |
| Acquiror ERISA Affiliate | 64 | Confidentiality Agreement | 40 |
| Acquiror Evaluation Date | 33 | Contemplated Transactions | 65 |
| Acquiror Financial Statements | 32 | Contract | 65 |
| Acquiror Loans | 34 | Control," "Controlling" or "Controlled | 65 |
| Acquiror Preferred Stock | 30 | Conversion Fund | 11 |
| Acquiror SEC Reports | 64 | Covered Employees | 52 |
| [Deleted] | 64 | CRA | 65 |
| Acquiror Stock Issuance | 64 | Deposit Insurance Fund | 65 |
| Acquiror Stock Plans | 64 | Derivative Transactions | 65 |
| Acquisition Proposal | 64 | Determination Date | 58 |
| Affiliate | 64 | DOL | 66 |
| Agreement  | 8 | Effective Time | 9 |
| Bank Merger | 9 | Environment | 66 |
| Bank Merger Agreement | 9 | Environmental Laws | 66 |
| Borrowing Affiliate | 41 | ERISA | 66 |
| Business Day | 64 | Exchange Act | 66 |
| Certificate of Merger | 9 | Exchange Agent | 11 |
| CIC Payment | 53 | Excluded Shares | 66 |
| Closing | 9 | FDIC | 66 |
| Closing Date | 9 | Federal Reserve | 66 |
| Code | 8 | Final Acquiror Market Value | 58 |
| Company | 8 | Final Index Price | 58 |
| Company Adverse Recommendation | 43 | GAAP | 66 |
| Company Bank | 9 | Hazardous Materials | 66 |
| Company Benefit Plan | 64 | Index | 59 |
| Company Board | 65 | Index Ratio | 59 |
| Company Bylaws | 65 | Initial Acquiror Market Value | 59 |
| Company Capital Stock | 65 | Initial Index Price | 59 |
| Company Capitalization Date | 14 | IRS | 66 |
| Company Articles of Incorporation | 64 | IRS Guidelines | 51 |
| Company Common Stock | 8 | Proxy Statement | 66 |
| Company Employees | 42 | Knowledge | 66 |
| Company Equity Award | 65 | Legal Requirement | 67 |
| Company Equity Awards | 15 | Letter of Transmittal | 11 |
| Company ERISA Affiliate | 65 | Material Adverse Effect | 67 |
| Company Financial Statements | 16 | MBCA | 67 |

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vi

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Merger | 8 | Regulatory Authority | 68 |
| Merger Sub | 8 | Representative | 68 |
| NASDAQ Rules | 67 | Requisite Regulatory Approvals | 68 |
| New Plans | 52 | SEC | 68 |
| Old Plans | 52 | Securities Act | 68 |
| Order | 67 | Subsidiary | 68 |
| Ordinary Course of Business | 67 | Superior Proposal | 68 |
| OREO | 68 | Surviving Corporation | 8 |
| PBGC | 10 | Takeover Laws | 25 |
| Per Share Cash Consideration | 10 | Tax | 69 |
| Per Share Merger Consideration | 10 | Tax Return | 69 |
| Per Share Stock Consideration | 68 | Termination Date | 57 |
| Per Share Value | 68 | Termination Fee | 59 |
| Person | 68 | Transition Date | 69 |
| Proceeding | 68 | Voting Agreements | 8 |

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**AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER**

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement") is entered into as of July 22, 2025, by and among Mercantile Bank Corporation, a Michigan corporation ("Acquiror"), Shamrock Merger Sub Inc., a Michigan corporation ("Merger Sub"), and Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation, a Michigan corporation (the "Company").

**RECITALS**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A. The boards of directors of Merger Sub and the Company have approved and declared advisable, and the board of directors of Acquiror has approved and declared advisable, this Agreement and the merger of the Company with and into Merger Sub (the "Merger"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, whereby each issued and outstanding share of common stock, par value $5.00 per share, of the Company ("Company Common Stock"), other than any Excluded Shares, will be converted into the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B. The parties intend that the Merger qualify as a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"), and that this Agreement be, and hereby is adopted as, a "plan of reorganization" within the meaning of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and as a material inducement to Acquiror to enter into this Agreement, certain shareholders of the Company are entering into agreements with Acquiror, pursuant to which such shareholders will agree to take certain actions in furtherance of the Merger, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (collectively, the "Voting Agreements").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;D. The parties desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to prescribe certain conditions to the Merger.

vii

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**AGREEMENTS**

In consideration of the foregoing premises, which are incorporated herein by this reference, and the mutual representations, covenants and agreements of the parties herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

**ARTICLE 1**<br> **THE MERGER; BANK MERGER**

**Section 1.1 The Merger**. Provided that this Agreement shall not prior thereto have been terminated in accordance with its express terms, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the Michigan Business Corporation Act ("MBCA"), the Company shall be merged with and into Merger Sub at the Effective Time. Following the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of the Company shall cease and Merger Sub shall continue as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation") and shall succeed to and assume all the rights and obligations of Merger Sub and the Company in accordance with the MBCA.

**Section 1.2 Closing**. Provided that this Agreement shall not prior thereto have been terminated in accordance with its express terms, the closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall occur through the electronic means or at a place that is mutually acceptable to Acquiror and the Company, or if they fail to agree, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, at the offices of Acquiror, on the subsequent month-end, if such date is not itself a month-end, of the date that is thirty (30) days after the satisfaction or waiver (subject to applicable Legal Requirements) of the conditions set forth in Article 8 and Article 9 (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied or waived at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions) or at such other time and place as Acquiror and the Company may agree in writing (the "Closing Date"). Subject to Article 10, failure to consummate the Merger on the date and time and at the place determined pursuant to this Section 1.2 will not result in the termination of this Agreement and will not relieve any party of any obligation under this Agreement.

**Section 1.3 Effective Time**. The Merger shall become effective when a Certificate of Merger (the "Certificate of Merger"), executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the MBCA, is duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Michigan, or at such later time as Merger Sub and the Company shall agree and is specified in the Certificate of Merger (the "Effective Time"). The filing of the Certificate of Merger shall be made as soon as practicable on the Closing Date after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article 8 and Article 9.

**Section 1.4 Effects of the Merger**. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in the MBCA and this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, at the Effective Time, all of the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company shall be vested in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

**Section 1.5 Organizational Documents; Directors and Officers**.

(a) At the Effective Time, the Articles of Incorporation of Merger Sub shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or permitted by applicable law.

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(b) The bylaws of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable law.

(c) The directors and officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

(d) Acquiror and Acquiror Bank shall take all appropriate action so that, as of the Effective Time, (A) the number of directors constituting Acquiror's Board and the board of directors of Acquiror Bank shall each be increased by one (1) and (B) a Company director, selected by and pursuant the corporate governance requirements of Acquiror and Acquiror Bank, shall be appointed a director of Acquiror and Acquiror Bank.

(e) At the Effective Time, Acquiror will cause to be an advisory board ("Advisory Board") to be formed and constituted which shall advise the Acquiror with regard to matters of integration and transition with regard to the Contemplated Transactions and the Eastern Michigan market. The Advisory Board will include existing board members from Eastern.

**Section 1.6 Bank Merger**. At such time following the Merger as Acquiror may determine in its sole discretion, Eastern Michigan Bank (the "Company Bank"), a Michigan state chartered bank and wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, will merge with and into Mercantile Bank ("Acquiror Bank"), a Michigan state chartered bank and wholly owned Subsidiary of Acquiror (the "Bank Merger"). Acquiror Bank shall be the surviving entity in the Bank Merger and, following the Bank Merger, the separate corporate existence of the Company Bank shall cease. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Acquiror Bank and the Company Bank entered into the agreement and plan of merger attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Bank Merger Agreement"). Prior to the Effective Time, Acquiror shall cause Acquiror Bank, and the Company shall cause the Company Bank, to execute such certificates or articles of merger and such other documents and certificates as are necessary to effectuate the Bank Merger.

**ARTICLE 2**<br> **CONVERSION OF SECURITIES IN THE MERGER**

**Section 2.1 Consideration**. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Acquiror, the Company or any holder of shares of Company Common Stock:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, except for Excluded Shares, shall be converted into the right to receive the following consideration:

(i) $32.32 (the "Per Share Cash Consideration"); plus

(ii) 0.7116 fully paid and nonassessable shares of Acquiror Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided by Section 10.1(i) hereof (the "Exchange Ratio").

The Exchange Ratio multiplied by the Final Acquiror Market Value (the Per Share Stock Consideration), together with the Per Share Cash Consideration, is hereinafter referred to as the "Per Share Merger Consideration ("Per Share Merger Consideration").

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(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, shares of Acquiror Common Stock or Company Common Stock shall be changed into a different number of shares or a different class of shares by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a reverse stock split), split-up, combination, exchange of shares or readjustment, or if a stock dividend on shares of Acquiror Common Stock shall be declared with a record date within such period, then the number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock issued to holders of Company Common Stock at the Effective Time pursuant to this Agreement will be appropriately and proportionally adjusted to provide the holders of Company Common Stock the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.

**Section 2.2 Cancellation of Shares**. At the Effective Time, the shares of Company Common Stock will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be cancelled and will cease to exist. Certificates (it being understood that any reference herein to a "certificate" be deemed to include reference to any book-entry account statement relating to the ownership of Company Common Stock) that represented Company Common Stock before the Effective Time will be deemed for all purposes to represent only the right to receive, upon surrender thereof, the Per Share Merger Consideration subject to the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in Section 2.1 to the contrary, at the Effective Time and by virtue of the Merger, each share of Company Common Stock held in the Company's treasury will be cancelled and no Per Share Merger Consideration will be issued or paid in exchange thereof.

**Section 2.3 No Fractional Shares**. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Final Acquiror Market Value shall be issued as Per Share Stock Consideration in the Merger. Each holder of Company Common Stock who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share of Acquiror Common Stock pursuant to this Article 2 shall instead be entitled to receive an amount in cash (without interest) rounded to the nearest whole cent, determined by multiplying the Acquiror Common Stock Price at Closing by the fractional share of Acquiror Common Stock to which such former holder would otherwise be entitled.

**Section 2.4 Exchange of Certificates.**

(a) The parties to this Agreement agree: (i) that Computershare Trust Company, N.A. shall serve, pursuant to the terms of an exchange agent agreement, as the exchange agent for purposes of this Agreement (the "Exchange Agent"); and (ii) to execute and deliver the exchange agent agreement at or prior to the Effective Time. Acquiror shall be solely responsible for the payment of any fees and expenses of the Exchange Agent.

(b) At or prior to the Effective Time, Acquiror shall authorize the issuance of and shall make available to the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of the holders of Company Common Stock for exchange in accordance with this Article 2: (i) the aggregate number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock deliverable pursuant to Section 2.1, (ii) the aggregate cash consideration to be paid as Per Share Cash Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1; and (iii) sufficient cash for payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.3. Such amount of cash and shares of Acquiror Common Stock, together with any dividends or distributions with respect thereto paid after the Effective Time, are referred to in this Article 2 as the "Conversion Fund."

(c) Within two (2) Business Days after the Closing Date, Acquiror shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of one or more certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock ("Company Stock Certificates") a letter of transmittal ("Letter of Transmittal"), in a form to be agreed by the parties, which specifies, among other things, that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to Company Stock Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of such certificates to the Exchange Agent, together with instructions for use in effecting the surrender of Company Stock Certificates pursuant to this Agreement.

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(d) Upon proper surrender of a Company Stock Certificate for exchange to the Exchange Agent, together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, the holder of such Company Stock Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor his, her or its Per Share Merger Consideration plus cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock in accordance with Section 2.3 deliverable in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock represented by such Company Stock Certificate; thereupon such Company Stock Certificate shall forthwith be cancelled. No interest will be paid or accrued on any portion of the Per Share Merger Consideration deliverable upon surrender of a Company Stock Certificate.

(e) After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books of the Company of outstanding Company Capital Stock

(f) No dividends or other distributions declared with respect to Acquiror Common Stock and payable to the holders of record thereof after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Company Stock Certificate until the holder thereof shall surrender such Company Stock Certificate in accordance with this Article 2. Promptly after the surrender of a Company Stock Certificate in accordance with this Article 2, the record holder thereof shall be entitled to receive any such dividends or other distributions, without interest thereon, which theretofore had become payable with respect to shares of Acquiror Common Stock into which the shares of Company Common Stock represented by such Company Stock Certificate were converted at the Effective Time pursuant to Section 2.1. No holder of an unsurrendered Company Stock Certificate shall be entitled, until the surrender of such Company Stock Certificate, to vote the shares of Acquiror Common Stock into which such holder's Company Common Stock shall have been converted.

(g) Any portion of the Conversion Fund that remains unclaimed by the shareholders of the Company twelve (12) months after the Effective Time shall be paid to the Surviving Corporation, or its successors in interest. Any shareholders of the Company who have not theretofore complied with this Article 2 shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation, or its successors in interest, for issuance and payment of the Per Share Merger Consideration (including the payment of cash in lieu of any fractional shares deliverable in respect of such shareholders' shares of Company Common Stock), as well as any accrued and unpaid dividends or distributions on shares of such Acquiror Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Surviving Corporation, the Exchange Agent or any other person shall be liable to any former holder of shares of Company Common Stock for any amount delivered in good faith to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar laws.

(h) In the event any Company Stock Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Company Stock Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the Exchange Agent, the posting by such Person of a bond in such amount as the Exchange Agent may determine is reasonably necessary as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Company Stock Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Company Stock Certificate, and in accordance with this Article 2, the Per Share Merger Consideration (including cash in lieu of any fractional shares deliverable in respect of such shareholders' shares of Company Common Stock, as well as any accrued and unpaid dividends or distributions on shares of such Acquiror Common Stock).

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**Section 2.5 Withholding Rights**. The Exchange Agent or Acquiror will be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Per Share Merger Consideration or any other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby to any holder of Company Common Stock such amounts as the Exchange Agent or Acquiror are required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, or any applicable provision of U.S. federal, state, local, or non-U.S. tax law. To the extent that such amounts are properly withheld by the Exchange Agent or Acquiror and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of Company Common Stock in respect of whom such deduction and withholding were made by the Exchange Agent or Acquiror.

**Section 2.6 Company Equity Awards.**

(a) Company Stock Options. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts with respect to taking all necessary actions so that, at the Effective Time, each option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock granted under the Company Stock Plans (each, a "Company Stock Option"), whether previously vested or vested as a result of the Merger, shall be cancelled by the Company in consideration for which the holder thereof shall thereupon be entitled to receive promptly after the Effective Time a cash payment in respect of such cancellation from the Company in an amount, without interest, equal to: (i) the product of (x) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option and (y) the excess, if any, of the Per Share Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option; minus (ii) all applicable federal, state and local Taxes required to be withheld by the Surviving Corporation. In connection with the cash out of the Company Stock Option, the Company shall require the holder of such options to execute a stock option cancellation agreement prior to payment of such consideration.

(b) Restricted Shares. The Company shall take all necessary actions so that all shares of Company Common Stock that are subject to vesting or other risks of forfeiture pursuant to awards granted under the Company Stock Plans ("Company Restricted Shares") vest immediately prior to the Effective Time. Such shares shall be considered outstanding for all purposes of this Agreement, including, if applicable, the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration in accordance with this Article 2.

**ARTICLE 3**<br> **REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY**

The Company hereby represents and warrants to Acquiror and Merger Sub as follows:

**Section 3.1 Company Organization**. The Company: (a) is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Michigan and is also in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or the properties or assets owned or leased by it makes such qualification necessary; (b) is registered with the Federal Reserve as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended; and (c) has full power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to operate as a bank holding company and to own, operate and lease its properties as presently owned, operated and leased, and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. True, complete and correct copies of the Company Articles of Incorporation and Company Bylaws and all amendments thereto have been provided to Acquiror and are in full force and effect as of the date of this Agreement. The Company has no Subsidiary other than the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 3.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedules.

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**Section 3.2 Company Subsidiary Organizations**. The Company Bank is a Michigan state chartered bank duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Michigan and is a member of the Federal Reserve System. Each Subsidiary of the Company is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and is also in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or the properties or assets owned or leased by it makes such qualification necessary. Each Subsidiary of the Company has full power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to own, operate and lease its properties as presently owned, operated and leased, and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. The deposit accounts of the Company Bank are insured by the FDIC through the Deposit Insurance Fund to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, and all premiums and assessments required to be paid in connection therewith have been paid when due. The Company has delivered or made available to Acquiror true, complete and correct copies of the charter (or similar organizational documents) and bylaws of each Subsidiary of the Company and all amendments thereto, each of which are in full force and effect as of the date of this Agreement.

**Section 3.3 Authorization; Enforceability**. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the Company Board. The Company Board has determined that the Merger, on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, and that this Agreement and transactions contemplated hereby are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Company Board has directed this Agreement be submitted to the Company's shareholders for adoption at a duly held meeting of such shareholders and has resolved to recommend that the Company's shareholders vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, and the consummation by it of its obligations under this Agreement, have been authorized by all necessary corporate action, subject to the Company Shareholder Approval, and, subject to the receipt of the Requisite Regulatory Approvals, this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other Legal Requirements affecting creditors' rights generally and subject to general principles of equity.

**Section 3.4 No Conflict**. Except as listed on Schedule 3.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation or performance of any of the Contemplated Transactions will, directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time): (a) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of the Articles of Incorporation, certificate of formation or charter (or similar organizational documents) or bylaws or operating agreement, each as in effect on the date hereof, or any currently effective resolution adopted by the board of directors, shareholders, manager or members of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (b) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any Legal Requirement or any Order to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective assets that are owned or used by them, may be subject, except for any contravention, conflict or violation that is permissible by virtue of obtaining the Requisite Regulatory Approvals; or (c) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of, or give any Person the right to declare a default or exercise any remedy under, or to accelerate the maturity or performance of, or to cancel, terminate or modify, or which would result in the creation of any material lien, charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the assets owned or used by the Company or its Subsidiaries under, any Company Material Contract. Except for: (i) the filing of applications, filings and notices, as applicable, with the Federal Reserve and approval of such applications, filings and notices; (ii) the filing of applications, filings and notices, as applicable, with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, Office of Banking and approval of such applications, filings and notices; (iii) the filing of any required applications, filings or notices with the FDIC and approval of such applications; (iv) the filing with the SEC of the Proxy Statement in definitive form and of the Registration Statement and declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement; (v) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Michigan; and (vi) such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under the securities or "Blue Sky" laws of various states in connection with the issuance of the shares of Acquiror Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and the listing of additional shares of Acquiror Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, no consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality are necessary in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation or performance of any of the Contemplated Transactions.

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**Section 3.5 Company Capitalization**.

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 3,300,000 shares of capital stock divided into 3,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share and 300,000 shares of Company Preferred Stock without par value ("Company Preferred Stock"). As of June 30, 2025 (the "Company Capitalization Date"), (i) 1,298,401 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) options outstanding (vested and unvested) to purchase 259,348 shares of Company Common Stock with a weighted average exercise price of $32.06 per share, and (iii) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued or outstanding. The Company does not have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other debt obligations having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) with the shareholders of the Company on any matter. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and none of such shares were issued in violation of, or without compliance with, any preemptive rights.

(b) As of the Company Capitalization Date, no shares of Company Capital Stock were reserved for issuance except for: 536,880 shares of Company Capital Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company's Equity Incentive Plan (the "Company Equity Awards").

(c) Except as listed on Schedule 3.5(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, other than awards under the Company Stock Plans that are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, no equity-based awards were outstanding as of the Company Capitalization Date. Since the Company Capitalization Date through the date hereof, the Company has not: (i) issued or repurchased any shares of Company Capital Stock or other equity securities of the Company, other than in connection with the exercise of Company Equity Awards that were outstanding on the Company Capitalization Date or settlement thereof, in each case in accordance with the terms of the relevant Company Stock Plan; or (ii) issued or awarded any options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units, deferred equity units, awards based on the value of Company Capital Stock, or any other equity-based awards. From the Company Capitalization Date through the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has: (A) accelerated the vesting of or lapsing of restrictions with respect to any stock-based compensation awards or long-term incentive compensation awards; (B) with respect to executive officers of the Company or its Subsidiaries, entered into or amended any employment, severance, change in control or similar agreement (including any agreement providing for the reimbursement of excise taxes under Section 4999 of the Code); or (C) adopted or materially amended any Company Stock Plan.

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(d) None of the shares of Company Common Stock were issued in violation of any federal or state securities laws or any other applicable Legal Requirement. As of the date of this Agreement there are: (i) other than outstanding Company Equity Awards, no outstanding subscriptions, Contracts, conversion privileges, options, warrants, calls or other rights obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, sell or otherwise dispose of, or to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and (ii) no contractual obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Company Common Stock or any equity security of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Except as permitted by this Agreement, since the date hereof, no shares of Company Common Stock have been purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and no dividends or other distributions payable in any equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been declared, set aside, made or paid to the shareholders of the Company. Other than its Subsidiaries, the Company does not own, nor has any Contract to acquire, any equity interests or other securities of any Person or any direct or indirect equity or ownership interest in any other business.

**Section 3.6 Company Subsidiary Capitalization**

. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity ownership interests of each Subsidiary of the Company are owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any material liens, pledges, charges, claims and security interests and similar encumbrances, and all of such shares or equity ownership interests are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. No Subsidiary of the Company has or is bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments or agreements of any character calling for the purchase or issuance of any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Subsidiary or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Subsidiary. No Subsidiary of the Company owns or has any Contract to acquire, any equity interests or other securities of any Person or any direct or indirect equity or ownership interest in any other business.

**Section 3.7 Financial Statements and Reports; Regulatory Filings**.

(a) True and complete copies of the following financial statements (collectively, the "Company Financial Statements") have been made available to Acquiror: (i) the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, and the related statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal years then ended; and (ii) the unaudited consolidated interim balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2025 and the related statement of income for the six-month period then ended.

(b) The Company Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, except in each case as indicated in such statements or the notes thereto, and comply in all material respects with all applicable Legal Requirements. Taken together, the Company Financial Statements are complete and correct in all material respects and fairly and accurately present the respective financial position, assets, liabilities and results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the respective dates of and for the periods referred to in the Company Financial Statements, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments in the case of unaudited Company Financial Statements. As of the date hereof, Rehmann Robson LLC has not resigned (or informed the Company that it intends to resign) or been dismissed as independent registered public accountants of the Company.

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(c) The Company has devised and maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(d) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all forms, reports and documents required to be filed with all applicable federal or state securities or banking authorities except to the extent failure would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries. Such forms, reports and documents: (i) complied as to form in all material respects with applicable Legal Requirements; and (ii) did not at the time they were filed, after giving effect to any amendment thereto filed prior to the date hereof, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that information filed as of a later date (but before the date of this Agreement) is deemed to modify information as of an earlier date.

(e) To the Knowledge of the Company, there has not been any event or occurrence that would result in a determination that the Company Bank is not an eligible depository institution as defined in 12 C.F.R. § 303.2(r).

**Section 3.8 Books and Records**. The books of account, minute books, stock record books and other records of the Company and its Subsidiaries are complete and correct in all material respects and have been maintained in accordance with the Company's business practices and all applicable Legal Requirements, including the maintenance of an adequate system of internal controls required by such Legal Requirements. The minute books of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries fairly reflect the substance of events and transactions included therein.

**Section 3.9 Properties**.

(a) Schedule 3.9 of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists or describes all interests in real property owned by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, including OREO, as of the date of this Agreement, together with the address of such real estate, and each lease of real property to which it is a party, and in each case of either owned or leased real property, the proper identification, if applicable, of each such property as a branch or main office or other office.

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(b) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all assets and properties, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, that it purports to own, other than OREO, subject to no liens, mortgages, security interests, encumbrances or charges of any kind except: (i) as noted in the most recent Company Financial Statements or incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since the date of the most recent Company Financial Statements; (ii) statutory liens for Taxes not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate Proceedings and for which appropriate reserves have been established and reflected in the Company Financial Statements; (iii) pledges or liens required to be granted in connection with the acceptance of government deposits, granted in connection with repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements, securing any discount with, borrowing from, or obligations to any Federal Reserve Bank or Federal Home Loan Bank, interbank credit facilities or any transaction by the Company Bank acting in a fiduciary capacity, or otherwise incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business; (iv) easements, rights of way, and other similar encumbrances that do not materially affect the present use of the properties or assets subject thereto or affected thereby or otherwise impair the present business operations at such properties; (v) minor defects and irregularities in title and encumbrances that do not impair the use thereof for the purposes for which they are held as of the date of this Agreement; (vi) liens or deposits in connection with worker's compensation, unemployment insurance, social security or other insurance; (vii) inchoate mechanic's and materialmen's liens for construction in progress and workmen's, repairmen's, warehousemen's and carrier's liens arising in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company or the Company Bank consistent with past practice; (viii) liens existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person is acquired by or is combined with the Company or any of the Company's Subsidiaries, provided the lien was not created in contemplation of that event; (ix) liens on property required by Regulation W promulgated by the Federal Reserve; and (x) liens incidental to the conduct of business or ownership of property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the property or materially impair the use thereof as of the date of this Agreement (collectively, the "Company Permitted Exceptions"). The Company and each of its Subsidiaries as lessee has the right under valid and existing leases to occupy, use, possess and control any and all of the respective property leased by it, and each such lease is valid and without default thereunder by the lessee or, to the Knowledge of the Company, the lessor. All buildings and structures owned by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries lie wholly within the boundaries of the real property owned or validly leased by it, and do not encroach upon the property of, or otherwise conflict with the property rights of, any other Person.

**Section 3.10 Loans; Allowance for Credit Losses**.

(a) Each loan, loan agreement, note, lease or other borrowing agreement by the Company Bank, any participation therein, and any guaranty, renewal or extension thereof (the "Company Loans") reflected as an asset on any of the Company Financial Statements or reports filed with the Regulatory Authorities is evidenced by documentation that is customary and legally sufficient in all material respects and constitutes, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the obligor named therein, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or equitable principles or doctrines.

(b) All Company Loans originated or purchased by the Company Bank were made or purchased in accordance with the policies of the board of directors of the Company Bank and in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company Bank. The Company Bank's interest in all Company Loans is free and clear of any security interest, lien, encumbrance or other charge, and, the Company Bank has complied in all material respects with all Legal Requirements relating to such Company Loans. There has been no default on, or forgiveness or waiver of, in whole or in part, any Company Loan made to an executive officer or director of the Company or the Company Bank or an entity Controlled by an executive officer or director during the five (5) years immediately preceding the date hereof.

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(c) Schedule 3.10(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists, as of June 30, 2025, each Company Loan: (i) under the terms of which the obligor is more than ninety (90) days delinquent in payment of principal or interest or in default of any other material provision as of the dates shown thereon or for which the Company Bank has discontinued the accrual of interest; (ii) that has been classified as "substandard," "doubtful," "loss," "other loans especially mentioned" or any comparable classifications by the Company Bank; (iii) that has been listed on any "watch list" or similar internal report of the Company Bank; (iv) that has been the subject of any notice from any obligor of adverse environmental conditions potentially affecting the value of any collateral for such Company Loan; (v) with respect to which the Company Bank has Knowledge of potential violations of any Environmental Laws that may have occurred on the property serving as collateral for such Company Loan or by any obligor of such Company Loan; or (vi) that represents an extension of credit to an executive officer or director of the Company Bank or an entity Controlled by an executive officer or director.

(d) The Company Bank's allowance for credit losses reflected in the Company Financial Statements (including footnotes thereto) was determined on the basis of the Company Bank's continuing review and evaluation of the portfolio of Company Loans under the requirements of GAAP and Legal Requirements, was established in a manner consistent with the Company Bank's internal policies, and, in the reasonable judgment of the Company Bank, was adequate in all material respects under the requirements of GAAP and all Legal Requirements to provide for possible or specific losses, net of recoveries relating to Company Loans previously charged-off, on outstanding Company Loans.

(e) None of the Company Loans is subject to any material offset or claim of offset. The aggregate loan balances in excess of the Company Bank's allowance credit losses are, based on past credit loss experience, collectible in accordance with their terms and all uncollectible loans have been charged off.

**Section 3.11 Taxes**.

(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have duly and timely filed (taking into account all applicable extensions) all Tax Returns required to be filed by them, and each such Tax Return was true, correct and complete in all material respects when filed. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have paid, or made adequate provision for the payment of, all Taxes (whether or not reflected in Tax Returns as filed or to be filed) due and payable by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, or claimed to be due and payable by any Regulatory Authority, and are not delinquent in the payment of any Tax, except such Taxes as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided.

(b) There is no claim or assessment pending or to the Knowledge of the Company threatened against the Company and its Subsidiaries for any Taxes that they owe. No audit, examination or investigation related to Taxes paid or payable by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is presently being conducted or to the Knowledge of the Company threatened by any Regulatory Authority. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return, and there are no liens for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable) upon any of the Company's or its Subsidiaries' assets. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has executed an extension or waiver of any statute of limitations on the assessment or collection of any Tax that is currently in effect.

(c) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have delivered or made available to Acquiror true, correct and complete copies of all Tax Returns relating to income taxes, franchise taxes and all other material Taxes owed by the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to the last three (3) fiscal years.

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(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have engaged in any transaction that could materially affect the Tax liability for any Tax Returns not closed by applicable statute of limitations: (i) which is a "reportable transaction" or a "listed transaction" or (ii) a "significant purpose of which is the avoidance or evasion of United States federal income tax" within the meaning of Sections 6662, 6662A, 6011, 6111 or 6707A of the Code or of the regulations of the United States Department of the Treasury promulgated thereunder or pursuant to notices or other guidance published by the IRS (irrespective of the effective dates).

**Section 3.12 Employee Benefits**.

(a) Schedule 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules includes a complete and correct list of each Company Benefit Plan. The Company has delivered or made available to Acquiror true and complete copies of the following with respect to each material Company Benefit Plan: (i) a copy of the Company's current employee policy manual, (ii) copies of each Company Benefit Plan (or a written description where no formal plan document exists), and all related plan descriptions and other material written communications provided to participants of Company Benefit Plans; (iii) to the extent applicable, the last three (3) years' annual reports on Form 5500, including all schedules thereto and the opinions of independent accountants; and (iv) other material ancillary documents including the following documents related to each Company Benefit Plan:

(i) all material Contracts with third party administrators, actuaries, investment managers, consultants, insurers, and independent contractors;

(ii) all notices and other material written communications that were given by the Company, any Subsidiary, or any Company Benefit Plan to the IRS, the DOL or the PBGC pursuant to applicable Legal Requirements within the six (6) years preceding the date of this Agreement;

(iii) all notices or other material written communications that were given by the IRS, the PBGC, or the DOL to the Company, any Subsidiary, or any Company Benefit Plan within the six (6) years preceding the date of this Agreement; and

(iv) with respect to any equity-based compensation plan or arrangement (including the Company Stock Plans or any stock option, stock purchase, stock ownership, stock appreciation, restricted stock, restricted stock unit, phantom stock or similar plan, agreement or award), (A) a complete and correct list of recipients of outstanding awards as of the date hereof, (B) the number of outstanding awards held by each recipient as of the date hereof and (C) the form of award agreement pursuant to which each such outstanding award was issued or otherwise granted.

(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (including possible terminations of employment in connection therewith) will cause a payment, vesting, increase or acceleration of benefits or benefit entitlements under any Company Benefit Plan or any other increase in the liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary under any Company Benefit Plan as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, no Company Benefit Plan provides for payment of any amount which, considered in the aggregate with amounts payable pursuant to all other Company Benefit Plans, would result in any amount being non-deductible for federal income tax purposes by virtue of Section 280G or 162(m) of the Code.

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(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any of Company ERISA Affiliates sponsors, maintains, administers or contributes to, or has ever sponsored, maintained, administered or contributed to, or has, has had or, could have any liability with respect to: (i) any "multiemployer plan" (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA); (ii) any "multiple employer welfare arrangement" (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA); or (iii) any self-insured plan (including any plan pursuant to which a stop loss policy or contract applies). With respect to any Company Benefit Plan that is a "multiple employer plan" (as described in Section 413(c) of the Code) or is provided by or through a professional employer organization, such Company Benefit Plan complies in all respects with the requirements of the Code and ERISA and neither the Company nor any of the Company ERISA Affiliates has any liabilities other than the payment and/or remittance of premiums and/or required contributions on behalf of enrolled individuals. Neither the Company nor any of the Company ERISA Affiliates sponsors, maintains, administers or contributes to, or has ever sponsored, maintained, administered or contributed to, or has, has had or could have any liability with respect to, any Company Benefit Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, or any tax-qualified "defined benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA). No Company Benefit Plan is underfunded when comparing the present value of accrued liabilities under such plan to the market value of plan assets.

(d) Each Company Benefit Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401 and related provisions of the Code is the subject of a favorable determination letter, or, in the case of a volume submitted or prototype plan, an advisory or sponsor letter, from the IRS to the effect that it is so qualified under the Code and that its related funding instrument is tax exempt under Section 501 of the Code (or the Company and its Subsidiaries are otherwise relying on an opinion letter issued to the prototype sponsor), and, to the Company's Knowledge, there are no facts or circumstances that would adversely affect the qualified status of any Company Benefit Plan or the tax-exempt status of any related trust.

(e) Each Company Benefit Plan is and has been administered in compliance with its terms and with all applicable Legal Requirements.

(f) There is no litigation, claim or assessment pending or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened by, on behalf of, or against any Company Benefit Plan or against the administrators or trustees or other fiduciaries of any Company Benefit Plan that alleges a violation of applicable state or federal law or violation of any Company Benefit Plan document or related agreement.

(g) No Company Benefit Plan fiduciary or any other person has, or has had, any liability to any Company Benefit Plan participant, beneficiary or any other person under any provisions of ERISA or any other applicable Legal Requirement by reason of any action or failure to act in connection with any Company Benefit Plan, including any liability by any reason of any payment of, or failure to pay, benefits or any other amounts or by reason of any credit or failure to give credit for any benefits or rights. No disqualified person (as defined in Code Section 4975(e)(2)) of any Company Benefit Plan has engaged in any nonexempt prohibited transaction (as described in Code Section 4975(c) or ERISA Section 406).

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(h) All accrued contributions and other payments to be made by the Company or any Subsidiary to any Company Benefit Plan: (i) through the date hereof have been made or reserves adequate for such purposes have been set aside therefor and reflected in Company Financial Statements; and (ii) through the Closing Date will have been made or reserves adequate for such purposes will have been set aside therefore and reflected in the Company Financial Statements.

(i) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there are no obligations under any Company Benefit Plans to provide health or other welfare benefits to retirees or other former employees, directors, consultants or their dependents (other than rights under Section 4980B of the Code or Section 601 of ERISA or comparable state laws).

(j) No condition exists as a result of which the Company or any Subsidiary would have any liability, whether absolute or contingent, under any Company Benefit Plan with respect to any misclassification of a Person performing services for the Company or any Subsidiary as an independent contractor rather than as an employee. All individuals participating in Company Benefit Plans are in fact eligible and authorized to participate in such Company Benefit Plan.

(k) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have any liabilities to employees or former employees that are not reflected in the Company Benefit Plans.

**Section 3.13 Compliance with Legal Requirements**. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries hold all material licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and rights from all appropriate Regulatory Authorities necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as presently conducted. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is, and at all times has been, in compliance with each Legal Requirement that is or was applicable to it or to the conduct or operation of its respective businesses or the ownership or use of any of its respective assets. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice or other communication (whether oral or written) from any Regulatory Authority or any other Person regarding: (a) any actual, alleged, possible, or potential violation of, or failure to comply with, any Legal Requirement; or (b) any actual, alleged, possible, or potential obligation on the part of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature in connection with a failure to comply with any Legal Requirement.

**Section 3.14 Legal Proceedings; Orders**.

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any, and there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened Proceedings against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There is no Order imposed on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or that, upon consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, would apply to the Surviving Corporation or any of its Affiliates) that would reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. No officer, director, employee or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any Order that prohibits such officer, director, employee or agent from engaging in or continuing any conduct, activity or practice relating to the businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted.

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(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.14(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries: (i) is subject to any cease and desist or other Order or enforcement action issued by; (ii) is a party to any written agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with; (iii) is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to; (iv) is subject to any Order or directive by; (v) is subject to any supervisory letter from; (vi) has been ordered to pay any civil money penalty, which has not been paid, by; or (vii) has adopted any policies, procedures or board resolutions at the request of; any Regulatory Authority that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business, in any manner relates to its capital adequacy, restricts its ability to pay dividends or interest or limits in any material manner its credit or risk management policies, its management or its business. None of the foregoing has been threatened by any Regulatory Authority.

**Section 3.15 Absence of Certain Changes and Events**. Except as listed in Schedule 3.15 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, since December 31, 2024 the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the Ordinary Course of Business and no event or events have occurred that had or would reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

**Section 3.16 Material Contracts**. Except for Contracts evidencing Company Loans made by the Company Bank in the Ordinary Course of Business, Schedule 3.16 of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists or describes the following, in each case oral or written, with respect to the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (each such agreement or document, a "Company Material Contract") as of the date of this Agreement, true, complete and correct copies of each of which have been delivered or made available to Acquiror:

(a) all loan and credit agreements, conditional sales Contracts or other title retention agreements or security agreements relating to money borrowed by it in excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000), exclusive of deposit agreements with customers of the Company Bank entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business, agreements for the purchase of federal funds and repurchase agreements and Federal Home Loan Bank advances;

(b) each Contract that involves performance of services or delivery of goods or materials by it of an amount or value in excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) (other than Contracts for the sale of loans);

(c) each Contract that was not entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and that involves expenditures or receipts by it in excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000);

(d) Contract not referred to elsewhere in this Section 3.16 that: (i) relates to the future purchase of goods or services that materially exceeds the requirements of its business at current levels or for normal operating purposes; or (ii) has a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or its Subsidiaries;

(e) each lease, rental, license, installment and conditional sale agreement and other Contract affecting the ownership of, leasing of, title to or use of, any personal property (except personal property leases and installment and conditional sales agreements having aggregate remaining payments of less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000));

(f) each material licensing agreement or other Contract with respect to patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property (other than shrink-wrap license agreements or other similar license agreements), including material agreements with current or former employees, consultants or contractors regarding the appropriation or the nondisclosure of any of its intellectual property;

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(g) each collective bargaining agreement and other Contract to or with any labor union or other employee representative of a group of employees;

(h) each joint venture, partnership and other Contract (however named) involving a sharing of profits, losses, costs or liabilities by it with any other Person;

(i) each Contract containing covenants that in any way purport to restrict, in any material respect, the business activity of the Company or its Subsidiaries or limit, in any material respect, the ability of the Company or its Subsidiaries to engage in any line of business or to compete with any Person;

(j) each Contract providing for payments to or by any Person based on sales, purchases or profits, other than direct payments for goods having an average annual amounts in excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000);

(k) each current material employment, consulting or non-competition agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party;

(l) each Contract and Company Benefit Plan pursuant to which any Person is or would be entitled to receive any payment from the Company or its Subsidiaries as a result of the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions (including any payment that is or would be due as a result of any actual or constructive termination of a Person's employment or position following such consummation) and the maximum amount of such payment;

(m) each Contract for capital expenditures for a single property, individually, or collectively with any other Contract for capital expenditures on such property, in excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000);

(n) each Company Benefit Plan;

(o) each Contract for a duration of five (5) or more years which cannot be terminated or cancelled without penalty upon no more than 30 days' notice; and

(p) each amendment, supplement and modification in respect of any of the foregoing.

**Section 3.17 No Defaults**. Each Company Material Contract is in full force and effect and is valid and enforceable against the Company and against such other party to such Company Material Contract, in accordance with its terms. No event has occurred or circumstance exists that (with or without notice or lapse of time) may contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or give the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or other Person the right to declare a default or exercise any remedy under, or to accelerate the maturity or performance of, or to cancel, terminate or modify, any Company Material Contract. Except in the Ordinary Course of Business with respect to any Company Loan, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has given to or received from any other Person, at any time since December 31, 2021, any notice or other communication (whether oral or written) regarding any actual, alleged, possible or potential violation or breach of, or default under, any Company Material Contract, that has not been terminated or satisfied prior to the date of this Agreement. Other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, there are no renegotiations of, attempts to renegotiate or outstanding rights to renegotiate, any material amounts paid or payable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under current or completed Company Material Contracts with any Person, and no such Person has made written demand for such renegotiation.

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**Section 3.18 Insurance**. Schedule 3.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists all insurance policies and bonds owned or held as of the date of this Agreement by the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to their respective business, operations, properties or assets (including bankers' blanket bond and insurance providing benefits for employees), true, complete and correct copies of each of which have been delivered or made available to Acquiror. The Company and its Subsidiaries are insured with reputable insurers against such risks and in such amounts as comparable entities engaged in the same business and industry. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with their insurance policies and are not in default under any of the terms thereof. Each such policy is outstanding and in full force and effect and, except for policies insuring against potential liabilities of officers, directors and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, the Company or the relevant Subsidiary thereof is the sole beneficiary of such policies. All premiums and other payments due under any such policy have been paid, and all material known claims thereunder have been filed in due and timely fashion. Schedule 3.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists and describes all claims that have been filed under such insurance policies and bonds within the past one (1) year prior to the date of this Agreement that individually or in the aggregate exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) and the current status of such claims. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has had any insurance policy or bond cancelled or nonrenewed by the issuer of the policy or bond within the past one (1) year.

**Section 3.19 Compliance with Environmental Laws**. There are no actions, suits, investigations, liabilities, inquiries, Proceedings or Orders involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets that are pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, nor to the Knowledge of the Company, is there any factual basis for any of the foregoing, as a result of any asserted failure of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of, or any predecessor thereof, to comply with any Environmental Law. No environmental clearances or other governmental approvals are required for the conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions. To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is the owner of any interest in real estate, other than OREO, on which any substances have been generated, used, stored, deposited, treated, recycled or disposed of, which substances if known to be present on, at or under such property, would require notification to any Regulatory Authority, clean up, removal or some other remedial action under any Environmental Law at such property or any impacted adjacent or down gradient property, except where such action would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Except for any matters that have not had, and would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, the Company and each Subsidiary of the Company has complied in all material respects with all Environmental Laws applicable to it and its business operations.

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**Section 3.20 Transactions with Affiliates**. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.20 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there are no outstanding amounts payable to or receivable from, or advances by Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, and neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is otherwise a creditor or debtor to, any director, executive officer, five percent (5) or greater shareholder of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to any of their respective Affiliates, or Affiliate of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to any person, corporation or enterprise Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with any of the foregoing, other than part of the normal and customary terms of such Persons' employment or service as a director with Company or any of its Subsidiaries and other than deposits held by Company Bank in the Ordinary Course of Business. Except as set forth in Schedule Section 3.20 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any transaction or agreement, or is contemplated to be party to any proposed transaction or agreement, with any of its respective directors, executive officers, five percent (5%) or greater shareholder of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to any of their respective Affiliates or other Affiliates of Company or its Subsidiaries other than part of the terms of an individual's employment or service as a director in the Ordinary Course of Business, and no such Person has had any direct or indirect interest in any property, assets, business or right owned, leased, held or used by Company or its Subsidiaries, other than deposits held by Company Bank in the Ordinary Course of Business. All agreements, and transactions between Company or any Subsidiary of Company and any of their respective Affiliates comply, to the extent applicable, in all material respects with Federal Reserve Act 23A and 23B and Regulation W of the FRB.

**Section 3.21 Voting Requirements**. The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock at the Company Shareholders' Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof to adopt this Agreement (the "Company Shareholder Approval") is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock or voting securities of, or other equity interests in, the Company necessary to adopt this Agreement.

**Section 3.22 State Takeover Statutes**. No state "control share acquisition," "business combination moratorium," "fair price" or other form of antitakeover statute or regulation (collectively, "Takeover Laws") is applicable to the Company with respect this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

**Section 3.23 Opinion of Financial Advisor**. The Company has received the opinion of Piper Sandler & Co. to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and subject to the procedures followed, assumptions made, matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by Piper Sandler & Co. in rendering its opinion, the Per Share Merger Consideration was fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, other than any Excluded Shares.

**Section 3.24 Brokerage Commissions**. Except for fees payable to Piper Sandler & Co. pursuant to an engagement letter that has been Previously Disclosed, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective Representatives, has incurred any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for brokerage or finders' fees or agents' commissions or other similar payment in connection with this Agreement.

**Section 3.25 Approval Delays**. To the Knowledge of the Company, there is no reason why the granting of any of the Requisite Regulatory Approvals would be denied or unduly delayed. The Company Bank's most recent CRA rating was "satisfactory" or better.

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**Section 3.26 Labor Matters**.

(a) There are no collective bargaining agreements or other labor union Contracts applicable to any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There is no labor dispute, strike, work stoppage or lockout, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threat thereof, by or with respect to any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and there has been no labor dispute, strike, work stoppage or lockout in the previous three (3) years. There are no organizational efforts with respect to the formation of a collective bargaining unit presently being made, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, involving employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged or is engaging in any unfair labor practice. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Legal Requirements respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, wages, hours of work, overtime and occupational safety and health. No Proceeding asserting that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has committed an unfair labor practice (within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935) or seeking to compel the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to bargain with any labor organization as to wages or conditions of employment is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries before the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other Regulatory Authority.

(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or otherwise bound by, any consent decree with, or citation by, any Regulatory Authority relating to employees or employment practices. None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their executive officers has received within the past three (3) years any written notice of intent by any Regulatory Authority responsible for the enforcement of labor or employment laws to conduct an investigation relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no such investigation is in progress.

**Section 3.27 Intellectual Property**. Schedule 3.27 of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth sets forth a true, complete and correct list of all registered and unregistered Company intellectual property. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has the unrestricted right and authority, and the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries will have the unrestricted right and authority from and after the Effective Time, to use all patents, trademarks, copyrights, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property owned by them as is necessary to enable them to conduct and to continue to conduct all material phases of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the manner presently conducted by them, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, such use does not, and will not, conflict with, infringe on or violate any patent, trademark, copyright, service mark, trade name or any other intellectual property right of any Person.

**Section 3.28 Investments**.

(a) Schedule 3.28(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules includes a complete and correct list and description as of June 30, 2025, of: (i) all investment and debt securities, mortgage-backed and related securities, marketable equity securities and securities purchased under agreements to resell that are owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than, with respect to the Company Bank, in a fiduciary or agency capacity (the "Company Investment Securities"); and (ii) any such Company Investment Securities that are pledged as collateral to another Person. The Company and each Subsidiary has good and marketable title to all Company Investment Securities held by it, free and clear of any liens, mortgages, security interests, encumbrances or charges, except for Company Permitted Exceptions and except to the extent such Company Investment Securities are pledged in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with prudent banking practices to secure obligations of the Company or the Company Bank. The Company Investment Securities are valued on the books of the Company and the Company Bank in accordance with GAAP.

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(b) Except as may be imposed by applicable securities laws and restrictions that may exist for securities that are classified as "held to maturity," none of the Company Investment Securities is subject to any restriction, whether contractual or statutory, that materially impairs the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to dispose of such investment at any time. With respect to all material repurchase agreements to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, the Company or such Subsidiary of the Company, as the case may be, has a valid, perfected first lien or security interest in the securities or other collateral securing each such repurchase agreement, and the value of the collateral securing each such repurchase agreement equals or exceeds the amount of the debt secured by such collateral under such agreement.

(c) None of the Company or its Subsidiaries has sold or otherwise disposed of any Company Investment Securities in a transaction in which the acquiror of such Company Investment Securities or other person has the right, either conditionally or absolutely, to require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase or otherwise reacquire any such Company Investment Securities.

(d) All Derivative Transactions, whether entered into for the account of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for the account of a customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, were entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and in accordance with prudent banking practice and applicable Legal Requirements of applicable Regulatory Authorities and in accordance with the investment, securities, commodities, risk management and other policies, practices and procedures employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries, and with counterparties believed at the time to be financially responsible and able to understand (either alone or in consultation with their advisers) and to bear the risks of such Derivative Transactions. All of such Derivative Transactions are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries enforceable against it in accordance with their terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity), and are in full force and effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries have duly performed their obligations under the Derivative Transactions to the extent that such obligations to perform have accrued and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no breaches, violations or defaults or allegations or assertions of such by any party thereunder.

**Section 3.29 No Dissenters**' **Rights**. No holder of the Company Common Stock has any dissenter's rights, rights of appraisal or other similar rights pursuant to the MBCA with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

**Section 3.30 Deposits**. All of the deposits held by Company Bank (including the records and documentation pertaining to such deposits) have been established and are held in compliance in all material respects with (a) all applicable policies, practices and procedures of Company Bank, and (b) all applicable Legal Requirements, including money laundering laws and anti-terrorism, or embargoed persons requirements.

**Section 3.31 Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity**. Company and its Subsidiaries have developed and implemented a contingency planning program in accordance with industry standards to evaluate the effect of significant events that may adversely affect the customers, assets, or employees of Company and its Subsidiaries. To Company's Knowledge, such program ensures that Company and its Subsidiaries can recover its mission critical functions, and such program complies in all material respects with the requirements of the FFIEC, the FDIC and applicable Legal Requirements. Company has furnished to Acquiror a true and correct copy of its disaster recovery and business continuity arrangements.

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**Section 3.32 Company Information**. No written representation, statement, certificate, instrument, or other writing furnished or to be furnished by or on behalf of Company or Company Bank to the Acquiror pursuant to this Agreement or the Bank Merger Agreement contains or will contain any untrue statement of material fact or omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of Company or Company Bank specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any application, notification or document filed in connection with any Requisite Regulatory Approval or other application, notification or document filed with any governmental authority in connection with the Merger, Bank Merger or other transactions contemplated herein will, as of the date filed or submitted, as applicable, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The provisions of the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement relating to Company and Company Bank or other information supplied by or on behalf of Company or Company Bank for inclusion therein shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, as applicable.

**Section 3.33 Risk Management Instruments.** Except as set forth on Schedule 3.33 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any interest rate swaps, caps, floors, derivative, hedge, foreign exchange or currency purchase or sale agreements, option agreements, futures and forward contracts or other similar derivative transactions and risk management arrangements or agreements. All instruments, agreements and arrangements set forth on Schedule 3.33 of the Company Disclosure Schedules were entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practice and in accordance with applicable rules, regulations and policies of any Regulatory Authority and with counterparties believed to be financially responsible at the time and are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries enforceable in accordance with their, and are in full force and effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have duly performed in all material respects all of their material obligations thereunder to the extent that such obligations to perform have accrued, and, to the Company's Knowledge, there are no material breaches, violations or defaults or allegations or assertions of such by any party thereunder.

**Section 3.34 Mortgage Banking Business.** Except as set forth in Schedule 3.34 of the Company Disclosure Schedules:

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with, and all documentation in connection with the origination, processing, underwriting and credit approval of any mortgage loan originated, purchased or serviced by the Company and its Subsidiaries satisfied in all material respects, (i) all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations with respect to the origination, insuring, purchase, sale, pooling, servicing, subservicing, or filing of claims in connection with mortgage loans, including all laws relating to real estate settlement procedures, consumer credit protection, truth in lending laws, usury limitations, fair housing, transfers of servicing, collection practices, equal credit opportunity and adjustable rate mortgages, (ii) the responsibilities and obligations relating to mortgage loans set forth in any agreement between the Company and its Subsidiaries and any Agency, Loan Investor or Insurer, (iii) the applicable rules, regulations, guidelines, handbooks and other requirements of any Agency, Loan Investor or Insurer, and (iv) the terms and provisions of any mortgage or other collateral documents and other loan documents with respect to each mortgage loan.

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(b) No Agency, Loan Investor or Insurer has (i) claimed in writing that the Company or its Subsidiaries has violated or has not complied with the applicable underwriting standards with respect to mortgage loans sold by the Company or its Subsidiaries to a Loan Investor or Agency, or with respect to any sale of mortgage servicing rights to a Loan Investor, (ii) imposed in writing restrictions on the activities (including commitment authority) of the Company or its Subsidiaries or (iii) indicated in writing to the Company or its Subsidiaries that it has terminated or intends to terminate its relationship with the Company or its Subsidiaries for poor performance, poor loan quality or concern with respect to the Company's or its Subsidiaries' compliance with laws.

(c) As used in this Section 3.34, (i) "Agency" means the Federal Housing Administration, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Farmers Home Administration (now known as Rural Housing and Community Development Services), the Federal National Mortgage Association, the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Rural Housing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or any other federal or state agency with authority to (x) determine any investment, origination, lending or servicing requirements with regard to mortgage loans originated, purchased or serviced by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) originate, purchase, or service mortgage loans, or otherwise promote mortgage lending, including state and local housing finance authorities, (ii) "Loan Investor" means any Person (including an Agency) having a beneficial interest in any mortgage loan originated, purchased or serviced by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or a security backed by or representing an interest in any such mortgage loan, and (iii) "Insurer" means a Person who insures or guarantees for the benefit of the mortgagee all or any portion of the risk of loss upon borrower default on any of the mortgage loans originated, purchased or serviced by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including the Federal Housing Administration, the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Rural Housing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and any private mortgage insurer, and providers of hazard, title or other insurance with respect to such mortgage loans or the related collateral.

**Section 3.35 Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering and OFAC, and Customer Information**. The Company is not aware of, has not been advised of, and has no reason to believe that any facts or circumstances exist, which would cause it or any of its Subsidiaries to be deemed (a) to be operating in violation in any material respect of the Bank Secrecy Act, the Patriot Act, any order issued with respect to anti-money laundering by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, or any other applicable anti-money laundering statute, rule or regulation; or (b) not to be in satisfactory compliance in any material respect with the applicable privacy and customer information requirements contained in any federal and state privacy laws and regulations, including, without limitation, in Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as well as the provisions of the information security program adopted by the Company or Company Bank pursuant to 12 C.F.R. Part 364. The Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances that would cause it to believe that any non-public customer information or information technology networks controlled by and material to the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries has been disclosed to or accessed by an unauthorized third party in a manner that would cause it or any of its Subsidiaries to undertake any material remedial action. The Board of Directors of the Company (or, where appropriate, the Board of Directors (or similar governing body) of any of the Company's Subsidiaries) has adopted and implemented an anti-money laundering program that contains adequate and appropriate customer identification verification procedures that comply with Section 326 of the Patriot Act and such anti-money laundering program meets the requirements in all material respects of Section 352 of the Patriot Act and the regulations thereunder, and it (or such other of its Subsidiaries) has complied in all material respects with any requirements to file reports and other necessary documents as required by the Patriot Act and the regulations thereunder.

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**Section 3.36 No Other Representations or Warranties**.

(a) Except for the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Article 3, neither the Company nor any other Person makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company, its Subsidiaries, or their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, conditions (financial or otherwise) or prospects, and the Company hereby disclaims any such other representations or warranties. In particular, without limiting the foregoing disclaimer, neither the Company nor any other Person makes or has made any representation or warranty to Acquiror or any of its Affiliates or Representatives with respect to: (i) any financial projection, forecast, estimate, budget or prospective information relating to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses; or (ii) except for the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Article 3, any oral or written information presented to Acquiror or any of its Affiliates or Representatives in the course of their due diligence investigation of the Company, the negotiation of this Agreement or in the course of the transactions contemplated hereby.

(b) The Company acknowledges and agrees that neither Acquiror nor any other Person has made or is making any express or implied representation or warranty other than those contained in Article 4.

**ARTICLE 4**<br> **REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB**

Except as Previously Disclosed, Acquiror and Merger Sub hereby represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

**Section 4.1 Organization**. Each of Acquiror and Merger Sub: (a) is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation and is also in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or the properties or assets owned or leased by it makes such qualification necessary; and (b) has full power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to own, operate and lease its properties as presently owned, operated and leased, and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Acquiror is registered with the Federal Reserve as a financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and has full power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to operate as a bank holding company. The copies of the Acquiror Articles of Incorporation and Acquiror Bylaws and all amendments thereto set forth in the Acquiror SEC Reports are true, complete and correct, and in full force and effect as of the date of this Agreement. Acquiror has no Subsidiary other than Merger Sub and the Subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21 to Acquiror's Annual Report on Form 10 K for the period ended December 31, 2024 as filed with the SEC on March 3, 2025.

**Section 4.2 Acquiror Subsidiary Organizations**. Acquiror Bank is a Michigan state chartered bank duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Michigan. Each Subsidiary of Acquiror is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and is also in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or the properties or assets owned or leased by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror. Each Subsidiary of Acquiror has full power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to own, operate and lease its properties as presently owned, operated and leased, and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. The deposit accounts of Acquiror Bank are insured by the FDIC through the Deposit Insurance Fund to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, and all premiums and assessments required to be paid in connection therewith have been paid when due. Acquiror has delivered or made available to the Company copies of the charter (or similar organizational documents) and bylaws of each Subsidiary of Acquiror and all amendments thereto, each of which are true, complete and correct and in full force and effect as of the date of this Agreement.

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**Section 4.3 Authorization; Enforceability**. Each of Acquiror and Merger Sub has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the Acquiror Board and the board of directors of Merger Sub. The Acquiror Board and the board of directors of Merger Sub have each determined that the Merger, on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, is in the best interests of its respective shareholders, and that this Agreement and transactions contemplated hereby are in the best interests of its respective shareholders. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Acquiror, and the consummation by it of its obligations under this Agreement, have been authorized by all necessary corporate action, subject to the receipt of the Requisite Regulatory Approvals, this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Acquiror enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other Legal Requirements affecting creditors' rights generally and subject to general principles of equity.

**Section 4.4 No Conflict**. Neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation or performance of any of the Contemplated Transactions will, directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time): (a) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of the articles of incorporation, certificate of formation or charter (or similar organizational documents) or bylaws or operating agreement, each as in effect on the date hereof, or any currently effective resolution adopted by the board of directors, shareholders, manager or members of, Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries; or (b) assuming receipt of the Requisite Regulatory Approvals, contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any Legal Requirement or any Order to which Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective assets that are owned or used by them, may be subject, except for any contravention, conflict or violation that is permissible by virtue of obtaining the Requisite Regulatory Approvals. Except for: (i) the filing of applications, filings and notices, as applicable, with the Federal Reserve and approval of such applications, filings and notices; (ii) the filing of applications, filings and notices, as applicable, with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, Office of Banking and approval of such applications, filings and notices; (iii) the filing of any required applications, filings or notices with the FDIC and approval of such applications, filings and notices; (iv) the filing with the SEC of the Proxy Statement in definitive form and of the Registration Statement and declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement; (v) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Michigan; and (vi) such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under the securities or "Blue Sky" laws of various states in connection with the issuance of the shares of Acquiror Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and the listing of additional shares of Acquiror Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, no consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality are necessary in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation or performance of any of the Contemplated Transactions.

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**Section 4.5 Acquiror Capitalization**.

(a) The authorized capital stock of Acquiror currently consists exclusively of: 41,000,000 shares of capital stock divided into 40,000,000 shares of Acquiror Common Stock without par value, and 1,000,000 shares of Company Preferred Stock without par value (the "Acquiror Preferred Stock"). As of June 30, 2025 (the "Acquiror Capitalization Date"), (i) 16,248,694 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 277,248 shares of Acquiror Common Stock were unvested and restricted with an average price of 40.36 per share, and (iii) no shares of Acquiror Preferred Stock were issued or outstanding.

(b) Acquiror does not have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other debt obligations having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) with the shareholders of Acquiror on any matter. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Acquiror Common Stock have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and none of such shares were issued in violation of, or without compliance with, any preemptive rights.

(c) As of the Acquiror Capitalization Date, no shares of Acquiror Capital Stock were reserved for issuance except for 645,377shares of Acquiror Common Stock reserved for under Acquiror Stock Plans. Other than awards under Acquiror Stock Plans that are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, no equity-based awards were outstanding as of the Acquiror Capitalization Date. Since the Acquiror Capitalization Date through the date hereof, Acquiror has not: (i) issued or repurchased any shares of Acquiror Common Stock or Acquiror Preferred Stock or other equity securities of Acquiror, other than in connection with the exercise of Acquiror Equity Awards that were outstanding on the Acquiror Capitalization Date or settlement thereof, in each case in accordance with the terms of the relevant Acquiror Stock Plan; or (ii) issued or awarded any options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units, deferred equity units, awards based on the value of Acquiror Common Stock, Acquiror Preferred Stock or any other equity-based awards. From the Acquiror Capitalization Date through the date of this Agreement, neither Acquiror nor any of its Subsidiaries has: (A) accelerated the vesting of or lapsing of restrictions with respect to any stock-based compensation awards or long-term incentive compensation awards; (B) with respect to executive officers of Acquiror or its Subsidiaries, entered into or amended any employment, severance, change in control or similar agreement (including any agreement providing for the reimbursement of excise taxes under Section 4999 of the Code); or (C) adopted or materially amended any Acquiror Stock Plan.

(d) None of the shares of Acquiror Common Stock were issued in violation of any federal or state securities laws or any other applicable Legal Requirement. As of the date of this Agreement there are: (i) other than outstanding Acquiror Equity Awards, as Previously Disclosed and as disclosed herein, no outstanding subscriptions, Contracts, conversion privileges, options, warrants, calls or other rights obligating Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, sell or otherwise dispose of, or to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any shares of capital stock of Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries; and (ii) no contractual obligations of Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Acquiror Common Stock or any equity security of Acquiror or its Subsidiaries or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of Acquiror or its Subsidiaries. Except as permitted by this Agreement, since the Acquiror Capitalization Date, no shares of Acquiror Common Stock have been purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired, directly or indirectly, by Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries and no dividends or other distributions payable in any equity securities of Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries have been declared, set aside, made or paid to the shareholders of Acquiror. Other than its Subsidiaries, Acquiror does not own, nor has any Contract to acquire, any equity interests or other securities of any Person or any direct or indirect equity or ownership interest in any other business.

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**Section 4.6 Acquiror Subsidiary Capitalization**. Except as disclosed in the Acquiror SEC Reports, as of the date hereof all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity ownership interests of each Subsidiary of Acquiror are owned by Acquiror, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any material liens, pledges, charges, claims and security interests and similar encumbrances, and all of such shares or equity ownership interests are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. No Subsidiary of Acquiror has or is bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments or agreements of any character calling for the purchase or issuance of any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Subsidiary or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Subsidiary. No Subsidiary of Acquiror owns or has any Contract to acquire, any equity interests or other securities of any Person or any direct or indirect equity or ownership interest of any other business.

**Section 4.7 Acquiror SEC Reports; Financial Statements and Reports; Regulatory Filings**.

(a) Acquiror has timely filed all Acquiror SEC Reports, except where the failure to file any Acquiror SEC Report, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror, and all such Acquiror SEC Reports complied as to form in all material respects, as of their respective filing dates and effective dates, as the case may be, with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder. The Acquiror SEC Reports were prepared in accordance with applicable Legal Requirements in all material respects. As of their respective filing dates, none of the Acquiror SEC Reports contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that information filed as of a later date (but before the date of this Agreement) is deemed to modify information as of an earlier date. As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding comments from or unresolved issues raised by the SEC with respect to any of the Acquiror SEC Reports. No Subsidiary of Acquiror is required to file periodic reports with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(b) The financial statements presented (or incorporated by reference) in the Acquiror SEC Reports (including the related notes, where applicable) have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, except in each case as indicated in such statements or the notes thereto and comply in all material respects with all applicable Legal Requirements. Taken together, the financial statements presented in the Acquiror SEC Reports (collectively, the "Acquiror Financial Statements") are complete and correct in all material respects and fairly and accurately present the respective financial position, assets, liabilities and results of operations of Acquiror and its Subsidiaries at the respective dates of and for the periods referred to in the Acquiror Financial Statements, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments in the case of unaudited Acquiror Financial Statements. The Acquiror Financial Statements do not include any assets or omit to state any liabilities, absolute or contingent, or other facts, which inclusion or omission would render the Acquiror Financial Statements misleading in any material respect as of the respective dates thereof and for the periods referred to therein. As of the date hereof, Plante & Moran, PLLC has not resigned (or informed Acquiror that it intends to resign) or been dismissed as independent registered public accountants of Acquiror.

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(c) Acquiror is in compliance in all material respects with all of the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are applicable to it or any of its Subsidiaries. Acquiror maintains a system of disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by Acquiror in reports that Acquiror is required to file under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to Acquiror's management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. As of December 31, 2024, to the Knowledge of Acquiror, such controls and procedures were effective, in all material respects, to provide such reasonable assurance.

(d) Acquiror and its consolidated Subsidiaries have established and maintained a system of internal control over financial reporting. Acquiror's certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of Acquiror's internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by the most recently filed quarterly report on Form 10 Q of Acquiror under the Exchange Act (the "Acquiror Evaluation Date"). Acquiror presented in such quarterly report the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of Acquiror's internal control over financial reporting based on their evaluations as of the Acquiror Evaluation Date. Since the Acquiror Evaluation Date, there have been no changes in Acquiror's internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Acquiror's internal control over financial reporting. Acquiror has devised and maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(e) Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all forms, reports and documents required to be filed since January 1, 2021, with all applicable federal or state securities or banking authorities except to the extent failure would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror and its Subsidiaries. Such forms, reports and documents: (i) complied as to form in all material respects with applicable Legal Requirements; and (ii) did not at the time they were filed, after giving effect to any amendment thereto filed prior to the date hereof, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that information filed as of a later date (but before the date of this Agreement) is deemed to modify information as of an earlier date.

(f) To the Knowledge of Acquiror, there has not been any event or occurrence since January 1, 2024 that would result in a determination that Acquiror Bank is not an eligible depository institution as defined in 12 C.F.R. §303.2(r).

**Section 4.8 Books and Records**. The books of account, minute books, stock record books and other records of Acquiror and its Subsidiaries are complete and correct in all material respects and have been maintained in accordance with Acquiror's business practices and all applicable Legal Requirements, including the maintenance of an adequate system of internal controls required by such Legal Requirements. The minute books of Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries fairly reflect the substance of events and transactions included therein.

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**Section 4.9 Properties**. Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all assets and properties, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, that it purports to own, subject to no liens, mortgages, security interests, encumbrances or charges of any kind except: (i) as noted in the most recent Acquiror Financial Statements and incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since the date of the most recent Acquiror Financial Statements; (ii) statutory liens for Taxes not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate Proceedings and for which appropriate reserves have been established and reflected in the Acquiror Financial Statements; (iii) pledges or liens required to be granted in connection with the acceptance of government deposits, granted in connection with repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements, securing any discount with, borrowing from, or obligations to any Federal Reserve Bank or Federal Home Loan Bank, interbank credit facilities or any transaction by Acquiror Bank acting in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business; (iv) easements, rights of way, and other similar encumbrances that do not materially affect the present use of the properties or assets subject thereto or affected thereby or otherwise materially impair the present business operations at such properties; (v) minor defects and irregularities in title and encumbrances that do not materially impair the use thereof for the purposes for which they are held as of the date of this Agreement; (vi) liens or deposits in connection with worker's compensation, unemployment insurance, social security or other insurance; (vii) inchoate mechanic's and materialmen's liens for construction in progress and workmen's, repairmen's, warehousemen's and carrier's liens arising in the Ordinary Course of Business of Acquiror or Acquiror Bank consistent with past practice; (viii) liens existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person is acquired by or is combined with Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries, provided the lien was not created in contemplation of that event; (ix) liens on property required by Regulation W promulgated by the Federal Reserve; and (x) liens incidental to the conduct of business or ownership of property of Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries which do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the property or materially impair the use thereof as of the date of this Agreement. Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries as lessee has the right under valid and existing leases to occupy, use, possess and control any and all of the respective property leased by it, and each such lease is valid and without default thereunder by the lessee or, to the Knowledge of Acquiror, the lessor, except where any such default would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror.

**Section 4.10 Loans; Allowance for Credit Losses**.

(a) Each loan, loan agreement, note, lease or other borrowing agreement by Acquiror Bank, any participation therein, and any guaranty, renewal or extension thereof (the "Acquiror Loans") reflected as an asset on any of the Acquiror Financial Statements or reports filed with the Regulatory Authorities is evidenced by documentation that is customary and legally sufficient in all material respects and constitutes, to the Knowledge of Acquiror, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the obligor named therein, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or equitable principles or doctrines.

(b) All Acquiror Loans originated or purchased by Acquiror Bank were made or purchased in accordance with the policies of the board of directors of Acquiror Bank and in the Ordinary Course of Business of Acquiror Bank. Acquiror Bank's interest in all Acquiror Loans is free and clear of any security interest, lien, encumbrance or other charge, and, Acquiror Bank has complied in all material respects with all Legal Requirements relating to such Acquiror Loans. There has been no payment default on, or forgiveness or waiver of, in whole or in part, any Acquiror Loan made to an executive officer or director of Acquiror or Acquiror Bank or an entity Controlled by an executive officer or director during the three (3) years immediately preceding the date hereof.

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(c) Acquiror Bank's allowance for credit losses reflected in the Acquiror Financial Statements (including footnotes thereto) was determined on the basis of Acquiror Bank's continuing review and evaluation of the portfolio of Acquiror Loans under the requirements of GAAP and Legal Requirements, was established in a manner consistent with Acquiror Bank's internal policies, and, in the reasonable judgment of Acquiror Bank, was adequate in all material respects under the requirements of GAAP and all Legal Requirements to provide for possible or specific losses, net of recoveries relating to Acquiror Loans previously charged-off, on outstanding Acquiror Loans.

(d) To the Knowledge of Acquiror: (i) none of the Acquiror Loans is subject to any material offset or claim of offset; and (ii) the aggregate loan balances in excess of Acquiror Bank's allowance for credit losses are, based on past credit loss experience, collectible in accordance with their terms (except as limited above) and all uncollectible loans have been charged off.

**Section 4.11 Taxes**.

(a) Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries have duly and timely filed (taking into account all applicable extensions) all Tax Returns required to be filed by them, and each such Tax Return was true, correct and complete in all material respects when filed. Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries have paid, or made adequate provision for the payment of, all Taxes (whether or not reflected in Tax Returns as filed or to be filed) due and payable by Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries, or claimed to be due and payable by any Regulatory Authority, and are not delinquent in the payment of any Tax, except such Taxes as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided.

(b) There is no claim or assessment pending or, to the Knowledge of Acquiror, threatened against Acquiror and its Subsidiaries for any Taxes that they owe. No audit, examination or investigation related to Taxes paid or payable by Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries is presently being conducted or, to the Knowledge of Acquiror, threatened by any Regulatory Authority. Neither Acquiror nor any of its Subsidiaries is the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return, and there are no liens for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable) upon any of Acquiror's or its Subsidiaries' assets. Neither Acquiror nor its Subsidiaries has executed an extension or waiver of any statute of limitations on the assessment or collection of any Tax that is currently in effect.

(c) Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries have delivered or made available to the Company true, correct and complete copies of all Tax Returns relating to income taxes and franchise taxes owed by Acquiror and its Subsidiaries with respect to the last three (3) fiscal years.

(d) To the Knowledge of Acquiror, Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries have not engaged in any transaction that could materially affect the Tax liability for any Tax Returns not closed by applicable statute of limitations: (i) which is a "reportable transaction" or a "listed transaction" or (ii) a "significant purpose of which is the avoidance or evasion of United States federal income tax" within the meaning of Sections 6662, 6662A, 6011, 6111 or 6707A of the Code or of the regulations of the United States Department of the Treasury promulgated thereunder or pursuant to notices or other guidance published by the IRS (irrespective of the effective dates).

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**Section 4.12 Employee Benefits**.

(a) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (including possible terminations of employment in connection therewith) will cause a payment, vesting, increase or acceleration of benefits or benefit entitlements under any Acquiror Benefit Plan or any other increase in the liabilities of Acquiror or any Subsidiary under any Acquiror Benefit Plan as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) With respect to any Acquiror Benefit Plan that is a "multiple employer plan" (as described in Section 413(c) of the Code) or is provided by or through a professional employer organization, such Acquiror Benefit Plan complies in all respects with the requirements of the Code and ERISA and neither Acquiror nor any of the Acquiror ERISA Affiliates has any liabilities other than the payment and/or remittance of premiums and/or required contributions on behalf of enrolled individuals. Neither Acquiror nor any of the Acquiror ERISA Affiliates sponsors, maintains, administers or contributes to, or has ever sponsored, maintained, administered or contributed to, or has, has had or could have any liability with respect to, any Acquiror Benefit Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, or any tax-qualified "defined benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA). No Acquiror Benefit Plan is underfunded when comparing the present value of accrued liabilities under such plan to the market value of plan assets.

(c) Each Acquiror Benefit Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401 and related provisions of the Code is the subject of a favorable determination letter, or, in the case of a volume submitter or prototype plan, an advisory or sponsor letter, from the IRS to the effect that it is so qualified under the Code and that its related funding instrument is tax exempt under Section 501 of the Code (or Acquiror and its Subsidiaries are otherwise relying on an opinion letter issued to the prototype sponsor), and, to Acquiror's Knowledge, there are no facts or circumstances that would adversely affect the qualified status of any Acquiror Benefit Plan or the tax-exempt status of any related trust.

(d) Each Acquiror Benefit Plan is and has been administered in all material respects in compliance with its terms and with all applicable Legal Requirements.

(e) Other than routine claims for benefits made in the Ordinary Course of Business, there is no litigation, claim or assessment pending or, to Acquiror's Knowledge, threatened by, on behalf of, or against any Acquiror Benefit Plan or against the administrators or trustees or other fiduciaries of any Acquiror Benefit Plan that alleges a violation of applicable state or federal law or violation of any Acquiror Benefit Plan document or related agreement.

(f) No Acquiror Benefit Plan fiduciary or any other person has, or has had, any liability to any Acquiror Benefit Plan participant, beneficiary or any other person under any provisions of ERISA or any other applicable Legal Requirement by reason of any action or failure to act in connection with any Acquiror Benefit Plan, including any liability by any reason of any payment of, or failure to pay, benefits or any other amounts or by reason of any credit or failure to give credit for any benefits or rights. To Acquiror's Knowledge, no disqualified person (as defined in Code Section 4975(e)(2)) of any Acquiror Benefit Plan has engaged in any nonexempt prohibited transaction (as described in Code Section 4975(c) or ERISA Section 406).

(g) All accrued contributions and other payments to be made by Acquiror or any Subsidiary to any Acquiror Benefit Plan have been made or reserves adequate for such purposes will have been set aside therefore and reflected in the Acquiror Financial Statements.

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(h) No condition exists as a result of which Acquiror or any Subsidiary would have any liability, whether absolute or contingent, under any Acquiror Benefit Plan with respect to any misclassification of a Person performing services for Acquiror or any Subsidiary as an independent contractor rather than as an employee. All individuals participating in Acquiror Benefit Plans are in fact eligible and authorized to participate in such Acquiror Benefit Plan.

(i) Neither Acquiror nor any of its Subsidiaries have any liabilities to employees or former employees that are not reflected in the Acquiror Benefit Plans.

**Section 4.13 Compliance with Legal Requirements**. Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries hold all material licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and rights from all appropriate Regulatory Authorities necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as presently conducted. Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries is, and at all times since January 1, 2021, has been, in compliance with each Legal Requirement that is or was applicable to it or to the conduct or operation of its respective businesses or the ownership or use of any of its respective assets, except where noncompliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror, neither Acquiror nor any of its Subsidiaries has received, at any time since January 1, 2021, any notice or other communication (whether oral or written) from any Regulatory Authority or any other Person regarding: (a) any actual, alleged, possible, or potential violation of, or failure to comply with, any Legal Requirement; or (b) any actual, alleged, possible, or potential obligation on the part of Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature in connection with a failure to comply with any Legal Requirement.

**Section 4.14 Legal Proceedings; Orders**.

(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror and as disclosed on Schedule 4.14 to the Acquiror Disclosure Schedules, neither Acquiror nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any, and there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of Acquiror, threatened, Proceedings against Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries. There is no Order imposed on Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. No officer, director, employee or agent of Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any Order that prohibits such officer, director, employee or agent from engaging in or continuing any conduct, activity or practice relating to the businesses of Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted.

(b) Neither Acquiror nor any of its Subsidiaries: (i) is subject to any cease and desist or other Order or enforcement action issued by; (ii) is a party to any written agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with; (iii) is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to; (iv) is subject to any Order or directive by; (v) is subject to any supervisory letter from; (vi) has been ordered to pay any civil money penalty, which has not been paid, by; or (vii) has adopted any policies, procedures or board resolutions at the request of; any Regulatory Authority that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business, in any manner relates to its capital adequacy, restricts its ability to pay dividends or interest or limits in any material manner its credit or risk management policies, its management or its business. To the Knowledge of Acquiror, none of the foregoing has been threatened by any Regulatory Authority.

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**Section 4.15 Absence of Certain Changes and Events**. Since December 31, 2024, no event or events have occurred that had or would reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror.

**Section 4.16 Compliance with Environmental Laws**. There are no actions, suits, investigations, liabilities, inquiries, Proceedings or Orders involving Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets that are pending or, to the Knowledge of Acquiror, threatened, nor to the Knowledge of Acquiror, is there any factual basis for any of the foregoing, as a result of any asserted failure of Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries of, or any predecessor thereof, to comply with any Environmental Law. No environmental clearances or other governmental approvals are required for the conduct of the business of Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries or the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions. To the Knowledge of Acquiror, neither Acquiror nor any of its Subsidiaries is the owner of any interest in real estate on which any substances have been generated, used, stored, deposited, treated, recycled or disposed of, which substances if known to be present on, at or under such property, would require notification to any Regulatory Authority, clean up, removal or some other remedial action under any Environmental Law at such property or any impacted adjacent or down gradient property, except where such action would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror. Except for any matters that have not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror, Acquiror and each Subsidiary of Acquiror has complied in all material respects with all Environmental Laws applicable to it and its business operations.

**Section 4.17 Brokerage Commissions**. Except for fees payable to Stephens Inc. by Acquiror pursuant to an engagement letter that has been Previously Disclosed, none of Acquiror or its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective Representatives, has incurred any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for brokerage or finders' fees or agents' commissions or other similar payment in connection with this Agreement.

**Section 4.18 Approval Delays**. To the Knowledge of Acquiror, there is no reason why the granting of any of the Requisite Regulatory Approvals would be denied or unduly delayed. Acquiror Bank's most recent CRA rating was "satisfactory" or better.

**Section 4.19 Financial Capability**. Acquiror has, and will have prior to the Effective Time, sufficient funds to pay the aggregate cash consideration payable pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(i) and Section 2.5, and to perform its other obligations contemplated by this Agreement.

**Section 4.20 Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering and OFAC, and Customer Information**. Acquiror is not aware of, has not been advised of, and has no reason to believe that any facts or circumstances exist, which would cause it or any of its Subsidiaries to be deemed (a) to be operating in violation in any material respect of the Bank Secrecy Act, the Patriot Act, any order issued with respect to anti-money laundering by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, or any other applicable anti-money laundering statute, rule or regulation; or (b) not to be in satisfactory compliance in any material respect with the applicable privacy and customer information requirements contained in any federal and state privacy laws and regulations, including, without limitation, in Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as well as the provisions of the information security program adopted by Acquiror or Company Bank pursuant to 12 C.F.R. Part 364. Acquiror is not aware of any facts or circumstances that would cause it to believe that any non-public customer information or information technology networks controlled by and material to the operation of the business of Company and its Subsidiaries has been disclosed to or accessed by an unauthorized third party in a manner that would cause it or any of its Subsidiaries to undertake any material remedial action. The Board of Directors of Acquiror (or, where appropriate, the Board of Directors (or similar governing body) of any of Acquiror's Subsidiaries) has adopted and implemented an anti-money laundering program that contains adequate and appropriate customer identification verification procedures that comply with Section 326 of the Patriot Act and such anti-money laundering program meets the requirements in all material respects of Section 352 of the Patriot Act and the regulations thereunder, and it (or such other of its Subsidiaries) has complied in all material respects with any requirements to file reports and other necessary documents as required by the Patriot Act and the regulations thereunder.

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**Section 4.21 No Other Representations or Warranties**.

(a) Except for the representations and warranties made by Acquiror in this Article 4, neither Acquiror nor any other Person makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to Acquiror, its Subsidiaries, or their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, conditions (financial or otherwise) or prospects, and Acquiror hereby disclaims any such other representations or warranties. In particular, without limiting the foregoing disclaimer, neither Acquiror nor any other Person makes or has made any representation or warranty to the Company or any of its Affiliates or Representatives with respect to: (i) any financial projection, forecast, estimate, budget or prospective information relating to Acquiror, any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses; or (ii) except for the representations and warranties made by Acquiror in this Article 4, any oral or written information presented to the Company or any of its Affiliates or Representatives in the course of their due diligence investigation of Acquiror, the negotiation of this Agreement or in the course of the transactions contemplated hereby.

(b) Acquiror acknowledges and agrees that neither the Company nor any other Person has made or is making any express or implied representation or warranty other than those contained in Article 3.

**ARTICLE 5**<br> **COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY**

**Section 5.1 Access and Investigation**.

(a) Subject to any applicable Legal Requirement, Acquiror and its Representatives shall, at all times during normal business hours and with reasonable advance notice, have such reasonable access to the facilities, operations, records and properties of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.1(a) as shall be necessary for the purpose of determining the Company's continued compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and preparing for the integration of Acquiror and the Company following the Effective Time, including without limitation, conducting any Phase I testing on the Company's real property as listed in Schedule 3.9 of the Company Disclosure Schedule. Acquiror and its Representatives may, during such period, make or cause to be made such reasonable investigation of the operations, records and properties of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries and of their respective financial and legal conditions as Acquiror shall deem necessary or advisable to familiarize itself with such records, properties and other matters; provided, however, that such access or investigation shall not interfere materially with the normal operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Upon request, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries will furnish Acquiror or its Representatives attorneys' responses to auditors' requests for information regarding the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and such financial and operating data and other information reasonably requested by Acquiror (provided, such disclosure would not result in the waiver by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any claim of attorney-client privilege). No investigation by Acquiror or any of its Representatives shall affect the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement. This Section 5.1(a) shall not require the disclosure of any information to Acquiror the disclosure of which, in the Company's reasonable judgment: (i) would be prohibited by any applicable Legal Requirement; (ii) would result in the breach of any agreement with any third party in effect on the date of this Agreement; or (iii) relate to pending or threatened litigation or investigations, if disclosure might affect the confidential nature of, or any privilege relating to, the matters being discussed. If any of the restrictions in the preceding sentence shall apply, the Company and Acquiror will make appropriate alternative disclosure arrangements, including adopting additional specific procedures to protect the confidentiality of sensitive material and to ensure compliance with any applicable Legal Requirement.

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(b) From the date hereof until the earlier of the Closing Date or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Company shall promptly furnish to Acquiror: (i) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed, furnished or received by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal and state banking laws; and (ii) a copy of each report filed by it or any of its Subsidiaries with any Regulatory Authority; in each case other than portions of such documents relating to confidential supervisory or examination materials or the disclosure of which would violate any applicable Legal Requirement.

(c) The Company shall provide, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to provide, to Acquiror all information provided to the directors on all such boards or members of such committees in connection with all meetings of the board of directors and committees of the board of directors of the Company or otherwise provided to the directors or members, and to provide any other financial reports or other analysis prepared for senior management of the Company or its Subsidiaries; in each case other than portions of such documents: (i) relating to confidential supervisory or examination materials, (ii) the disclosure of which would violate any applicable Legal Requirement, (iii) the disclosure of which would, in the reasonable judgment of the Company's outside counsel, result in the waiver of the attorney-client privilege, or (iv) related to an Acquisition Proposal (disclosure of which shall be governed solely by Section 5.8).

(d) All information obtained by Acquiror in accordance with this Section 5.1 shall be treated in confidence as provided in that certain Mutual Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement dated as of April 21, 2025, between Acquiror and the Company (the "Confidentiality Agreement").

**Section 5.2 Operation of the Company and Company Subsidiaries**.

(a) Except as Previously Disclosed, as expressly contemplated by or permitted by this Agreement, as required by applicable Legal Requirement, or with the prior written consent of Acquiror, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the earlier of the Closing Date or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to: (i) conduct its business in the Ordinary Course of Business in all material respects; (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve intact its business organization and advantageous business relationships; and (iii) take no action that is intended to or would reasonably be expected to adversely affect or materially delay the ability of the Company or Acquiror to obtain any of the Requisite Regulatory Approvals, to perform its covenants and agreements under this Agreement or to consummate the Contemplated Transactions.

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(b) Except as Previously Disclosed, as expressly contemplated by or permitted by this Agreement, as required by applicable Legal Requirement, or with the prior written consent of Acquiror, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the earlier of the Closing Date or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms, the Company will not, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries not to:

(i) other than pursuant to the terms of any Contract to which the Company is a party that is outstanding on the date of this Agreement: (A) issue, sell or otherwise permit to become outstanding, or dispose of or encumber or pledge, or authorize or propose the creation of, any additional shares of Company Capital Stock or any security convertible into Company Capital Stock (other than issuances of shares of Company Capital Stock upon the exercise of any Company Stock Option granted pursuant to the Company Benefit Plans prior to the date of this Agreement); (B) permit any additional shares of Company Capital Stock to become subject to new grants (other than grants of shares of Company Capital Stock pursuant to any Company Benefit Plans existing as of the date of this Agreement); or (C) grant any registration rights with respect to shares of Company Capital Stock;

(ii) (A) make, declare, pay or set aside for payment any dividend on or in respect of, or declare or make any distribution on any shares of Company Capital Stock except for the payment of regular quarterly cash dividends on Company Common Stock of $0.40 per share on dates consistent with past practice, provided however, that the Company and the Acquiror shall coordinate the Company's regular dividend schedule for the quarter in which Effective Time occurs so that holders of Company Common Stock receive a dividend for such quarter from either the Company or the Acquiror but not from both (other than dividends from its wholly owned Subsidiaries to it or another of its wholly owned Subsidiaries); or (B) directly or indirectly adjust, split, combine, redeem, reclassify, purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of Company Capital Stock (other than repurchases of shares of Company Common Stock in the Ordinary Course of Business to satisfy obligations under Company Benefit Plans);

(iii) other than in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practice, amend the terms of, waive any rights under, terminate (other than at its stated expiration date), knowingly violate the terms of or enter into: (A) any Company Material Contract; (B) any material restriction on the ability of the Company or its Subsidiaries to conduct its business as it is presently being conducted; or (C) any Contract or other binding obligation relating to any class of Company Capital Stock or rights associated therewith or any outstanding instrument of indebtedness;

(iv) enter into loan transactions not in accordance with, or consistent with, past practices of the Company Bank or that are on terms and conditions that, to the Knowledge of the Company, are materially more favorable than those available to the borrower from competitive sources in arm's-length transactions;

(v) (A) enter into any new credit or new lending relationships that would require an exception to the Company Bank's formal loan policy as in effect as of the date of this Agreement or that are not in strict compliance with the provisions of such loan policy, except for policy exceptions taken in the normal course for similarly-sized loans; or (B) other than incident to a reasonable loan restructuring, extend additional credit to any Person and any director or officer of, or any owner of a material interest in, such Person (any of the foregoing with respect to a Person being referred to as a "Borrowing Affiliate") if such Person or such Borrowing Affiliate is the obligor under any indebtedness to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which constitutes a nonperforming loan or against any part of such indebtedness the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has established loss reserves or any part of which has been charged-off by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

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(vi) maintain an allowance for credit losses which is not adequate in all material respects under the requirements of GAAP to provide for possible losses, net of recoveries relating to Company Loans previously charged off, on Company Loans and leases outstanding (including accrued interest receivable);

(vii) fail to: (A) charge-off any Company Loans or leases that would be deemed uncollectible in accordance with GAAP or any applicable Legal Requirement; or (B) place on non-accrual any Company Loans or leases that are past due greater than ninety (90) days;

(viii) sell, transfer, mortgage, encumber, license, let lapse, cancel, abandon or otherwise dispose of or discontinue any of its assets, deposits, business or properties, except for sales, transfers, mortgages, encumbrances, licenses, lapses, cancellations, abandonments or other dispositions or discontinuances (A) in the Ordinary Course of Business (B) of financial assets or investments, or (C) of obsolete or unused equipment, fixtures or assets, and in a transaction that, together with other such transactions, is not material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(ix) acquire (other than by way of foreclosures or acquisitions of control in a fiduciary or similar capacity or in satisfaction of debts previously contracted in good faith, in each case in the Ordinary Course of Business), or Contract to acquire, all or any portion of the assets, business, deposits or properties of any other entity except in the Ordinary Course of Business and in a transaction that, together with other such transactions, is not material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and does not present a material risk that the Closing Date will be materially delayed or that any approvals necessary to complete the Merger or the other Contemplated Transactions will be more difficult to obtain;

(x) amend the Company Articles of Incorporation or the Company Bylaws, or similar governing documents of any of its Subsidiaries;

(xi) implement or adopt any change in its accounting principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by GAAP or applicable regulatory accounting requirements;

(xii) except as permitted by this Agreement or as required by any applicable Legal Requirement or the terms of any Company Benefit Plan existing as of the date hereof: (A) increase in any manner the compensation or benefits of any of the current or former directors, officers, employees, consultants, independent contractors or other service providers of the Company or its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company Employees"), other than increases in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practices in timing, metrics and amount, and that have been disclosed to Acquiror; (B) become a party to, establish, amend, commence participation in, terminate or commit itself to the adoption of any stock option plan or other stock-based compensation plan, compensation, severance, pension, consulting, non-competition, change in control, retirement, profit-sharing, welfare benefit, or other employee benefit plan or agreement or employment agreement with or for the benefit of any Company Employee (or newly hired employees), director or shareholder; (C) accelerate the vesting of or lapsing of restrictions with respect to any stock-based compensation or other long-term incentive compensation under any Company Benefit Plans; (D) cause the funding of any rabbi trust (except in accordance with past practice in the ordinary course with respect to the Deferred Compensation Plan as defined in Section 5.7) or similar arrangement or take any action to fund or in any other way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under any Company Benefit Plan; or (E) materially change any actuarial assumptions used to calculate funding obligations with respect to any Company Benefit Plan that is required by applicable Legal Requirements to be funded or change the manner in which contributions to such plans are made or the basis on which such contributions are determined, except as may be required by GAAP or any applicable Legal Requirement;

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(xiii) incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(xiv) enter into any new line of business or materially change its lending, investment, underwriting, risk and asset liability management and other banking and operating policies, except in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practice, as required by applicable Legal Requirements or requested by any Regulatory Authority;

(xv) settle any action, suit, claim or Proceeding against it or any of its Subsidiaries, except for an action, suit, claim or Proceeding that is settled in an amount and for consideration not in excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) and that would not: (A) impose any material restriction on the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries; or (B) create precedent for claims that is reasonably likely to be material to it or its Subsidiaries;

(xvi) make application for the opening, relocation or closing of any, or open, relocate or close any, branch office, loan production office or other significant office or operations facility;

(xvii) make or change any material Tax elections, change or consent to any material change in it or its Subsidiaries' method of accounting for Tax purposes (except as required by a change in GAAP or applicable Tax law), take any material position on any material Tax Return filed on or after the date of this Agreement, settle or compromise any material Tax liability, claim or assessment, enter into any closing agreement, waive or extend any statute of limitations with respect to a material amount of Taxes, surrender any right to claim a refund for a material amount of Taxes, or file any material amended Tax Return;

(xviii) hire any employee with an annual salary in excess of Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000); or

(xix) agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of the Company Board in support of, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 5.2(b).

(c) For purposes of Section 5.2(b), Acquiror's consent shall be deemed to have been given if the Company has made a written request to Raymond E. Reitsmafor permission to take any action otherwise prohibited by Section 5.2(b) and has provided Acquiror with information sufficient for Acquiror to make an informed decision with respect to such request, and Acquiror has failed to respond to such request within five (5) Business Days after Acquiror's receipt of such request.

**Section 5.3 Notice of Changes**. The Company will give prompt notice to Acquiror of any fact, event or circumstance known to it that: (a) is reasonably likely, individually or taken together with all other facts, events and circumstances known to it, to result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Company; or (b) would cause or constitute a material breach of any of the Company's representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained herein that reasonably could be expected to give rise, individually or in the aggregate, to the failure of a condition in Article 8.

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**Section 5.4 Shareholders**' **Meeting**. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement and unless there has been a Company Adverse Recommendation, the Company shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable, and in any event within thirty (30) days, after the date the Registration Statement is declared effective, take all action necessary, including as required by and in accordance with the MBCA, Company Articles of Incorporation and Company Bylaws to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its shareholders (the "Company Shareholders' Meeting'") for the purpose of obtaining the Company Shareholder Approval. The Company and Company Board will use their reasonable best efforts to obtain from its shareholders the votes in favor of the adoption of this Agreement required by the MBCA, including by recommending that its shareholders vote to adopt this Agreement, and the Company and Company Board will not withhold, withdraw, qualify or adversely modify (or publicly propose or resolve to withhold, withdraw, qualify or adversely modify) Company Board's recommendation to the Company's shareholders that the Company's shareholders vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement (a "Company Adverse Recommendation"). However, if, prior to the time the Company Shareholder Approval is obtained, the Company Board, after consultation with outside counsel, determines in good faith it is reasonably likely that to, or to continue to, recommend this Agreement to its shareholders would result in a violation of its fiduciary duties under applicable Legal Requirements, then the Company Board may make a Company Adverse Recommendation or publicly propose or resolve to make a Company Adverse Recommendation.

**Section 5.5 Information Provided to Acquiror**. The Company agrees that the information concerning the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is provided or to be provided by the Company to Acquiror in connection with the preparation of, or that is included in, the Registration Statement or Proxy Statement and any other documents to be filed with any Regulatory Authority in connection with the Contemplated Transactions will: (a) at the respective times such documents are filed and, in the case of the Registration Statement, when it becomes effective and, with respect to the Proxy Statement, when mailed, not be false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (b) in the case of the Proxy Statement or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, at the time of the Company Shareholders' Meeting, not be false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to the solicitation of any proxy for the meeting in connection with which the Proxy Statement shall be mailed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no responsibility for the truth or accuracy of any information with respect to Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates contained in the Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement or in any document submitted to, or other communication with, any Regulatory Authority.

**Section 5.6 Operating Functions**. The Company and the Company Bank shall cooperate with Acquiror and Acquiror Bank in connection with planning for the efficient and orderly combination of the parties and the operation of the Company Bank and Acquiror Bank, and in preparing for the consolidation of the banks' appropriate operating functions to be effective on the Effective Time or such later date as the parties may mutually agree.

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**Section 5.7 Company Benefit Plans**.

(a) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company will take all appropriate action in accordance with Treasury regulations Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(B) to terminate and liquidate the Eastern Michigan Financial Corp. and Affiliate Banks Directors and Officers Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Deferred Compensation Plan") and any other deferred compensation plan that would be aggregated with either such plan pursuant to Treasury regulations Section 1.409A-1(c)(2); provided, however, that no action taken by the Company with respect to the termination of the Deferred Compensation Plan shall be required to be irrevocable until one day prior to the Effective Time.

(b) At the request of Acquiror, the Company will take all appropriate action to amend or terminate, prior to the Effective Time, any Company Benefit Plan; provided, however, that no action taken by the Company with respect to the termination of any Company Benefit Plan shall be required to be irrevocable until one day prior to the Effective Time.

(c) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall accrue the costs associated with any payments due under any Company Benefit Plan, including any severance agreements, retention or stay bonus programs, or other similar arrangements, consistent with GAAP.

**Section 5.8 Takeover Laws**. Neither the Company and its Affiliates nor the Acquiror and its Affiliates shall take any action that would cause any Takeover Law to become applicable to this Agreement, the Merger, the Bank Merger, or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby, and each of Company and Acquiror shall take all necessary steps to exempt (or ensure the continued exemption of) the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby from any applicable Takeover Law now or hereafter in effect. If any Takeover Law may become, or may purport to be, applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby, each of Company and Acquiror will grant such approvals and take such actions as are necessary so that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated hereby and otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of any Takeover Law on any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, if necessary, challenging the validity or applicability of any such Takeover Law.

**Section 5.9 Acquisition Proposals**.

(a) The Company will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any activities, discussions or negotiations conducted before the date of this Agreement with any Persons other than Acquiror with respect to any Acquisition Proposal. The Company will within forty eight (48) hours advise Acquiror following receipt of any Acquisition Proposal and the substance thereof (including the identity of the Person making such Acquisition Proposal), and will keep Acquiror apprised of any related developments, discussions and negotiations (including the material terms and conditions of the Acquisition Proposal) on a reasonably current basis.

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(b) The Company agrees that it will not, and will cause its respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates, and its and their respective officers, directors, agents and advisors not to, initiate, solicit, encourage or knowingly facilitate inquiries or proposals with respect to, or engage in any negotiations concerning, or provide any confidential or nonpublic information or data to, or have any discussions with, any Person relating to, any Acquisition Proposal (other than contacting a Person for the sole purpose of seeking clarification of the terms and conditions of such Acquisition Proposal); provided that, in the event the Company receives an unsolicited bona fide Acquisition Proposal from a Person other than Acquiror after the execution of this Agreement, and the Company Board concludes in good faith that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal or would reasonably be likely to result in a Superior Proposal and, after considering the advice of outside counsel, that failure to take such actions would be reasonably likely to result in a violation of the directors' fiduciary duties under applicable Legal Requirements, the Company may: (i) furnish information with respect to it to such Person making such Acquisition Proposal pursuant to a customary confidentiality agreement (subject to the requirement that any such information not previously provided to Acquiror shall be promptly furnished to Acquiror); (ii) participate in discussions or negotiations regarding such Acquisition Proposal; and (iii) terminate this Agreement in order to concurrently enter into an agreement with respect to such Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that the Company may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 5.8 unless and until (x) five (5) Business Days have elapsed following the delivery to Acquiror of a written notice of such determination by the Company Board and, during such five (5) Business-Day period, Acquiror and the Company cooperate with one another with the intent of enabling them to engage in good faith negotiations so that the Contemplated Transactions may be effected, and (y) at the end of such five (5) Business-Day period, the Company continues, in good faith and after consultation with outside legal counsel and financial advisors, to believe that a Superior Proposal continues to exist.

(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Company or the Company Board from complying with Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2 under the Exchange Act with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, provided that such Rules will in no way eliminate or modify the effect that any action pursuant to such Rules would otherwise have under this Agreement.

**ARTICLE 6**<br> **COVENANTS OF ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB**

**Section 6.1 Access and Investigation**.

(a) Subject to any applicable Legal Requirement, the Company and its Representatives shall, at all times during normal business hours and with reasonable advance notice, have such reasonable access to the facilities, operations, records and properties of Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.1(a) as shall be necessary for the purpose of determining Acquiror's continued compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Company and its Representatives may, during such period, make or cause to be made such reasonable investigation of the operations, records and properties of Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries and of their respective financial and legal conditions as Acquiror shall deem necessary or advisable to familiarize itself with such records, properties and other matters; provided, however, that such access or investigation shall not interfere materially with the normal operations of Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries. Upon request, Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries will furnish the Company or its Representatives attorneys' responses to auditors' requests for information regarding Acquiror or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and such financial and operating data and other information reasonably requested by the Company (provided, such disclosure would not result in the waiver by Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries of any claim of attorney-client privilege). No investigation by the Company or any of its Representatives shall affect the representations and warranties made by Acquiror in this Agreement. This Section 6.1(a) shall not require the disclosure of any information to the Company the disclosure of which, in Acquiror's reasonable judgment: (i) would be prohibited by any applicable Legal Requirement; (ii) would result in the breach of any agreement with any third party in effect on the date of this Agreement; or (iii) relate to pending or threatened litigation or investigations, if disclosure might affect the confidential nature of, or any privilege relating to, the matters being discussed. If any of the restrictions in the preceding sentence shall apply, Acquiror and the Company will make appropriate alternative disclosure arrangements, including adopting additional specific procedures to protect the confidentiality of sensitive material and to ensure compliance with any applicable Legal Requirement.

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(b) From the date hereof until the earlier of the Closing Date or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, Acquiror shall promptly furnish to the Company: (i) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed, furnished or received by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal and state banking laws or federal or state securities laws, which is not generally available on the SEC's EDGAR internet database; and (ii) a copy of each report filed by it or any of its Subsidiaries with any Regulatory Authority; in each case other than portions of such documents relating to confidential supervisory or examination materials or the disclosure of which would violate any applicable Legal Requirement.

(c) All information obtained by the Company in accordance with this Section 6.1 shall be treated in confidence as provided in the Confidentiality Agreement.

**Section 6.2 Operation of Acquiror and Acquiror Subsidiaries**.

(a) Except as Previously Disclosed, as expressly contemplated by or permitted by this Agreement, as required by applicable Legal Requirement, or with the prior written consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the earlier of the Closing Date or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms, Acquiror shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to: (i) conduct its business in the Ordinary Course of Business in all material respects; (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve intact its business organization and advantageous business relationships; and (iii) take no action that is intended to or would reasonably be expected to adversely affect or materially delay the ability of Acquiror or the Company to obtain any of the Requisite Regulatory Approvals, to perform its covenants and agreements under this Agreement or to consummate the Contemplated Transactions.

(b) Except as Previously Disclosed, as expressly contemplated by or permitted by this Agreement, as required by applicable Legal Requirement, or with the prior written consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the earlier of the Closing Date or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms, Acquiror will not, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries not to:

(i) (A) enter into any agreement with respect to, or consummate, any merger or business combination, or any acquisition of any other Person or (B) make any loan, advance or capital contribution to, or investment in, any Person, in each case that would reasonably be expected to prevent, impede or materially delay the consummation of the Merger;

(ii) amend the Acquiror Articles of Incorporation or the Acquiror Bylaws, or similar governing documents of any of its Subsidiaries, in a manner that would materially and adversely affect the benefits of the Merger to the shareholders of the Company;

(iii) implement or adopt any change in its accounting principals, practices or methods, other than as may be required by GAAP or applicable regulatory accounting requirements; or

(iv) agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of Acquiror Board in support of, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 6.2.

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**Section 6.3 Advisory Board; Acquiror Board.** 

(a) On or before ten (10) Business Days after the Effective Time, Acquiror shall form an advisory board (the "Advisory Board") to support the integration efforts of the combined company. The Advisory Board shall be composed of no more than nine members. Acquiror shall designate the members to the Advisory Board from the Acquiror Board and Company Board.

(b) At the Effective Time, Acquiror shall appoint one member of the Company Board to the Acquiror Board as provided by Section 1.5(d).

**Section 6.4 Information Provided to the Company**. Acquiror agrees that the information concerning Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries that is included in the Registration Statement or Proxy Statement and any other documents to be filed with any Regulatory Authority in connection with the Contemplated Transactions will: (a) at the respective times such documents are filed and, in the case of the Registration Statement, when it becomes effective and, with respect to the Proxy Statement, when mailed, not be false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (b) in the case of the Proxy Statement or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, at the time of the Company Shareholders' Meeting, not be false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to the solicitation of any proxy for the meeting in connection with which the Proxy Statement shall be mailed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Acquiror shall have no responsibility for the truth or accuracy of any information with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates contained in the Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement or in any document submitted to, or other communication with, any Regulatory Authority.

**Section 6.5 Operating Functions**. Acquiror and Acquiror Bank shall cooperate with the Company and the Company Bank in connection with planning for the efficient and orderly combination of the parties and the operation of the Company Bank and Acquiror Bank, and in preparing for the consolidation of the banks' appropriate operating functions to be effective on the Effective Time or such later date as the parties may mutually agree.

**Section 6.6 Indemnification**.

(a) From and after the Effective Time, Acquiror shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Legal Requirements, each current or former director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or fiduciary of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any Company Benefit Plans or any Person who is or was serving at the request of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a director, officer, trustee or employee of another Person (each, an "Indemnified Party"), and any Person who becomes an Indemnified Party between the date hereof and the Effective Time, against any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities incurred in connection with any claim, action, suit, Proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, including the Contemplated Transactions, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time. Acquiror shall also advance expenses incurred by an Indemnified Party in each such case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, subject to the receipt of an undertaking from such Indemnified Party to repay such advanced expenses if it is determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that such Indemnified Party was not entitled to indemnification hereunder.

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(b) For a period of six (6) years after the Effective Time or, if such term coverage is not available, such other maximum period of coverage available, Acquiror shall maintain in effect the Company's current directors' and officers' liability insurance covering each Person currently covered by the Company's directors' and officers' liability insurance policy for acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time; provided, that in no event shall Acquiror be required to expend annually in the aggregate an amount in excess of two hundred percent (200%) of the amount of the aggregate premiums paid by the Company for the current policy term for such purpose and, if Acquiror is unable to maintain such policy (or substitute policy) as a result of this proviso, Acquiror shall obtain as much comparable insurance as is available and for as long a period of time as is available following the Effective Time by payment of such amount; provided further, that: (i) Acquiror may substitute therefor "tail" policies the material terms of which, including coverage and amount, are no less favorable in any material respect to such directors and officers than the Company's existing policies as of the date hereof; or (ii) the Company may obtain such extended reporting period coverage under the Company's existing insurance programs (to be effective as of the Effective Time).

(c) If Acquiror or any of its successors or assigns shall: (i) consolidate with or merge into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger; or (ii) transfer all or substantially all its properties and assets to any Person; then, and in each such case, Acquiror shall cause proper provision to be made so that the successor and assign of Acquiror assumes the obligations set forth in this Section 6.6.

(d) The provisions of this Section 6.6 shall survive consummation of the Merger and the Bank Merger and are intended to be for the benefit of, and will be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party, his or her heirs and his or her legal representatives.

**Section 6.7 Authorization and Reservation of Acquiror Common Stock**. The Acquiror Board shall authorize and reserve the maximum number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement.

**Section 6.8 Stock Exchange Listing**. Acquiror's securities are not listed, or quoted, for trading on any U.S. domestic or foreign securities exchange, other than the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Acquiror shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause all shares of Acquiror Common Stock issuable or to be reserved for issuance under this Agreement to be approved for listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market prior to the Closing Date. Acquiror satisfies all of the quantitative maintenance criteria of the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

**Section 6.9 Assumption of Debt Instruments**. Acquiror agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, by or on behalf of the Surviving Corporation, at or prior to the Effective Time, one or more supplemental indentures, guarantees, and other instruments required for the due assumption of the Company's outstanding debt, subordinated debentures, guarantees, securities, and other agreements to the extent required by the terms of such debt, subordinated debentures, guarantees, securities, and other agreements.

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**ARTICLE 7**<br> **COVENANTS OF ALL PARTIES**

**Section 7.1 Regulatory Approvals**. Acquiror and the Company and their respective Subsidiaries will cooperate and use all reasonable best efforts to as promptly as possible prepare, but in no event later than forty-five (45) days following the date hereof, file, effect and obtain all Requisite Regulatory Approvals, and the parties will comply with the terms of such Requisite Regulatory Approvals. Each of Acquiror and the Company will have the right to review in advance, and to the extent practicable each will consult with the other, in each case subject to applicable Legal Requirements relating to the exchange of information, with respect to all substantive written information submitted to any Regulatory Authority in connection with the Requisite Regulatory Approvals. In exercising the foregoing right, each of the parties will act reasonably and as promptly as practicable. Each party agrees that it will consult with the other party with respect to obtaining all permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all Regulatory Authorities necessary or advisable to consummate the Contemplated Transactions, and each party will keep the other party apprised of the status of material matters relating to completion of the Contemplated Transactions. Acquiror and the Company will, upon request, furnish the other party with all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, directors, officers and shareholders and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with any filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of such other party or any of its Subsidiaries with or to any Regulatory Authority in connection with the Contemplated Transactions.

**Section 7.2 SEC Registration**. As soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, but in no event later than forty-five (45) days following the date hereof, the Company and Acquiror shall prepare and file with the SEC the Proxy Statement and Acquiror shall prepare and file with the SEC the Registration Statement, in which the Proxy Statement will be included. Acquiror shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Merger and the Contemplated Transactions. Prior to the filing of the Registration Statement, Acquiror shall consult with the Company with respect to such filing and shall afford the Company and its Representatives reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon. The Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement shall include all information reasonably requested by the Company to be included. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the Company's shareholders as promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act. Acquiror shall also take any action required to be taken under any applicable Legal Requirement in connection with the Acquiror Stock Issuance, and each party shall furnish all information concerning itself and its shareholders as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action. Acquiror will advise the Company, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, the issuance of any stop order, the suspension of the qualification of Acquiror Common Stock issuable in connection with the Merger for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or any request by the SEC to amend the Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement or comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional information, and the Company will advise Acquiror, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of any request by the SEC to amend the Proxy Statement or comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional information. The parties shall use reasonable best efforts to respond (with the assistance of the other party) as promptly as practicable to any comments of the SEC with respect thereto. If prior to the Effective Time any event occurs with respect to the Company, Acquiror or any Subsidiary of the Company or Acquiror, respectively, or any change occurs with respect to information supplied by or on behalf of the Company or Acquiror, respectively, for inclusion in the Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement that, in each case, is required to be described in an amendment of, or a supplement to, the Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement, the Company or Acquiror, as applicable, shall promptly notify the other of such event (including, prior to entering into any agreement providing for any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, share exchange, business combination, issuance of securities, acquisition of securities, tender offer, exchange offer or other similar transaction involving Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries), and the Company or Acquiror, as applicable, shall cooperate in the prompt filing with the SEC of any necessary amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement and the Registration Statement and, as required by applicable Legal Requirements, in disseminating the information contained in such amendment or supplement to the Company's shareholders and to Acquiror's shareholders. Acquiror shall take all action (other than qualifying to do business in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified) required to be taken under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any application foreign or state securities or "blue sky" Legal Requirements and the rules and regulations thereunder in connection with the Merger and the issuance of Acquiror Common Stock consideration hereunder.

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**Section 7.3 Publicity**. Neither the Company nor Acquiror shall, and neither the Company nor Acquiror shall permit any of its Subsidiaries to, issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to, or otherwise make any public statement or, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, any disclosure of nonpublic information to a third party, concerning, the Contemplated Transactions without the prior consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of Acquiror, in the case of a proposed announcement, statement or disclosure by the Company, or the Company, in the case of a proposed announcement, statement or disclosure by Acquiror; provided, however, that either party may, without the prior consent of the other party (but after prior consultation with the other party to the extent practicable under the circumstances), issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement to the extent required by applicable Legal Requirements or by the NASDAQ Rules.

**Section 7.4 Reasonable Best Efforts; Cooperation**. Each of Acquiror and the Company agrees to exercise good faith and use its reasonable best efforts to satisfy the various covenants and conditions to Closing in this Agreement, and to consummate the Contemplated Transactions as promptly as practicable. Neither Acquiror nor the Company will intentionally take or intentionally permit to be taken any action that would be a breach of the terms or provisions of this Agreement. Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, each of Acquiror and the Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary of Acquiror and the Company, respectively, and all of their respective Affiliates and Representatives to, cooperate with respect to all filings that any party is required by any applicable Legal Requirements to make in connection with the Contemplated Transactions. Subject to applicable Legal Requirements and the instructions of any Regulatory Authority, each party shall keep the other party reasonably apprised of the status of matters relating to the completion of the Contemplated Transactions, including promptly furnishing the other party with copies of notices or other written communications received by it or any of its Subsidiaries from any Regulatory Authority with respect to such transactions.

**Section 7.5 Tax Free Reorganization**.

(a) The parties intend that the Merger qualify as a nontaxable reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) and related sections of the Code and that this Agreement constitute a "plan of reorganization" within the meaning of Section 1.368-2(g) of the income tax regulations promulgated under the Code. From and after the date of this Agreement and until the Effective Time, each of the Company and Acquiror shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, and shall cause their Subsidiaries to use commercially reasonable efforts, to cause the Merger to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and will not knowingly take any action, cause any action to be taken, fail to take any action or cause any action to fail to be taken which action or failure to act could prevent the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. Following the Effective Time, neither Acquiror nor any Affiliate of Acquiror knowingly shall take any action, cause any action to be taken, fail to take any action, or cause any action to fail to be taken, which action or failure to act could prevent the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. Within forty-five (45) days following the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall comply with the reporting requirements of Section 1.604B-1(a)(2) of the Treasury Regulations. Each of the Company and Acquiror shall report the Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code on its United States federal income Tax Return, unless otherwise required pursuant to a "determination" within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code.

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(b) As of the date hereof, the Company does not know of any reason: (i) why it would not be able to deliver to counsel to the Company and counsel to Acquiror, at the date of the legal opinions referred to in Section 8.8 and Section 9.8, certificates substantially in compliance with IRS published advance ruling guidelines, with reasonable or customary exceptions and modifications thereto (the "IRS Guidelines"), to enable counsel to Acquiror and counsel to the Company to deliver the legal opinions contemplated by Section 8.8 and Section 9.8, respectively, and the Company hereby agrees to deliver such certificates effective as of the date of such opinions; or (ii) why counsel to the Company would not be able to deliver the opinion required by Section 9.8. The Company will deliver such certificates to counsel to the Company and counsel to Acquiror.

(c) As of the date hereof, Acquiror does not know of any reason: (i) why it would not be able to deliver to counsel to Acquiror and counsel to the Company, at the date of the legal opinions referred to in Section 8.8 and Section 9.8, certificates substantially in compliance with the IRS Guidelines, to enable counsel to Acquiror and counsel to the Company to deliver the legal opinions contemplated by Section 8.8 and Section 9.8, respectively, and Acquiror hereby agrees to deliver such certificates effective as of the date of such opinions; or (ii) why counsel to Acquiror would not be able to deliver the opinion required by Section 8.8. Acquiror will deliver such certificates to counsel to Acquiror and counsel to the Company.

**Section 7.6 Transaction Structure**. Acquiror may at any time change the method of effecting the Merger or the Bank Merger if and to the extent requested by Acquiror, and the Company agrees to enter into such amendments to this Agreement as Acquiror may reasonably request in order to give effect to such restructuring; provided, however, that no such change or amendment: (a) alters or changes the amount or kind of the Per Share Merger Consideration; (b) adversely affects the Tax treatment of the Merger with respect to the Company's shareholders; (c) is reasonably likely to cause the Closing to be delayed or the receipt of the Requisite Regulatory Approvals to be prevented or delayed, in each case beyond the Termination Date; or (d) requires submission to or approval of the Company's shareholders after the Merger has been approved by the Company's shareholders.

**Section 7.7 Takeover Laws**. No party shall take any action that would cause any Takeover Laws to become applicable to this Agreement, the Bank Merger Agreement, the Voting Agreements or any of the Contemplated Transactions, and each party shall take all necessary steps to exempt (or ensure the continued exemption of) the Merger, the Bank Merger and the other Contemplated Transactions from any applicable Takeover Laws now or hereafter in effect. If any "moratorium," "control share," "fair price," "affiliate transaction," "business combination" or other anti-takeover Legal Requirement is or may become applicable to the Merger, the parties shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to (a) take such actions as are reasonably necessary so that the transactions contemplated hereunder may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and (b) otherwise take all such actions as are reasonably necessary to eliminate or minimize the effects of any such Legal Requirement on the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

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**Section 7.8 Employees and Employee Benefits**.

(a) All individuals employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Closing ("Covered Employees") shall automatically become employees of Acquiror as of the Closing. Following the Closing, Acquiror shall maintain employee benefit plans and compensation opportunities for the benefit of Covered Employees that provide employee benefits and compensation opportunities that, in the aggregate, are substantially comparable to the employee benefits and compensation opportunities that are made available to similarly-situated employees of Acquiror under the Acquiror Benefit Plans; provided, however, that: (i) in no event shall any Covered Employee be eligible to participate in any closed or frozen Acquiror Benefit Plan; and (ii) until such time as Acquiror shall cause Covered Employees to participate in the Acquiror Benefit Plans, a Covered Employee's continued participation in Company Benefit Plans shall be deemed to satisfy the foregoing provisions of this sentence (it being understood that participation in the Acquiror Benefit Plans may commence at different times with respect to each Acquiror Benefit Plan).

(b) For the purpose of satisfying eligibility requirements and vesting periods (but not for the purpose of benefit accruals) under the Acquiror Benefit Plans providing benefits to the Covered Employees (the "New Plans"), each Covered Employee shall be credited with his or her years of service with the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective predecessors to the same extent as such Covered Employee was entitled to credit for such service under any applicable Company Benefit Plan in which such Covered Employee participated or was eligible to participate immediately prior to the Transition Date; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to the extent that its application would result in a duplication of benefits with respect to the same period of service.

(c) In addition, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, as of the Transition Date, Acquiror shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide that: (i) each Covered Employee shall be immediately eligible to participate, without any waiting time, in any and all New Plans to the extent coverage under such New Plan is similar in type to an applicable Company Benefit Plan in which such Covered Employee was participating immediately prior to the Transition Date (such Company Benefit Plans prior to the Transition Date collectively, the "Old Plans"); (ii) for purposes of each New Plan providing medical, dental, pharmaceutical, vision or similar benefits to any Covered Employee, all pre-existing condition exclusions and actively-at-work requirements of such New Plan shall be waived for such Covered Employee and his or her covered dependents, unless such conditions would not have been waived under the Old Plan in which such Covered Employee, as applicable, participated or was eligible to participate immediately prior to the Transition Date; and (iii) any eligible expenses incurred by such Covered Employee and his or her covered dependents during the portion of the plan year of the Old Plan ending on the Transition Date shall be taken into account under such New Plan to the extent such eligible expenses were incurred during the plan year of the New Plan in which the Transition Date occurs for purposes of satisfying all deductible, coinsurance and maximum out-of-pocket requirements applicable to such Covered Employee and his or her covered dependents for the applicable plan year as if such amounts had been paid in accordance with such New Plan.

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(d) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall take all actions necessary to terminate the Company's severance policies immediately prior to the Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.8, following the Effective Time, Acquiror or Acquiror's Subsidiary will cause any eligible Company Employee (exempt and non-exempt) to be covered by a severance policy under which employees who incur a qualifying involuntary termination of employment will be eligible to receive severance pay in accordance with the severance pay schedule set forth on Schedule 7.8(d) herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Company Employee eligible to receive severance benefits under an employment, change in control, severance or other agreement shall be entitled to participate in the severance policy described in this Section 7.8(d) or to otherwise receive severance benefits. Any Company Employee who waives and relinquishes his or her right to a change in control payment will be eligible for a severance payment as provided in this Section 7.8(d).

(e) Any Company Employee who is eligible to receive severance benefits or other payment triggered by any employment agreement, severance agreement, change in control agreement or any other agreement or arrangement (a "CIC Payment") shall not receive any severance benefits as provided in Section 7.8(d) but will receive the CIC Payment to the extent it is required to be paid under such agreement.

**Section 7.9 Section 16 Matters**. Prior to the Effective Time, the parties will each take such steps as may be necessary or appropriate to cause any acquisitions or dispositions of Acquiror Common Stock resulting from the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by each individual who may become or is reasonably expected to become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to Acquiror immediately following the Effective Time, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

**Section 7.10 Shareholder Litigation**. Each of the Company and Acquiror shall give the other the reasonable opportunity to consult concerning the defense of any shareholder litigation against the Company or Acquiror, as applicable, or any of their respective directors or officers relating to the Contemplated Transactions.

**ARTICLE 8**<br> **CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF**<br> **ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB**

The obligations of Acquiror and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions (any of which may be waived by Acquiror in whole or in part):

**Section 8.1 Accuracy of Representations and Warranties**. Each of the representations and warranties of the Company: (i) set forth in Section 3.3, Section 3.5(a) and Section 3.5(b) shall be true and correct in all respects, except for inaccuracies which are de minimis in amount and effect; (ii) set forth in Section 3.21, Section 3.22 and Section 3.23 shall be true and correct in all material respects; and (iii) set forth in this Agreement (other than those referred to in clauses (i) and (ii)), disregarding any exception or qualification as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, shall be true and correct in all respects, except where any such failures to be so true and correct individually or in the aggregate have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, in each of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date. Acquiror shall have received a certificate signed by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect.

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**Section 8.2 Performance by the Company**. The Company shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all of the covenants and obligations to be performed or complied with by it under the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date. Acquiror shall have received a certificate signed by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect.

**Section 8.3 Shareholder Approvals**. The Company Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained.

**Section 8.4 No Proceedings, Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality**. Since the date of this Agreement, there must not have been commenced or threatened any Proceeding: (a) involving any challenge to, or seeking damages or other relief in connection with, any of the Contemplated Transactions; or (b) that may have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal or otherwise interfering with any of the Contemplated Transactions, in either case that would reasonably be expected by the Acquiror Board to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. No Order, injunction or decree issued by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger or any of the other Contemplated Transactions shall be in effect. No statute, rule, regulation, Order, injunction or decree shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any governmental authority which prohibits or makes illegal consummation of the Merger.

**Section 8.5 Regulatory Approvals**. All Requisite Regulatory Approvals shall have been obtained and shall remain in full force and effect and all statutory waiting periods in respect thereof shall have expired or been terminated and no such Requisite Regulatory Approval shall have imposed a restriction or condition on, or requirement of, such approval that would, after the Effective Time, reasonably be expected by the Acquiror Board to materially restrict or burden Acquiror or its Subsidiaries measured on a consolidated basis.

**Section 8.6 Registration Statement**. The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act. No stop order shall have been issued or threatened by the SEC that suspends the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no Proceeding shall have been commenced or be pending or threatened for such purpose.

**Section 8.7 Legal Opinion**. Acquiror shall have received a written opinion of legal counsel to the Company, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company and Acquiror, dated as of the Closing Date.

**Section 8.8 Tax Opinion**. Acquiror shall have received a written opinion of tax counsel to Acquiror, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and Acquiror, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that: (a) the Merger will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code; (b) each of the Company and Acquiror will be a party to such reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code; and (c) no gain or loss will be recognized by holders of Company Common Stock upon the receipt of shares of Acquiror Common Stock in exchange for their shares of Company Common Stock, except to the extent of any cash consideration received in the Merger and any cash received in lieu of fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock.

**Section 8.9 Stock Exchange Listing**. Acquiror shall have filed with the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC a notification form for the listing of all shares of Acquiror Common Stock to be delivered in the Merger, and the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC shall not have objected to the listing of such shares of Acquiror Common Stock.

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**Section 8.10 No Material Adverse Effect**. From the date of this Agreement to the Closing, there shall be and have been no change in the financial condition, assets or business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

**ARTICLE 9**<br> **CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY**

The obligation of the Company to consummate the Merger is subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions (any of which may be waived by the Company, in whole or in part):

**Section 9.1 Accuracy of Representations and Warranties**. Each of the representations and warranties of Acquiror and Merger Sub: (i) set forth in Section 4.3, Section 4.5(a) and Section 4.5(c) shall be true and correct in all respects, except for inaccuracies which are de minimis in amount and effect; and (ii) set forth in this Agreement (other than those referred to in clause (i)), disregarding any exception or qualification as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, shall be true and correct in all respects, except where any such failures to be so true and correct individually or in the aggregate have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror, in each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date. The Company shall have received a certificate signed by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of Acquiror, dated the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect.

**Section 9.2 Performance by Acquiror**. Acquiror and Merger Sub shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all of the covenants and obligations to be performed or complied with by them under the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall have received a certificate signed by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of Acquiror, dated the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect.

**Section 9.3 Shareholder Approvals**. The Company Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained.

**Section 9.4 No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality**. Since the date of this Agreement, there must not have been commenced or threatened any Proceeding: (a) involving any challenge to, or seeking damages or other relief in connection with, any of the Contemplated Transactions; or (b) that may have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal or otherwise interfering with any of the Contemplated Transactions, in either case that would reasonably be expected by the Company Board to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Surviving Corporation. No Order, injunction or decree issued by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger or any of the other Contemplated Transactions shall be in effect. No statute, rule, regulation, Order, injunction or decree shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any governmental authority which prohibits or makes illegal consummation of the Merger.

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**Section 9.5 Regulatory Approvals**. All Requisite Regulatory Approvals shall have been obtained and shall remain in full force and effect and all statutory waiting periods in respect thereof shall have expired or been terminated and no such Requisite Regulatory Approval shall have imposed a restriction or condition on, or requirement of, such approval that would, after the Effective Time, reasonably be expected by the Company Board to materially restrict or burden the Surviving Corporation.

**Section 9.6 Registration Statement**. The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act. No stop order shall have been issued or threatened by the SEC that suspends the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no Proceeding shall have been commenced or be pending or threatened for such purpose.

**Section 9.7 Legal Opinion**. The Company shall have received a written opinion of legal counsel to Acquiror, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company and Acquiror, dated as of the Closing Date.

**Section 9.8 Tax Opinion**. The Company shall have received a written opinion of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, counsel to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and Acquiror, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that: (a) the Merger will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code; (b) each of the Company and Acquiror will be a party to such reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code; and (c) no gain or loss will be recognized by holders of Company Common Stock upon the receipt of shares of Acquiror Common Stock in exchange for their shares of Company Common Stock, except to the extent of any cash consideration received in the Merger and any cash received in lieu of fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock.

**Section 9.9 Stock Exchange Listing**. Acquiror shall have filed with the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC a notification form for the listing of all shares of Acquiror Common Stock to be delivered in the Merger, and the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC shall not have objected to the listing of such shares of Acquiror Common Stock.

**Section 9.10 No Material Adverse Effect**. From the date of this Agreement to the Closing, there shall be and have been no change in the financial condition, assets or business of Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror.

**ARTICLE 10**<br> **TERMINATION**

**Section 10.1 Termination of Agreement**. This Agreement may be terminated only as set forth below, whether before or after approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger by the shareholders of the Company or Acquiror:

(a) by mutual consent of the Acquiror Board and Company Board, each evidenced by appropriate written resolutions;

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(b) by either Acquiror or the Company (provided, that the terminating party is not then in material breach of any of its representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained herein) if there shall have been a breach of any of the covenants or agreements or any of the representations or warranties (or any such representation or warranty shall cease to be true) set forth in this Agreement on the part of the Company (except for breaches of Section 5.4 or 5.8, which are separately addressed in Section 10.1(f)), in the case of a termination by Acquiror, or Acquiror, in the case of a termination by the Company, which breach or failure to be true, either individually or in the aggregate with all other breaches by such party (or failures of such representations or warranties to be true), would constitute, if occurring or continuing on the Closing Date, the failure of a condition set forth in Section 8.1, Section 8.2, Section 9.1 or Section 9.2, as the case may be, and which is not cured on or prior to the earlier of two (2) Business Days prior to the Termination Date and thirty (30) days following written notice to the Company, in the case of a termination by Acquiror, or Acquiror, in the case of a termination by the Company, or by its nature or timing cannot be cured prior to such earlier date;

(c) by Acquiror or the Company if: (i) any Regulatory Authority that must grant a Requisite Regulatory Approval has denied approval of any of the Contemplated Transactions and such denial has become final and nonappealable; (ii) any application, filing or notice for a Requisite Regulatory Approval has been withdrawn at the request or recommendation of the applicable Regulatory Authority and with the consent of Acquiror and the Company; or (iii) if the Company Shareholder Approval is not obtained following the Company Shareholders' Meeting; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.1(c) shall not be available to a party whose failure (or the failure of any of its Affiliates) to fulfill any of its covenants or agreements under this Agreement has been the cause of or resulted in the occurrence of any event described in clauses (i) and (ii) above;

(d) by Acquiror or the Company if the Effective Time shall not have occurred on or prior to June 30, 2026 (the "Termination Date"); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.1(d) shall not be available to any party to this Agreement whose failure to fulfill any of its covenants or agreements under this Agreement has been the cause of or resulted in the failure of the Effective Time to occur on or prior to such date;

(e) by Acquiror or the Company if any court of competent jurisdiction or other Regulatory Authority shall have issued a judgment, Order, injunction, rule or decree, or taken any other action restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting any of the Contemplated Transactions and such judgment, Order, injunction, rule, decree or other action shall have become final and nonappealable;

(f) by Acquiror if the Company materially breaches any of its obligations under Section 5.4 or Section 5.8;

(g) by the Company pursuant to Section 5.9;

(h) by Acquiror if the Company makes a Company Adverse Recommendation; or

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(i) by the Company, if both of the following conditions are satisfied on the Determination Date, such termination to be effective on the tenth (10th) day following the Determination Date: (i) the Final Acquiror Market Value is less than $40.54 and (ii) the number obtained by dividing the Final Acquiror Market Value by the Initial Acquiror Market Value shall be less than the number obtained by (A) dividing (x) the Final Index Price by (y) the Initial Index Price and (B) subtracting 0.175; subject, however, to the remainder of this Section 10.1(i). If the Company elects to exercise its termination right pursuant to this Section 10.1(i), it shall give written notice thereof to Acquiror within one (1) Business Day after the Determination Date. Acquiror shall then have the option, exercisable by notice to the Company on or prior to the fifth (5th) Business Day after Acquiror's receipt of such notice, to increase the Exchange Ratio to equal the lesser of (x) a quotient, the numerator of which is equal to the product of (A) the Initial Acquiror Market Value, (B) the Exchange Ratio (as then in effect), and (C) the Index Ratio minus 0.175, and the denominator of which is equal to the Final Acquiror Market Value; or (y) the quotient determined by dividing the Initial Acquiror Market Value by the Final Acquiror Market Value, and multiplying the quotient by the product of the Exchange Ratio (as then in effect) and 0.825. If within such five (5) Business Day period, Acquiror delivers written notice to the Company that it intends to proceed with the Merger by paying such additional consideration as contemplated by the preceding sentence, and notifies the Company of the revised Exchange Ratio, then no termination shall have occurred pursuant to this Section 10.1(i), and this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms (except that the Exchange Ratio shall have been so modified). If Acquiror or any company belonging to the Index declares or effects a stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or similar transaction between the date of this Agreement and the Determination Date, the prices for the common stock of such company shall be appropriately adjusted for the purposes of applying this Section 10.1(i).

For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

"Determination Date" means the first date on which all Requisite Regulatory Approvals (and waivers, if applicable) necessary for consummation of the Merger have been received (disregarding any waiting period).

"Final Acquiror Market Value" means the volume-weighted average closing price of a share of Acquiror Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market for the ten (10) consecutive trading days ending on (and including) the Determination Date, using volume and closing price information as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets, or any successor thereto (or, if not reported therein, in another authoritative source mutually selected by Acquiror and the Company).

"Final Index Price" means the average of the daily closing value of the Index for the ten (10) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the Determination Date.

"Index" means the Nasdaq Bank Index or, if such Index is not available, such substitute or similar Index as substantially replicates the Nasdaq Bank Index.

"Index Ratio" means the Final Index Price divided by the Initial Index Price.

"Initial Index Price" means $4,525.86.

"Initial Acquiror Market Value" means $49.14, adjusted as indicated in the last sentence of Section 10.1(i).

**Section 10.2 Effect of Termination or Abandonment**. Upon the termination of this Agreement and the abandonment of the Merger pursuant to Section 10.1, this Agreement shall become null and void, and there shall be no liability of one party to the other or any restrictions on the future activities on the part of any party to this Agreement, or its respective directors, officers or shareholders, except that: (i) the Confidentiality Agreement, Section 10.2, Section 10.3 and Article 11 shall survive such termination and abandonment; and (ii) no such termination shall relieve the breaching party from liability resulting from its fraud or any willful and material breach by that party of this Agreement.

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**Section 10.3 Fees and Expenses**.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 10.3, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Merger and the other Contemplated Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated, except that the expenses incurred in connection with the filing, printing and mailing of the Proxy Statement, and all filing and other fees paid to the SEC, in each case in connection with the Merger (other than attorneys' fees, accountants' fees and related expenses), shall be shared equally by Acquiror and the Company.

(b) If this Agreement is terminated by Acquiror pursuant to Section 10.1(b), Section 10.1(f), Section 10.1(h) then the Company shall pay to Acquiror, within ten (10) Business Days after such termination, the amount of Three Million Six Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($3,680,000) (the "Termination Fee") by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as Acquiror shall designate.

(c) If this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 10.1(g), then the Company shall pay to Acquiror the Termination Fee, within two (2) Business Days after such termination, the amount of by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as Acquiror shall designate.

(d) If, after the date of this Agreement and prior to the termination of this Agreement, a bona fide Acquisition Proposal shall have been made known to senior management of the Company or has been made directly to its shareholders generally or any Person shall have publicly announced (and not withdrawn) an Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company and (A) thereafter this Agreement is terminated by Acquiror pursuant to Section 10.1(b) as a result of a material breach; and (B) within six (6) months after such termination the Company shall enter into a definitive written agreement with any Person (other than Acquiror and its Affiliates) with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, the Company shall pay to Acquiror, within ten (10) Business Days after the execution of such definitive agreement, the Termination Fee (less the amount of funds, if any, previously paid by the Company to Acquiror pursuant to Section 10.3(b)) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as Acquiror shall designate; provided, however, that for purposes of this paragraph, Acquisition Proposal has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 12.1(m), except that references in that Section to "fifteen percent (15%)" shall be replaced by "fifty percent (50%)."

(e) All payments made pursuant to this Section 10.3 shall constitute liquidated damages and except as provided in Section 10.2(ii) in the case of fraud or willful and material breach of this Agreement, the receipt thereof shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the receiving party against the party making such payment, its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers and shareholders for any claims arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein. Further, neither the Company nor Acquiror shall be required to pay the Termination Fee on more than one occasion.

**ARTICLE 11**<br> **MISCELLANEOUS**

**Section 11.1 Survival**. Except for covenants that are expressly to be performed after the Closing, none of the representations, warranties and covenants contained herein shall survive beyond the Closing.

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**Section 11.2 Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial**. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement and the performance of the obligations imposed by this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Michigan applicable to Contracts made and to be performed in such state without regard to conflicts of laws. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Michigan solely in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement and of the documents referred to in this Agreement, and in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby waives, and agrees not to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or Proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement hereof or of any such document, that it is not subject thereto or that such action, suit or Proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said court or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement or any such document may not be enforced in or by such court, and the parties hereto irrevocably agree that all claims with respect to such action or Proceeding shall be heard and determined in such court. The parties hereby consent to and grant any such court jurisdiction over the Person of such parties and agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or Proceeding in the manner provided under Section 11.6 or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, TO IT THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (ii) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (iv) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS SET FORTH HEREIN.

**Section 11.3 Assignments, Successors and No Third Party Rights**. Neither party to this Agreement may assign any of its rights under this Agreement (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment in contravention hereof shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement and every representation, warranty, covenant, agreement and provision hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except for Section 6.6, nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be construed to give any Person other than the parties to this Agreement any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement. Any inaccuracies in such representations and warranties are subject to waiver by the parties hereto in accordance with Section 11.5 without notice or liability to any other Person. In some instances, the representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an allocation among the parties hereto of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of any of the parties hereto. Consequently, Persons other than the parties may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date.

**Section 11.4 Modification**. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented by the parties at any time before or after the Company Shareholder Approval is obtained; provided, however, that after the Company Shareholder Approval is obtained, there may not be, without further approval of the Company's shareholders, any amendment of this Agreement that requires further approval under applicable Legal Requirements. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties.

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**Section 11.5 Extension of Time; Waiver**. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties may, to the extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements: (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other party; (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement; or (c) waive compliance with or amend, modify or supplement any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement which are for the benefit of the waiving party. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party. Neither the failure nor any delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, power or privilege, and no single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege will preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. Except as provided in Article 10, the rights and remedies of the parties to this Agreement are cumulative and not alternative. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements: (x) no claim or right arising out of this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement can be discharged by one party, in whole or in part, by a waiver or renunciation of the claim or right unless in writing signed by the other party; (y) no waiver that may be given by a party will be applicable except in the specific instance for which it is given; and (z) no notice to or demand on one party will be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation of such party or of the right of the party giving such notice or demand to take further action without notice or demand as provided in this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement.

**Section 11.6 Notices**. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing (which shall include facsimile communication) and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand or by nationally recognized overnight delivery service or sent by facsimile (with confirmation) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

If to Acquiror or Merger Sub, to:

Mercantile Bank Corporation

310 Leonard Street, NW

Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Email: rreitsma@MercBank.com

Attention: Raymond E. Reitsma, Chief Executive Officer

If to the Company, to:

Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation

65 N. Howard Ave.

Croswell, MI 48422

Email: woldford@emb.bank

Attention: William G. Oldford, Jr.

with copies, which shall not constitute notice, to:

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP

1000 Jackson Street

Toledo, OH 43604

Email: mwerner@shumker.com

Attention: Martin D. Werner

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Except as otherwise provided herein, all such notices, consents, waivers and other communications shall be effective: (a) if delivered by hand, when delivered; (b) if delivered by overnight delivery service, on the next Business Day after deposit with such service; and (c) if by facsimile, on the next Business Day.

**Section 11.7 Entire Agreement**. This Agreement, the Bank Merger Agreement and the Schedules and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, written or oral, relating to such subject matter between the parties.

**Section 11.8 Severability**. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Legal Requirements, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable Legal Requirements, such provision will be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement unless the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions is adversely affected thereby.

**Section 11.9 Further Assurances**. The parties agree: (a) to furnish upon request to each other such further information; (b) to execute and deliver to each other such other documents; and (c) to do such other acts and things; all as the other party may reasonably request for the purpose of carrying out the intent of this Agreement and the documents referred to in this Agreement.

**Section 11.10 Counterparts**. This Agreement and any amendments thereto may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile, PDF or other electronic means), each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that each party need not sign the same counterpart.

**ARTICLE 12**<br> **DEFINITIONS**

**Section 12.1 Definitions**. In addition to those terms defined throughout this Agreement, the following terms, when used herein, shall have the following meanings:

(a) "Acquiror Articles of Incorporation" means the Articles of Incorporation of Acquiror, including all amendments thereto.

(b) "Acquiror Benefit Plan" means any: (i) qualified or nonqualified "employee pension benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) or other deferred compensation or retirement plan or arrangement; (ii) "employee welfare benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) or other health, welfare or similar plan or arrangement; (iii) "employee benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA); (iv) equity-based plan or arrangement (including any stock option, stock purchase, stock ownership, stock appreciation, restricted stock, restricted stock unit, phantom stock or similar plan, agreement or award); (v) other compensation, severance, bonus, profit-sharing or incentive plan or arrangement; or (vi) change in control agreement or employment or severance agreement, in each case with respect to clauses (i) through (vi) of this definition, that are maintained by, sponsored by, contributed to, or required to be contributed to, by Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer or director of Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries, or any beneficiary thereof.

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(c) "Acquiror Board" means the board of directors of Acquiror.

(d) "Acquiror Bylaws" means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of Acquiror, dated February 26, 2015.

(e) "Acquiror Capital Stock" means the Acquiror Common Stock and the Acquiror Preferred Stock, collectively.

(f) "Acquiror Common Stock" means the common stock, without par value, per share, of Acquiror.

(g) "Acquiror Equity Award" means any outstanding stock option, stock appreciation right, restricted stock award, restricted stock unit, or other equity award granted under an Acquiror Stock Plan.

(h) "Acquiror ERISA Affiliate" means each "person" (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that is treated as a single employer with Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of Section 414 of the Code.

(i) "Acquiror SEC Reports" means the annual, quarterly and other reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents (including exhibits and all other information incorporated therein) filed or furnished by Acquiror with the SEC under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or the regulations thereunder, since January 1, 2022.

(j) [deleted].

(k) "Acquiror Stock Issuance" means the issuance of the Acquiror Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement.

(l) "Acquiror Stock Plans" means collectively (i)the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan; (ii) the Company's Stock Incentive Plan; and (iii) the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan

(m) "Acquisition Proposal" means a tender or exchange offer to acquire more than fifteen percent (15%) of the voting power in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a proposal for a merger, consolidation or other business combination involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other proposal or offer to acquire in any manner more than fifteen percent (15%) of the voting power in, or more than fifteen percent (15%) of the business, assets or deposits of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than the transactions contemplated hereby and other than any sale of whole loans and securitizations in the Ordinary Course of Business.

(n) "Affiliate" means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with, such specified Person.

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(o) "Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banks in Grand Rapids, Michigan, are authorized or required by law or other government action to close.

(p) "Company Articles of Incorporation" means the Articles of Incorporation of the Company.

(q) "Company Benefit Plan" means any: (i) qualified or nonqualified "employee pension benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) or other deferred compensation or retirement plan or arrangement; (ii) "employee welfare benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) or other health, welfare or similar plan or arrangement; (iii) "employee benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA); (iv) equity-based compensation plan or arrangement (including any stock option, stock purchase, stock ownership, stock appreciation, restricted stock, restricted stock unit, phantom stock or similar plan, agreement or award); (v) other compensation, severance, bonus, profit-sharing or incentive plan or arrangement; or (vi) change in control agreement or employment or severance agreement, in each case with respect to clauses (i) through (vi) of this definition, that are maintained by, sponsored by, contributed to, or required to be contributed to, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any beneficiary thereof.

(r) "Company Board" means the board of directors of the Company.

(s) "Company Bylaws" means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.

(t) "Company Capital Stock" means the Company Common Stock and the Company Preferred Stock, collectively.

(u) "Company Equity Award" means any outstanding Company Stock Option, restricted stock unit, performance unit, stock appreciation right, restricted stock award, or other equity award granted under a Company Stock Plan.

(v) "Company ERISA Affiliate" means each "person" (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that is treated as a single employer with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of Section 414 of the Code.

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(w) "Company Stock Plans" means collectively the following:

(i) Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation 2012 Equity Plan; and

(ii) Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation 2021 Equity Plan .

(x) "Contemplated Transactions" means all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Bank Merger Agreement and the Voting Agreements, including: (i) the Merger, (ii) the Bank Merger and (iii) the performance by all parties of their respective covenants and obligations under this Agreement, the Bank Merger Agreement and the Voting Agreements.

(y) "Contract" means any agreement, contract, obligation, promise or understanding (whether written or oral and whether express or implied) that is legally binding: (i) under which a Person has or may acquire any rights; (ii) under which such Person has or may become subject to any obligation or liability; or (iii) by which such Person or any of the assets owned or used by such Person is or may become bound.

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(z) "Control," "Controlling" or "Controlled""""" when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to vote twenty five percent (25%) or more of any class of voting securities of a Person, the power to control in any manner the election of a majority of the directors or partners of such Person, or the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of such Person.

(aa) "CRA" means the Community Reinvestment Act.

(bb) "Deposit Insurance Fund" means the fund that is maintained by the FDIC to allow it to make up for any shortfalls from a failed depository institution's assets.

(cc) "Derivative Transactions" means any swap transaction, option, warrant, forward purchase or sale transaction, futures transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction or collar transaction relating to one or more currencies, commodities, bonds, equity securities, loans, interest rates, prices, values, or other financial or nonfinancial assets, credit related events or conditions or any indexes, or any other similar transaction or combination of any of these transactions, including collateralized mortgage obligations or other similar instruments or any debt or equity instruments evidencing or embedding any such types of transactions, and any related credit support, collateral or other similar arrangements related to such transactions.

(dd) "DOL" means the United States Department of Labor.

(ee) "Environment" means surface or subsurface soil or strata, surface waters and sediments, navigable waters, groundwater, drinking water supply and ambient air.

(ff) "Environmental Laws" means any federal, state or local law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, Order, permit or other legally binding requirement applicable to the business or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that imposes liability or standards of conduct with respect to the Environment and/or Hazardous Materials.

(gg) "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

(hh) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(ii) "Excluded Shares" means any shares of Company Common Stock owned by the Company, Acquiror or Merger Sub, in each case other than shares held in any Company Benefit Plan or related trust accounts or otherwise held in a fiduciary or agency capacity or as a result of debts previously contracted.

(jj) "FDIC" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

(kk) "Federal Reserve" means the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System.

(ll) "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, consistently applied.

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(mm) "Hazardous Materials" means any hazardous, toxic or dangerous substance, waste, contaminant, pollutant, gas or other material that is classified as such under Environmental Laws or is otherwise regulated under Environmental Laws.

(nn) "IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

(oo) "Proxy Statement" means the Proxy Statement of the Company and the prospectus of the Acquiror prepared by Acquiror and the Company and filed as a part of the Registration Statement for use in connection with the Company Shareholders' Meeting.

(pp) "Knowledge" means, assuming due inquiry under the facts or circumstances, the actual knowledge of the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief credit officer or general counsel of Acquiror or the Company, as the context requires.

(qq) "Legal Requirement" means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, international, multinational or other Order, constitution, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, policy statement, directive, statute or treaty.

(rr) "Material Adverse Effect" as used with respect to a party, means an event, circumstance, change, effect or occurrence which, individually or together with any other event, circumstance, change, effect or occurrence, individually or in the aggregate: (i) is or would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the business, prospects, financial condition, assets, liabilities or results of operations of such party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (ii) materially impairs the ability of such party to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other Contemplated Transactions on a timely basis; provided that, in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, there shall be excluded any effect to the extent attributable to or resulting from: (A) changes in Legal Requirements and the interpretation of such Legal Requirements by courts or governmental authorities; (B) changes in GAAP or regulatory accounting requirements; (C) changes or events generally affecting banks, bank holding companies or financial holding companies, or the economy or the financial, securities or credit markets, including changes in prevailing interest rates, liquidity and quality, currency exchange rates, price levels or trading volumes in the United States or foreign securities markets; (D) changes in national or international political or social conditions including the engagement by the United States in hostilities, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack upon or within the United States, declarations of any national or global epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak, or the material worsening of such conditions threatened or existing as of the date of this Agreement; (E) any natural or man-made disaster or acts of God; (F) the effects of the actions expressly permitted or required by this Agreement or that are taken with the prior written consent of the other party in contemplation of the Contemplated Transactions, including the costs and expenses associated therewith and the response or reaction of customers, vendors, licensors, investors or employees and (G) failure, in and of itself, to meet internal or other estimates, projections or forecasts of revenue, net income or any other measure of financial performance, but not, in any such case, including the underlying causes thereof; except with respect to clauses (A), (B), (C) (D), and (E), to the extent that the effects of such change are disproportionately adverse to the financial condition, results of operations or business of such party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as compared to other companies in the industry in which such party and its Subsidiaries operate.

(ss) "MBCA" means the Michigan Business Corporation Act.

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(tt) "NASDAQ Rules" means the listing rules of the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

(uu) "Order" means any award, decision, injunction, judgment, order, ruling, extraordinary supervisory letter, policy statement, memorandum of understanding, resolution, agreement, directive, subpoena or verdict entered, issued, made, rendered or required by any court, administrative or other governmental agency, including any Regulatory Authority, or by any arbitrator.

(vv) "Ordinary Course of Business" shall include any action taken by a Person only if such action is consistent with the past practices of such Person and is similar in nature and magnitude to actions customarily taken in the ordinary course of the normal day-to-day operations of such Person.

(ww) "OREO" means real estate owned by a Person and designated as "other real estate owned."

(xx) "PBGC" means the United States Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

(yy) "Person" means any individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, foundation, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization, labor union or other entity or Regulatory Authority.

(zz) "Proceeding" means any action, arbitration, audit, hearing, investigation, litigation or suit (whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or informal) commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any judicial or governmental authority, including a Regulatory Authority, or arbitrator.

(aaa) "Registration Statement" means a registration statement on Form S-4 or other applicable form under the Securities Act covering the shares of Acquiror Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, which shall include the Proxy Statement.

(bbb) "Regulatory Authority" means any federal, state or local governmental body, agency, court or authority that, under applicable Legal Requirements: (i) has supervisory, judicial, administrative, police, enforcement, taxing or other power or authority over the Company, Acquiror, or any of their respective Subsidiaries; (ii) is required to approve, or give its consent to, the Contemplated Transactions; or (iii) with which a filing must be made in connection therewith.

(ccc) "Representative" means with respect to a particular Person, any director, officer, manager, employee, agent, consultant, advisor or other representative of such Person, including legal counsel, accountants and financial advisors.

(ddd) "Requisite Regulatory Approvals" means all necessary documentation, applications, notices, petitions, filings, permits, consents, approvals and authorizations from all applicable Regulatory Authorities for approval of the Contemplated Transactions.

(eee) "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(fff) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933.

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(ggg) "Subsidiary" with respect to any Person means an Affiliate that is Controlled by such Person directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

(hhh) "Superior Proposal" means a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal (with all references to "fifteen percent (15%)" in the definition of Acquisition Proposal being treated as references to "fifty percent (50%)" for these purposes) which Company Board concludes in good faith to be more favorable from a financial point of view to its shareholders than the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (i) after receiving the advice of its financial advisors (which shall be Piper Sandler & Co. or any other nationally recognized investment banking firm), (ii) after taking into account the likelihood and timing of consummation of the proposed transaction on the terms set forth therein (as compared to, and with due regard for, the terms herein) and (iii) after taking into account all legal (with the advice of outside counsel), financial (including the financing terms of any such proposal), regulatory (including the advice of outside counsel regarding the potential for regulatory approval of any such proposal) and other aspects of such proposal and any other relevant factors permitted under applicable Legal Requirements.

(iii) "Tax" means any tax (including any income tax, franchise tax, capital gains tax, value-added tax, sales tax, excise tax, property tax, escheat tax, use tax, payroll tax, gift tax or estate tax), levy, assessment, tariff, duty (including any customs duty), deficiency or other fee, and any related charge or amount (including any fine, penalty, interest or addition to tax), imposed, assessed or collected by or under the authority of any Regulatory Authority or payable pursuant to any tax-sharing agreement or any other Contract relating to the sharing or payment of any such tax, levy, assessment, tariff, duty, deficiency or fee.

(jjj) "Tax Return" means any return (including any information return), report, statement, schedule, notice, form or other document or information filed with or submitted to, or required to be filed with or submitted to, any Regulatory Authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection or payment of any Tax or in connection with the administration, implementation, or enforcement of or compliance with any Legal Requirement relating to any Tax.

(kkk) "Transition Date" means, with respect to any Covered Employee, the date Acquiror commences providing benefits to such employee with respect to each New Plan.

**Section 12.2 Principles of Construction**.

(a) In this Agreement, unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, the following uses apply: (i) actions permitted under this Agreement may be taken at any time and from time to time in the actor's sole discretion; (ii) references to a statute shall refer to the statute, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute, and to all regulations promulgated under or implementing the statute or its successor, as in effect at the relevant time; (iii) in computing periods from a specified date to a later specified date, the words "from" and "commencing on" (and the like) mean "from and including," and the words "to," "until" and "ending on" (and the like) mean "to, but excluding"; (iv) references to a governmental or quasi-governmental agency, authority or instrumentality shall also refer to a regulatory body that succeeds to the functions of the agency, authority or instrumentality; (v) indications of time of day mean Central Time; (vi) "including" means "including, but not limited to"; (vii) all references to sections, schedules and exhibits are to sections, schedules and exhibits in or to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; (viii) all words used in this Agreement will be construed to be of such gender or number as the circumstances and context require; (ix) the captions and headings of articles, sections, schedules and exhibits appearing in or attached to this Agreement have been inserted solely for convenience of reference and shall not be considered a part of this Agreement nor shall any of them affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any of its provisions; and (x) any reference to a document or set of documents in this Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties under any such documents, means such document or documents as amended from time to time, and any and all modifications, extensions, renewals, substitutions or replacements thereof.

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(b) The schedules of the Company and Acquiror referred to in this Agreement (the "Company Disclosure Schedules" and the "Acquiror Disclosure Schedules", respectively, and collectively the "Schedules") shall consist of items, the disclosure of which with respect to a specific party is necessary or appropriate either in response to an express disclosure requirement contained in a provision hereof or as an exception to one or more representations or warranties contained herein or to one or more covenants contained herein, which Schedules were delivered by each of the Company and Acquiror to the other before the date of this Agreement; provided, that: (i) no such item is required to be set forth as an exception to a representation or warranty if its absence would not result in the related representation or warranty being deemed untrue or incorrect; (ii) the mere inclusion of an item in the Company Disclosure Schedules or Acquiror Disclosure Schedules as an exception to a representation or warranty shall not be deemed an admission by the Company or Acquiror, as applicable, that such item represents a material exception or fact, event or circumstance or that such item is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) any disclosures made with respect to a section of this Agreement shall be deemed to qualify (A) any other section of this Agreement specifically referenced or cross-referenced and (B) other sections of this Agreement to the extent it is reasonably apparent on its face (notwithstanding the absence of a specific cross reference) from a reading of the disclosure that such disclosure applies to such other sections. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Agreement and those in the Schedules (other than an exception expressly set forth as such in the Schedules), the statements in the body of this Agreement will control. For purposes of this Agreement, "Previously Disclosed" means, with respect to any representation, warranty or covenant of the Company, information disclosed by the Company as of the date hereof in the Company Disclosure Schedules and, with respect to any representation, warranty or covenant of Acquiror, information disclosed by Acquiror as of the date hereof in the Acquiror Disclosure Schedules.

(c) All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with GAAP.

(d) With regard to each and every term and condition of this Agreement and any and all agreements and instruments subject to the terms hereof, the parties hereto understand and agree that the same have or has been mutually negotiated, prepared and drafted, and that if at any time the parties hereto desire or are required to interpret or construe any such term or condition or any agreement or instrument subject hereto, no consideration shall be given to the issue of which party hereto actually prepared, drafted or requested any term or condition of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument subject hereto.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers on the day and year first written above.

ACQUIROR:

Mercantile Bank Corporation

By: <u>/s/ Raymond Reitsma</u><u> </u><u> </u><u> </u>

Name: Raymond Reitsma

Title: President & Chief Executive Officer

COMPANY:

Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation

By: <u>/s/ William Oldford, Jr.</u><u> </u><u> </u><u> </u>

Name: <u>William G. Oldford, Jr.</u><u> </u><u> </u>

Title: <u>President & CEO</u> <u> </u><u> </u>

MERGER SUB:

Shamrock Merger Sub Inc.

By: <u>/s/ Raymond Reitsma</u> <u> </u><u> </u>

Name: Raymond Reitsma

Title: President

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**Schedule 7.8(d)** 

**Severance Pay Schedule**

Severance Pay Schedule:

Two weeks of pay per year of credited service with the Company, with a minimum of 4 weeks and up to a maximum of 26 weeks.

## Exhibit 10.1

**Exhibit 10.1**

**<u>FORM VOTING AGREEMENT</u>**

This Voting Agreement (this "**Agreement**") is entered into as of July 22, 2025, by and between the undersigned holder ("**Shareholder**") of Common Stock (as defined below) and Mercantile Bank Corporation, a Michigan corporation ("**Acquiror**").

**RECITALS**

**WHEREAS**, as of the date hereof, Shareholder "**beneficially owns**" (as such term, along with "**owns beneficially**", "**beneficial ownership**" and other like terms, is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) and is entitled to dispose of (or to direct the disposition of) and to vote (or to direct the voting of) the number of shares of common stock, par value $5.00 per share (the "**Common Stock**") of Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation, a Michigan corporation ("**Company**") indicated on the signature page of this Agreement under the heading "Total Number of Common Stock" (the "**Original Shares**" and together with any additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to <u>Section 5</u> hereof, the "**Shares**");

**WHEREAS**, the respective boards of directors of the Company, Acquiror, and Shamrock Merger Sub Inc., a Michigan corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Acquiror ("**Merger Sub**"), have approved the entry into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (the "**Merger Agreement**"), pursuant to which, among other things, Company will merge with and into Merger Sub (the "**Merger**"); and

**WHEREAS**, as a condition to the willingness of Acquiror to enter into the Merger Agreement, Acquiror has required Shareholder to execute and deliver this Agreement.

**NOW, THEREFORE**, in consideration of, and as a material inducement to, Acquiror entering into the Merger Agreement and proceeding with the Contemplated Transactions, and in consideration of the expenses incurred and to be incurred by Acquiror in connection therewith, Shareholder and Acquiror, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**1. <u>Definitions</u>**. For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**2. <u>Representations and Warranties of Shareholder</u>**. Shareholder represents and warrants to and agrees with Acquiror as follows:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**(a)** Shareholder is the beneficial owner or record owner of the Shares free and clear of any and all pledges, liens, security interests, mortgage, claims, charges, restrictions, options, title defects, or encumbrances, except as otherwise disclosed on <u>Schedule 2(a)</u> attached hereto. Shareholder does not own, of record or beneficially, any shares of capital stock of Company other than (i) the Original Shares and (ii) any options, warrants or other rights to acquire any additional Common Stock or any security exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock, set forth on the signature page of this Agreement (collectively, the "**Options**").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**(b)** Shareholder has full power and authority to (i) make, enter into, and carry out the terms of this Agreement; and (ii) vote all of the Shares in the manner set forth in this Agreement without the consent or approval of, or any other action on the part of, any other person or entity (including any governmental body), except as otherwise disclosed on <u>Schedule 2(b)</u> attached hereto.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**(c)** This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Shareholder and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Shareholder enforceable against Shareholder in accordance with its terms. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance by Shareholder of the agreements and obligations hereunder will not result in any breach or violation of or be in conflict with or constitute a default under any term of any contract to or by which Shareholder is a party or bound, or any statute, court or administrative order, rule or regulation to which Shareholder is subject or bound, or in the event that Shareholder is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other entity, any charter, bylaw or other organizational document of Shareholder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**(d)** No consent, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, any government authority or other Person on the part of the Shareholder is required in connection with the valid execution and delivery of this Agreement, except as otherwise disclosed on <u>Schedule 2(d)</u> attached hereto. If the Shareholder is an individual, no consent of such Shareholder's spouse is necessary under any "community property" or other laws in order for Shareholder to enter into and perform his or her obligations under this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**(e)** Shareholder is an executive officer or director of the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**3. <u>Agreement to Vote Shares</u>**. Shareholder agrees that, while this Agreement is in effect, at every meeting of shareholders of Company, however called, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, or in any other circumstances in which Shareholder is entitled to vote, consent or give any other approval, except as otherwise agreed to in writing in advance by Acquiror, Shareholder shall:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**(a)** appear at each such meeting or otherwise cause the Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**(b)** vote (or cause to be voted), in person or by proxy, all the Shares (i) in favor of adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions (including, without limitation, any amendments or modifications of the terms thereof adopted in accordance with the terms thereof); (ii) against any action or agreement that could reasonably be expected to result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of Company contained in the Merger Agreement or of Shareholder contained in this Agreement; and (iii) against any Acquisition Proposal or any other action, agreement or transaction that is intended, or could reasonably be expected, to materially impede, interfere or be inconsistent with, delay, postpone, discourage, materially and adversely affect or inhibit the timely consummation of the Contemplated Transactions or this Agreement.

Shareholder further agrees not to vote or execute any written consent to rescind or amend in any manner any prior vote or written consent, as a shareholder of Company, to approve or adopt the Merger Agreement unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**4. <u>No Transfers; Voting Restrictions</u>**. While this Agreement is in effect, Shareholder agrees not to, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, transfer, tender, exchange, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract option, commitment or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, assignment, transfer, tender, exchange, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of, or grant or create a lien, security interest, or encumbrance in or upon, or gift, grant, or place in trust of, any of the Shares; *provided*, *however*, that transfers by will or operation of law shall be permitted, in which case this Agreement shall bind the transferee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except for this Agreement and as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, Shareholder shall not enter into any voting agreement with any person or entity with respect to any of the Shares, grant any person or entity any proxy (revocable or irrevocable) or power of attorney with respect to any of the Shares, deposit any of the Shares in a voting trust, or otherwise enter into any agreement or arrangement with any person or entity limiting or affecting Shareholder's legal power, authority, or right to vote the Shares in favor of the approval of the Merger Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions. Any transfer or other disposition in violation of the terms of this <u>Section</u><u> </u><u>4</u> shall be null and void.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**5. <u>Additional Shares</u>**. Shareholder agrees that all Common Stock that Shareholder purchases, acquires the right to vote or otherwise acquires the beneficial ownership of during the period from and including the date hereof through and including the date on which this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement and shall constitute "Shares" for all purposes of this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**6. <u>No Agreement as Director or Officer</u>**. If Shareholder is an individual, Shareholder makes no agreement or understanding in this Agreement in Shareholder's capacity as a director or officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (if Shareholder holds such office) and nothing in this Agreement: (a) will limit or affect any actions or omissions taken by Shareholder in Shareholder's capacity as such a director or officer, including in exercising rights under the Merger Agreement, and no such actions or omissions shall be deemed a breach of this Agreement, or (b) will be construed to prohibit, limit or restrict Shareholder from exercising Shareholder's fiduciary duties as an officer or director to the Company or its shareholders.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**7. <u>Termination</u>**. This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force or effect whatsoever as of the earlier of (a) termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to Article 10 thereof or (b) the Effective Time; *provided, however,* that (i) <u>Section 8</u> below shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and (ii) the termination of this Agreement shall not relieve Shareholder from any liability for any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**8. <u>Miscellaneous</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) <u>Amendments</u>. No amendment of this Agreement shall be effective against any party unless it shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) <u>Waivers</u>. No action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including any investigation by or on behalf of any party, or any failure or delay on the part of any party in the exercise of any right hereunder, shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any representations, warranties, or covenants contained in this Agreement. The waiver by any party of a breach of any provision hereunder shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any prior or subsequent breach of the same or any other provision hereunder. Any waiver by a party of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) <u>Entire Agreement</u>. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements, arrangements, and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) <u>Governing Law</u>. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Michigan, regardless of any laws or legal principles that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) <u>Submission to Jurisdiction; Forum Selection.</u> Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder brought by the other party hereto or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the State of Michigan. Each of the parties hereto agrees that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in <u>Section 8(n)</u> or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable Laws, will be valid and sufficient service thereof. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such action or proceeding for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court or tribunal other than the aforesaid courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder (i) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this <u>Section 8(e)</u>, (ii) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise), and (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable Law, any claim that (x) the suit, action or proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (y) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper, or (z) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) <u>WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL</u>. EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BETWEEN THE PARTIES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) <u>Attorneys</u><u>'</u> <u>Fees</u>. In any action at law or suit in equity with respect to this Agreement or the rights of any of the parties, the prevailing party in such action or suit shall be entitled to receive its reasonable attorneys' fees and all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred in such action or suit.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) <u>Assignment and Successors</u>. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns, including Shareholder's estate and heirs upon the death of Shareholder, provided that except as otherwise specifically provided herein, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests, or obligations of the parties may be assigned or delegated by any of the parties without prior written consent of the other parties. Any assignment in violation of the foregoing shall be void and of no effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) <u>No Third-Party Rights</u>. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person (other than the parties) any right, benefit, or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(j) <u>Further Assurances</u>. Shareholder agrees to cooperate fully with Acquiror and to execute and deliver such further documents, certificates, agreements, and instruments and to take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by Acquiror to evidence or reflect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement. Shareholder agrees to notify Acquiror promptly of any additional shares of capital stock of Company of which Shareholder becomes the record or beneficial owner after the date of this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(k) <u>Severability</u>. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(l) <u>Time of Essence</u>. Time is of the essence with regard to all dates and time periods set forth or referred to in this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(m) <u>Specific Performance; Injunctive Relief</u>. The parties acknowledge that Acquiror shall be irreparably harmed by, and that there shall be no adequate remedy at law for, a violation of any of the covenants or agreements of Shareholder set forth in this Agreement. Therefore, Shareholder hereby agrees that, in addition to any other remedies that may be available to Acquiror upon any such violation, Acquiror shall have the right to enforce such covenants and agreements by specific performance, injunctive relief, or by any other means available to such party at law or in equity without posting any bond or other undertaking. Shareholder agrees that Shareholder will not oppose the granting of any injunction, specific performance, or other equitable relief on the basis that Acquiror has an adequate remedy of law or an injunction, award of specific performance, or other equitable relief is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law in equity.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(n) <u>Notices</u>. All notices, consents, requests, claims, and demands under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if (i) delivered to the appropriate address by hand or overnight courier (providing proof of delivery), or (ii) sent by facsimile or e-mail with confirmation of transmission by the transmitting equipment confirmed with a copy delivered as provided in clause (i), in each case to the parties at the following address, facsimile, or e-mail address (or at such other address, facsimile, or e-mail address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

---

| |
|:---|
| If to Acquiror: |
| Mercantile Bank Corporation |
| 310 Leonard Street NW |
| Grand Rapids, MI 49504 |
| Attn: Raymond E. Reitsma, Chief Executive Officer |
| Email: rreitsma@mercbank.com |
| If to Shareholder: |
| [see information set forth on signature page] |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(o) <u>Counterparts</u>. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties. Signatures transmitted and received via facsimile, email in portable document format (.pdf) or other electronic means shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as original signatures and shall be deemed valid, binding and enforceable by and against the parties.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(p) <u>Headings</u>. The headings contained in this Agreement are for the convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement, and shall not be referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(q) <u>Construction</u>. In this Agreement, unless a clear contrary intention appears, (i) "hereunder," "hereof," "hereto," and words of similar import shall be deemed references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or other provision; (ii) "including" (and with correlative meaning "include") means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term; (iii) "or" is used in the inclusive sense of "and/or"; and (iv) with respect to the determination of any period of time, "from" means "from and including" and "to" means "to but excluding."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(r) <u>Legal Representation</u>. This Agreement was negotiated by the parties with the benefit of legal representation and any rule of construction or interpretation otherwise requiring this Agreement to be construed or interpreted against any party shall not apply to any construction or interpretation thereof.

**SIGNATURES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE**

------

**IN WITNESS WHEREOF**, Acquiror has caused this Agreement to be duly executed, and Shareholder has duly executed this Voting Agreement, all as of the day and year first above written.

---

| |
|:---|
| **MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION** |
| By:<u> </u> |
| Name: |
| Title: |
| **SHAREHOLDER:** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Printed Name:  |
| Contact Information for Notices: |
| Total Number of Common Stock: __________________<u> </u> |
| Total Number of Options: ________________________________ |

---

------

**Schedule 2**

(a) *Encumbrances*

(b) *Power and Authority*

(d) *Consents*

## Exhibit 99.1

**Exhibit 99.1**

![m01.jpg](m01.jpg)

**Mercantile Bank Corporation Announces Robust Second Quarter 2025 Results and Partnership with Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation**

*Net interest income expansion, substantial noninterest income growth, and ongoing strength in asset quality metrics and capital levels highlight the quarter*

**GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 22, 2025** – Mercantile Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: MBWM) ("Mercantile") reported net income of $22.6 million, or $1.39 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2025, compared with net income of $18.8 million, or $1.17 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2024. Net income during the first six months of 2025 totaled $42.2 million, or $2.60 per diluted share, compared with net income of $40.3 million, or $2.50 per diluted share, during the first six months of 2024.

"We once again reported solid quarterly financial results despite uncertain macro-economic conditions throughout the second quarter of 2025," said Ray Reitsma, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercantile. "Our strong operating performance reflected net interest income growth, a stabilizing and healthy net interest margin, noteworthy increases in core noninterest income revenue streams, a significant decline in federal income tax expense, robust commercial loan expansion, and sustained strength in asset quality metrics and capital levels. We remain steadfast in our efforts to lower our loan-to-deposit ratio through local deposit generation, including the expansion of existing deposit relationships and new client acquisition. Our partnership with Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation will enhance our Bank's position as the largest bank founded, headquartered, and operated in the State of Michigan and help us achieve certain strategic goals, including lowering our loan-to-deposit ratio, strengthening our on-balance sheet liquidity, and expanding our footprint in Eastern and Southeastern Michigan."

Second quarter highlights include:

● Net interest income growth

● Notable increases in mortgage banking, interest rate swap, treasury management, and payroll services income

● Reduction in federal income tax expense resulting from the acquisition of transferable energy tax credits

● Solid commercial loan portfolio expansion

● Strong commercial loan pipeline

● Sustained low levels of nonperforming assets, past due loans, and loan charge-offs

● Robust capital position

**Operating Results**

Net revenue, consisting of net interest income and noninterest income, was $60.9 million during the second quarter of 2025, up $4.2 million, or 7.4 percent, from $56.7 million during the prior-year second quarter. Net interest income during the current-year second quarter was $49.5 million, up $2.4 million, or 5.1 percent, from $47.1 million during the respective 2024 period as growth in earning assets more than offset a lower net interest margin. Noninterest income totaled $11.5 million during the second quarter of 2025, compared to $9.7 million during the second quarter of 2024. The increase primarily reflected higher levels of mortgage banking income, interest rate swap income, treasury management fees, earnings on bank owned life insurance, and payroll service fees.

------

The net interest margin was 3.49 percent in the second quarter of 2025, down from 3.63 percent in the prior-year second quarter. The yield on average earning assets was 5.77 percent during the current-year second quarter, a decrease from 6.07 percent during the respective 2024 period. The lower yield primarily resulted from a reduced yield on loans and a change in earning asset mix, which more than offset an improved yield on securities stemming from the reinvestment of relatively low-yielding bonds and portfolio expansion activities. The yield on loans was 6.32 percent during the second quarter of 2025, down from 6.64 percent during the second quarter of 2024 mainly due to lower interest rates on variable-rate commercial loans resulting from the Federal Open Market Committee ("FOMC") lowering the targeted federal funds rate. The FOMC decreased the targeted federal funds rate by 50 basis points in September of 2024 and 25 basis points in each of November and December of 2024, during which time average variable-rate commercial loans represented approximately 73 percent of average total commercial loans. Denoting the success of a strategic initiative to reduce the loan-to-deposit ratio and increase on-balance sheet liquidity, higher-yielding loans represented a decreased percentage of earning assets and lower-yielding securities accounted for an increased percentage of earning assets in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the second quarter of 2024.

During the second quarter of 2025, the cost of funds was 2.28 percent, down from 2.44 percent in the second quarter of 2024 mainly due to lower rates paid on money market accounts and time deposits, reflecting the decreased interest rate environment that began in September of 2024 in conjunction with the FOMC's lowering of the targeted federal funds rate. A change in funding mix, primarily consisting of declines in average noninterest-bearing checking accounts and lower-cost non-time deposits and increases in average higher-cost money market accounts and time deposits, negatively impacted the cost of funds during the second quarter of 2025. The increases in money market accounts and time deposits reflected a combination of new deposit relationships, growth in existing deposit relationships, and deposit migration.

Mercantile recorded provisions for credit losses of $1.6 million and $3.5 million during the second quarters of 2025 and 2024, respectively. The provision expense recorded during the current-year second quarter mainly reflected an individual allocation of $2.5 million related to a commercial construction loan relationship that was placed on nonaccrual during the quarter and allocations of $0.7 million necessitated by net loan growth, which more than offset an aggregate reduction of $1.0 million in individual allocations associated with nonperforming loan relationships resulting from full payoffs and partial paydowns. Changes in loan portfolio composition and an improved economic forecast positively impacted provision expense during the second quarter of 2025. The provision expense recorded during the second quarter of 2024 primarily reflected an individual allocation for a nonperforming commercial loan relationship and allocations demanded by net loan growth. The recording of net loan recoveries and ongoing strength in loan quality metrics during both periods in large part mitigated additional reserves associated with loan growth.

Noninterest income totaled $11.5 million during the second quarter of 2025, up $1.8 million, or 18.4 percent, from $9.7 million during the respective 2024 period mainly due to growth in mortgage banking income, interest rate swap income, treasury management fees, bank owned life insurance income and payroll service fees, along with the recognition of tax credit syndication fees, which more than offset a lower level of revenue generated from investments in private equity funds. The higher level of mortgage banking income primarily resulted from increases in the percentage of loans originated with the intent to sell, which equaled approximately 79 percent during the current-year second quarter compared to approximately 75 percent during the second quarter of 2024, and total loan originations, which were up approximately 16 percent during the second quarter of 2025 compared to the corresponding 2024 period. Interest rate swap income at times varies greatly from period to period due to the timing of closing transactions.

------

Noninterest expense totaled $33.4 million during the second quarter of 2025, up from $29.7 million during the prior-year second quarter. The increase mainly resulted from higher salary and benefit costs, primarily reflecting annual merit pay increases, market adjustments, a larger bonus accrual, lower residential mortgage loan deferred salary costs, higher health insurance claims, and increased payroll taxes. Higher allocations to the reserve for unfunded loan commitments, largely stemming from an increase in commercial loan commitments, also contributed to the rise in noninterest expense.

Federal income tax expense was $3.3 million during the current-year second quarter, compared to $4.7 million during the respective 2024 period. The acquisition of transferable energy tax credits during the second quarter of 2025 provided for an aggregate $1.5 million tax benefit during the period. The recording of the tax benefit positively impacted Mercantile's effective tax rate, which equaled 12.9 percent during the second quarter of 2025, down from 20.1 percent during the second quarter of 2024.

Mr. Reitsma commented, "Our net interest margin, although declining as expected in the second quarter of 2025 in comparison to the second quarter of 2024 as a result of a decreased yield on average earning assets, has remained relatively stable over the past four quarters. Growth in earning assets more than outweighed the impact of the lower net interest margin, providing for a higher level of net interest income. The substantial growth in mortgage banking income during the second quarter of 2025 mainly resulted from the continued success of our strategic plan to increase the percentage of loans originated with the intent to sell and sustain solid loan production, while the noteworthy increases in treasury management and payroll service fees primarily reflected clients' expanded use of products and services and successful marketing efforts. We are very pleased with the increase in interest rate swap income, reflecting a higher level of transaction volume, and significant reduction in federal tax expense, mainly reflecting the tax benefit received from the acquisition of transferable energy tax credits, during the current-year second quarter. Meeting balance sheet growth objectives in a cost-effective manner and continuing to provide our customers with exceptional service and industry-leading products and services to meet their needs remain top priorities."

**Balance Sheet**

As of June 30, 2025, total assets were $6.18 billion, up $129 million from December 31, 2024. Total loans increased $97.2 million, or an annualized 4.3 percent, during the first six months of 2025, primarily reflecting growth in commercial loans of $114 million. Commercial loans grew an annualized 6.2 percent during the first half of 2025 notwithstanding the full payoffs and partial paydowns of certain larger relationships, which aggregated approximately $154 million during the period, including $99 million during the second quarter. The payoffs and paydowns stemmed from sales of assets, as well as from customers using excess cash flows generated within their operations to make line of credit reductions.

Residential mortgage loans declined $28.2 million, and other consumer loans were up $11.6 million during the first six months of 2025. During the first half of 2025, securities available for sale grew $96.1 million, and interest-earning assets decreased $139 million.

As of June 30, 2025, unfunded commitments on commercial construction and development loans, which are expected to be funded over the next 12 to 18 months, and residential construction loans, which are expected to be largely funded over the next 12 months, totaled $237 million and $35 million, respectively.

------

Commercial and industrial loans and owner-occupied commercial real estate loans combined represented approximately 55 percent of total commercial loans as of June 30, 2025, a level that has remained relatively consistent with prior periods and in line with our expectations.

Total deposits equaled $4.71 billion as of June 30, 2025, compared to $4.70 billion as of December 31, 2024. Local deposits were down $37.1 million, or less than 1.0 percent, during the first six months of 2025, while brokered deposits increased $49.2 million during the respective period. The slight reduction in local deposits during the first half of 2025 primarily resulted from the typical level of seasonal deposit withdrawals by customers to make bonus and tax payments and partnership distributions, the impact of which was largely offset by net growth in various existing deposit relationships and new client acquisitions. Loan portfolio expansion during the first six months of 2025 resulted in an increase in the loan-to-deposit ratio from 98 percent at year-end 2024 to 100 percent as of June 30, 2025. As of June 30, 2024, the loan-to-deposit ratio was 107 percent. Wholesale funds were $555 million, or approximately 10 percent of total funds, at June 30, 2025, compared to $537 million, or approximately 10 percent of total funds, at December 31, 2024. Noninterest-bearing checking accounts represented approximately 25 percent of total deposits as of June 30, 2025.

Mr. Reitsma noted, "Commercial loan growth accelerated during the second quarter of 2025 as commercial borrowers' tariff-induced concerns eased, resulting in the commencement of construction projects and business expansion activities that had been delayed during the first few months of the year as a result of heightened uncertainty surrounding economic and operating environments. We are pleased with the level of commercial loan expansion during the second quarter and first six months of 2025, especially when taking into consideration the ongoing economic uncertainty and significant level of partial paydowns and full payoffs during the periods, and we believe abundant opportunities to book commercial loans in future periods exist in light of our current pipeline and continuing discussions with current and prospective borrowers. Lowering our loan-to-deposit ratio through local deposit generation and limiting the use of wholesale funds to originate loans and purchase investments remains a key near-term goal."

**Asset Quality**

Nonperforming assets totaled $9.7 million, or 0.2 percent of total assets, as of June 30, 2025, compared to $5.7 million, or less than 0.1 percent of total assets, as of December 31, 2024, and $9.1 million, or 0.2 percent of total assets, as of June 30, 2024. The increase in nonperforming assets during the first six months of 2025 mainly reflected the deterioration of the previously mentioned nonperforming commercial construction loan, which was placed on nonaccrual and drove provision expense during the second quarter of 2025 and represented approximately 57 percent of total nonperforming assets as of June 30, 2025. The level of past due loans remains nominal. During the first six months of 2025, loan charge-offs were less than $0.1 million, while recoveries of prior period loan charge-offs slightly exceeded $0.1 million, providing for net loan recoveries of $0.1 million, or an annualized 0.01 percent of average total loans.

Mr. Reitsma remarked, "Our asset quality metrics remained strong during the second quarter of 2025, reflecting our unwavering commitment to underwrite loans in a cautious manner and in accordance with internal policy guidelines, along with our customers' proven abilities to operate effectively during periods of economic uncertainty. The levels of nonperforming assets, delinquent loans, and loan charge-offs remained low during the second quarter, and we will continue our efforts to identify any deteriorating commercial credit relationships and emerging systemic or sector-specific credit concerns as early as possible to limit the impact of such on our overall financial condition. As evidenced by ongoing low past due and charge-off levels, our residential mortgage loan and consumer loan portfolios continued to exhibit strong performance."

------

**Capital Position** 

Shareholders' equity totaled $632 million as of June 30, 2025, up $47.0 million from December 31, 2024. Mercantile Bank maintained "well-capitalized" positions at the end of the second quarter of 2025 and year-end 2024, with total risk-based capital ratios of 13.9 percent at each period end. As of June 30, 2025, Mercantile Bank had approximately $218 million in excess of the 10 percent minimum regulatory threshold required to be categorized as a "well-capitalized" institution.

All of Mercantile Bank's investments are categorized as available-for-sale. As of June 30, 2025, the net unrealized loss on these investments totaled $45.3 million, resulting in an after-tax reduction to equity capital of $35.8 million. As of December 31, 2024, the net unrealized loss on these investments totaled $63.1 million, resulting in an after-tax reduction to equity capital of $49.8 million. Although unrealized gains and losses on investments are excluded from regulatory capital ratio calculations, Mercantile Bank's excess capital over the minimum regulatory requirement to be considered a "well-capitalized" institution would approximate $183 million on an adjusted basis as of June 30, 2025.

Mercantile reported 16,248,694 total shares outstanding as of June 30, 2025.

Mr. Reitsma concluded, "Our sustained strong financial performance has allowed us to continue our regular quarterly cash dividend program, and as evidenced by our announcement of an increased third quarter cash dividend earlier this morning, we remain committed to providing shareholders with meaningful cash returns on their investments. We believe our solid operating results, asset quality metrics and capital levels, along with renewed strength in our commercial loan commitments and prospects, position us to effectively meet challenges resulting from unstable economic and operating conditions. Our community banking model and associated emphasis on developing mutually beneficial relationships with customers have been instrumental in preserving established relationships and fostering new relationships, and we believe continuing focus on each will provide us with ample opportunities to expand our local deposit base and reduce our loan-to-deposit ratio in future periods."

**Partnership with Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation**

Mercantile and Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation ("Eastern Michigan") today jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Eastern Michigan and its wholly owned subsidiary, Eastern Michigan Bank, will combine with Mercantile in a cash and stock transaction. The partnership presents a unique opportunity to combine two culturally aligned franchises, strengthening Mercantile's position as the largest bank headquartered in Michigan as measured by total assets. The partnership, which remains subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to strategically expand Mercantile's operating footprint with a partner that possesses an exceptional deposit franchise with substantial excess liquidity.

For additional information on the announcement of the partnership, refer to the "Mercantile Bank Corporation and Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation Announce Definitive Merger Agreement" press release available in the Investor Relations section of Mercantile's website at <u>www.mercbank.com</u>.

------

**Investor Presentation**

Mercantile has prepared presentation materials that management intends to use during its previously announced second quarter 2025 conference call on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and from time to time thereafter in presentations about the company's operations and performance. These materials, which are available for viewing in the Investor Relations section of Mercantile's website at <u>www.mercbank.com</u>, have been furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission concurrently with this press release.

**About Mercantile Bank Corporation**

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mercantile Bank Corporation is the bank holding company for Mercantile Bank. Mercantile provides financial products and services in a professional and personalized manner designed to make banking easier for businesses, individuals, and governmental units. Distinguished by exceptional service, knowledgeable staff, and a commitment to the communities it serves, Mercantile is one of the largest Michigan-based banks with assets of approximately $6.2 billion. Mercantile Bank Corporation's common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "MBWM." For more information about Mercantile, visit <u>www.mercbank.com</u>, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) @MercBank, and LinkedIn @merc-bank.

**Forward-Looking Statements**

This news release contains statements or information that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will," and similar references to future periods. Any such statements are based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results expressed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include changes in interest rates and interest rate relationships; increasing rates of inflation and slower growth rates or recession; significant declines in the value of commercial real estate; market volatility; demand for products and services; climate impacts; labor markets; the degree of competition by traditional and nontraditional financial services companies; changes in banking regulation or actions by bank regulators; changes in tax laws and other laws and regulations applicable to us; changes in prices, levies, and assessments; the impact of technological advances; potential cyber-attacks, information security breaches and other criminal activities; litigation liabilities; governmental and regulatory policy changes; the outcomes of existing or future contingencies; trends in customer behavior as well as their ability to repay loans; changes in local real estate values; damage to our reputation resulting from adverse publicity, regulatory actions, litigation, operational failures, and the failure to meet client expectations and other facts; changes in the national and local economies; unstable political and economic environments; disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or similar public health threats, and measures implemented to combat them; and other factors, including those expressed as risk factors, disclosed from time to time in filings made by Mercantile with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Mercantile undertakes no obligation to update or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained herein.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:**

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| Raymond Reitsma | Charles Christmas |
| President and CEO | Executive Vice President and CFO |
| 616-233-2349 | 616-726-1202 |
| <u>rreitsma@mercbank.com</u> | <u>cchristmas@mercbank.com</u> |

---

------

MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION <br> CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS <br> (Unaudited)

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| *(dollars in thousands)* | JUNE 30, | DECEMBER 31, | JUNE 30, |
|  | 2025 | 2024 | 2024 |
| **ASSETS** |  |  |  |
| Cash and due from banks | $98900 | $56991 | $61863 |
| Interest-earning assets | 197172 | 336019 | 135766 |
| Total cash and cash equivalents | 296072 | 393010 | 197629 |
| Securities available for sale | 826415 | 730352 | 647907 |
| Federal Home Loan Bank stock | 21513 | 21513 | 21513 |
| Mortgage loans held for sale | 27569 | 15824 | 22126 |
| Loans | 4698019 | 4600781 | 4438245 |
| Allowance for credit losses | (58375) | (54454) | (55408) |
| Loans, net | 4639644 | 4546327 | 4382837 |
| Premises and equipment, net | 54792 | 53427 | 50158 |
| Bank owned life insurance | 95012 | 93839 | 86001 |
| Goodwill | 49473 | 49473 | 49473 |
| Other assets | 170498 | 148396 | 144744 |
| Total assets | $6180988 | $6052161 | $5602388 |
| **LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY** |  |  |  |
| Deposits: |  |  |  |
| Noninterest-bearing | $1180801 | $1264523 | $1119888 |
| Interest-bearing | 3529671 | 3433843 | 3026686 |
| Total deposits | 4710472 | 4698366 | 4146574 |
| Securities sold under agreements to repurchase | 242785 | 121521 | 221898 |
| Federal Home Loan Bank advances | 356221 | 387083 | 427083 |
| Subordinated debentures | 50672 | 50330 | 49987 |
| Subordinated notes | 89486 | 89314 | 89143 |
| Accrued interest and other liabilities | 99833 | 121021 | 116552 |
| Total liabilities | 5549469 | 5467635 | 5051237 |
| **SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY** |  |  |  |
| Common stock | 302294 | 299705 | 297591 |
| Retained earnings | 364991 | 334646 | 306804 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) | (35766) | (49825) | (53244) |
| Total shareholders' equity | 631519 | 584526 | 551151 |
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $6180988 | $6052161 | $5602388 |

---

------

MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION <br> CONSOLIDATED REPORTS OF INCOME <br> (Unaudited)

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| *(dollars in thousands except per share data)* | THREE MONTHS ENDED | THREE MONTHS ENDED | SIX MONTHS ENDED | SIX MONTHS ENDED |
|  | June 30, 2025 | June 30, 2024 | June 30, 2025 | June 30, 2024 |
| **INTEREST INCOME** |  |  |  |  |
| Loans, including fees | $73962 | $72819 | $145954 | $144089 |
| Investment securities | 5860 | 3624 | 11272 | 7046 |
| Interest-earning assets | 2136 | 2436 | 5071 | 4469 |
| Total interest income | 81958 | 78879 | 162297 | 155604 |
| **INTEREST EXPENSE** |  |  |  |  |
| Deposits | 25725 | 24710 | 50918 | 46934 |
| Short-term borrowings | 1919 | 1757 | 3682 | 3412 |
| Federal Home Loan Bank advances | 2897 | 3252 | 5795 | 6651 |
| Other borrowed money | 1938 | 2088 | 3875 | 4173 |
| Total interest expense | 32479 | 31807 | 64270 | 61170 |
| **Net interest income** | 49479 | 47072 | 98027 | 94434 |
| Provision for credit losses | 1600 | 3500 | 3700 | 4800 |
| **Net interest income after provision for credit losses** | 47879 | 43572 | 94327 | 89634 |
| **NONINTEREST INCOME** |  |  |  |  |
| Service charges on accounts | 1967 | 1692 | 3806 | 3224 |
| Mortgage banking income | 3969 | 3023 | 6620 | 5365 |
| Credit and debit card income | 2350 | 2266 | 4551 | 4387 |
| Interest rate swap income | 1230 | 766 | 1310 | 2104 |
| Payroll services | 783 | 686 | 1823 | 1582 |
| Earnings on bank owned life insurance | 561 | 437 | 1104 | 1609 |
| Other income | 602 | 811 | 950 | 2277 |
| Total noninterest income | 11462 | 9681 | 20164 | 20548 |
| **NONINTEREST EXPENSE** |  |  |  |  |
| Salaries and benefits | 20711 | 17913 | 40268 | 36150 |
| Occupancy | 2155 | 2220 | 4273 | 4509 |
| Furniture and equipment | 826 | 923 | 1613 | 1852 |
| Data processing costs | 3599 | 3415 | 7369 | 6704 |
| Charitable foundation contributions | 2 | 4 | 5 | 707 |
| Other expense | 6086 | 5262 | 10955 | 9758 |
| Total noninterest expense | 33379 | 29737 | 64483 | 59680 |
| **Income before federal income tax expense** | 25962 | 23516 | 50008 | 50502 |
| Federal income tax expense | 3344 | 4730 | 7853 | 10154 |
| **Net Income** | $22618 | $18786 | $42155 | $40348 |
| Basic earnings per share | $1.39 | $1.17 | $2.60 | $2.50 |
| Diluted earnings per share | $1.39 | $1.17 | $2.60 | $2.50 |
| Average basic shares outstanding | 16239919 | 16122813 | 16219064 | 16120836 |
| Average diluted shares outstanding | 16239919 | 16122813 | 16219064 | 16120836 |

---

------

MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION <br> CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS <br> (Unaudited)

---

| | | | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Quarterly** | **Quarterly** | **Quarterly** | **Quarterly** | **Quarterly** | **Year-To-Date** | **Year-To-Date** | **Year-To-Date** |
| *(dollars in thousands except per share data)* | **2025** | **2025** | **2024** | **2024** | **2024** |  |  |  |
|  | **2nd Qtr** | **1st Qtr** | **4th Qtr** | **3rd Qtr** | **2nd Qtr** | **2025** | **2025** | **2024** |
| **EARNINGS** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Net interest income | $49479 | 48548 | 48361 | 48292 | 47072 |  | 98027 | 94434 |
| Provision for credit losses | $1600 | 2100 | 1500 | 1100 | 3500 |  | 3700 | 4800 |
| Noninterest income | $11462 | 8702 | 10172 | 9667 | 9681 |  | 20164 | 20548 |
| Noninterest expense | $33379 | 31104 | 33806 | 32303 | 29737 |  | 64483 | 59680 |
| Net income before federal income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| tax expense | $25962 | 24046 | 23227 | 24556 | 23516 |  | 50008 | 50502 |
| Net income | $22618 | 19537 | 19626 | 19618 | 18786 |  | 42155 | 40348 |
| Basic earnings per share | $1.39 | 1.21 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.17 |  | 2.60 | 2.50 |
| Diluted earnings per share | $1.39 | 1.21 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.17 |  | 2.60 | 2.50 |
| Average basic shares outstanding | 16239919 | 16197978 | 16142578 | 16138320 | 16122813 |  | 16219064 | 16120836 |
| Average diluted shares outstanding | 16239919 | 16197978 | 16142578 | 16138320 | 16122813 |  | 16219064 | 16120836 |
| **PERFORMANCE RATIOS** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Return on average assets | 1.50% | 1.32% | 1.30% | 1.35% | 1.36% |  | 1.41% | 1.48% |
| Return on average equity | 14.72% | 13.34% | 13.36% | 13.73% | 13.93% |  | 14.05% | 15.15% |
| Net interest margin (fully tax-equivalent) | 3.49% | 3.47% | 3.41% | 3.52% | 3.63% |  | 3.49% | 3.68% |
| Efficiency ratio | 54.77% | 54.33% | 57.76% | 55.73% | 52.40% |  | 54.56% | 51.90% |
| Full-time equivalent employees | 692 | 662 | 668 | 653 | 670 |  | 692 | 670 |
| **YIELD ON ASSETS / COST OF FUNDS** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Yield on loans | 6.32% | 6.31% | 6.41% | 6.69% | 6.64% |  | 6.31% | 6.65% |
| Yield on securities | 2.97% | 2.79% | 2.62% | 2.43% | 2.30% |  | 2.93% | 2.25% |
| Yield on interest-earning assets | 4.36% | 4.40% | 4.66% | 5.37% | 5.28% |  | 4.38% | 5.31% |
| Yield on total earning assets | 5.77% | 5.74% | 5.81% | 6.08% | 6.07% |  | 5.76% | 6.06% |
| Yield on total assets | 5.44% | 5.42% | 5.49% | 5.73% | 5.72% |  | 5.44% | 5.72% |
| Cost of deposits | 2.24% | 2.23% | 2.36% | 2.52% | 2.42% |  | 2.23% | 2.33% |
| Cost of borrowed funds | 3.61% | 3.62% | 3.73% | 3.75% | 3.56% |  | 3.62% | 3.53% |
| Cost of interest-bearing liabilities | 3.09% | 3.08% | 3.30% | 3.53% | 3.40% |  | 3.09% | 3.33% |
| Cost of funds (total earning assets) | 2.28% | 2.27% | 2.40% | 2.56% | 2.44% |  | 2.27% | 2.38% |
| Cost of funds (total assets) | 2.15% | 2.14% | 2.27% | 2.41% | 2.31% |  | 2.15% | 2.25% |
| **MORTGAGE BANKING ACTIVITY** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Total mortgage loans originated | $141921 | 100396 | 121010 | 160944 | 122728 |  | 242317 | 202658 |
| Purchase/construction mortgage loans originated | $111247 | 81494 | 82212 | 122747 | 103939 |  | 192741 | 161607 |
| Refinance mortgage loans originated | $30674 | 18902 | 38798 | 38197 | 18789 |  | 49576 | 41051 |
| Mortgage loans originated with intent to sell | $112323 | 80453 | 100628 | 128678 | 91490 |  | 192776 | 150770 |
| Income on sale of mortgage loans | $3219 | 2455 | 3768 | 3376 | 2487 |  | 5674 | 4551 |
| **CAPITAL** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Tangible equity to tangible assets | 9.49% | 9.17% | 8.91% | 9.10% | 9.03% |  | 9.49% | 9.03% |
| Tier 1 leverage capital ratio | 10.93% | 10.75% | 10.60% | 10.68% | 10.85% |  | 10.93% | 10.85% |
| Common equity risk-based capital ratio | 10.90% | 10.90% | 10.66% | 10.53% | 10.46% |  | 10.90% | 10.46% |
| Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio | 11.75% | 11.78% | 11.54% | 11.42% | 11.36% |  | 11.75% | 11.36% |
| Total risk-based capital ratio | 14.37% | 14.44% | 14.17% | 14.13% | 14.10% |  | 14.37% | 14.10% |
| Tier 1 capital | $666068 | 647795 | 633134 | 618038 | 602835 |  | 666068 | 602835 |
| Tier 1 plus tier 2 capital | $814796 | 794143 | 777857 | 764653 | 748097 |  | 814796 | 748097 |
| Total risk-weighted assets | $5670571 | 5499046 | 5487886 | 5411628 | 5306911 |  | 5670571 | 5306911 |
| Book value per common share | $38.87 | 37.47 | 36.20 | 36.14 | 34.15 |  | 38.87 | 34.15 |
| Tangible book value per common share | $35.82 | 34.42 | 33.14 | 33.07 | 31.09 |  | 35.82 | 31.09 |
| Cash dividend per common share | $0.37 | 0.37 | 0.36 | 0.36 | 0.35 |  | 0.74 | 0.70 |
| **ASSET QUALITY** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Gross loan charge-offs | $38 | 63 | 3787 | 10 | 26 |  | 101 | 41 |
| Recoveries | $147 | 175 | 150 | 92 | 296 |  | 322 | 735 |
| Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) | $(109) | (112) | 3637 | (82) | (270) | $| (221) | (694) |
| Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans | (0.01%) | (0.01%) | 0.31% | (0.01%) | (0.02%) |  | (0.01%) | (0.03%) |
| Allowance for credit losses | $58375 | 56666 | 54454 | 56590 | 55408 |  | 58375 | 55408 |
| Allowance to loans | 1.24% | 1.22% | 1.18% | 1.24% | 1.25% |  | 1.24% | 1.25% |
| Nonperforming loans | $9743 | 5361 | 5743 | 9877 | 9129 |  | 9743 | 9129 |
| Other real estate/repossessed assets | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |
| Nonperforming loans to total loans | 0.21% | 0.12% | 0.12% | 0.22% | 0.21% |  | 0.21% | 0.21% |
| Nonperforming assets to total assets | 0.16% | 0.09% | 0.09% | 0.17% | 0.16% |  | 0.16% | 0.16% |
| **NONPERFORMING ASSETS - COMPOSITION** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Residential real estate: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Land development | $73 | 95 | 97 | 100 | 1 |  | 73 | 1 |
| Construction | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |
| Owner occupied / rental | $2411 | 2968 | 2878 | 3008 | 2288 |  | 2411 | 2288 |
| Commercial real estate: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Land development | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |
| Construction | $5532 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  | 5532 | 0 |
| Owner occupied | $0 | 41 | 42 | 0 | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |
| Non-owner occupied | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |
| Non-real estate: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Commercial assets | $1727 | 2257 | 2726 | 6769 | 6840 |  | 1727 | 6840 |
| Consumer assets | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |
| Total nonperforming assets | $9743 | 5361 | 5743 | 9877 | 9129 |  | 9743 | 9129 |
| **NONPERFORMING ASSETS - RECON** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Beginning balance | $5361 | 5743 | 9877 | 9129 | 6240 |  | 5743 | 3615 |
| Additions | $5792 | 423 | 224 | 906 | 4570 |  | 6215 | 7372 |
| Return to performing status | $0 | 0 | (102) | 0 | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |
| Principal payments | $(1385) | (744) | (515) | (158) | (1481) |  | (2129) | (1658) |
| Sale proceeds | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (200) |  | 0 | (200) |
| Loan charge-offs | $(25) | (61) | (3741) | 0 | 0 |  | (86) | 0 |
| Valuation write-downs | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |
| Ending balance | $9743 | 5361 | 5743 | 9877 | 9129 |  | 9743 | 9129 |
| **LOAN PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Commercial: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Commercial & industrial | $1375368 | 1314383 | 1287308 | 1312774 | 1275745 |  | 1375368 | 1275745 |
| Land development & construction | $67520 | 68790 | 66936 | 66374 | 76247 |  | 67520 | 76247 |
| Owner occupied comm'l R/E | $725106 | 705645 | 748837 | 746714 | 732844 |  | 725106 | 732844 |
| Non-owner occupied comm'l R/E | $1134012 | 1183728 | 1128404 | 1095988 | 1059052 |  | 1134012 | 1059052 |
| Multi-family & residential rental | $519152 | 479045 | 475819 | 426438 | 389390 |  | 519152 | 389390 |
| Total commercial | $3821158 | 3751591 | 3707304 | 3648288 | 3533278 |  | 3821158 | 3533278 |
| Retail: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| 1-4 family mortgages | $799426 | 817212 | 827597 | 844093 | 849626 |  | 799426 | 849626 |
| Other consumer | $77435 | 67746 | 65880 | 60637 | 55341 |  | 77435 | 55341 |
| Total retail | $876861 | 884958 | 893477 | 904730 | 904967 |  | 876861 | 904967 |
| Total loans | $4698019 | 4636549 | 4600781 | 4553018 | 4438245 |  | 4698019 | 4438245 |
| **END OF PERIOD BALANCES** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Loans | $4698019 | 4636549 | 4600781 | 4553018 | 4438245 |  | 4698019 | 4438245 |
| Securities | $847928 | 809096 | 751865 | 724888 | 669420 |  | 847928 | 669420 |
| Interest-earning assets | $197172 | 315140 | 336019 | 240780 | 135766 |  | 197172 | 135766 |
| Total earning assets (before allowance) | $5743119 | 5760785 | 5688665 | 5518686 | 5243431 |  | 5743119 | 5243431 |
| Total assets | $6180988 | 6141200 | 6052161 | 5917127 | 5602388 |  | 6180988 | 5602388 |
| Noninterest-bearing deposits | $1180801 | 1173499 | 1264523 | 1182219 | 1119888 |  | 1180801 | 1119888 |
| Interest-bearing deposits | $3529671 | 3508286 | 3433843 | 3273679 | 3026686 |  | 3529671 | 3026686 |
| Total deposits | $4710472 | 4681785 | 4698366 | 4455898 | 4146574 |  | 4710472 | 4146574 |
| Total borrowed funds | $740685 | 749711 | 649528 | 778669 | 789327 |  | 740685 | 789327 |
| Total interest-bearing liabilities | $4270356 | 4257997 | 4083371 | 4052348 | 3816013 |  | 4270356 | 3816013 |
| Shareholders' equity | $631519 | 608346 | 584526 | 583311 | 551151 |  | 631519 | 551151 |
| **AVERAGE BALANCES** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Loans | $4695367 | 4629098 | 4565837 | 4467365 | 4396475 |  | 4662415 | 4347819 |
| Securities | $824777 | 784608 | 742145 | 699872 | 640627 |  | 804804 | 637363 |
| Interest-earning assets | $193637 | 266871 | 330490 | 284187 | 182636 |  | 230051 | 166435 |
| Total earning assets (before allowance) | $5713781 | 5680577 | 5638472 | 5451424 | 5219738 |  | 5697270 | 5151617 |
| Total assets | $6061819 | 6018158 | 5967036 | 5781111 | 5533262 |  | 6040109 | 5458969 |
| Noninterest-bearing deposits | $1152631 | 1144781 | 1188561 | 1191642 | 1139887 |  | 1149359 | 1157886 |
| Interest-bearing deposits | $3463067 | 3443770 | 3335477 | 3145799 | 2957011 |  | 3452840 | 2873659 |
| Total deposits | $4615698 | 4588551 | 4524038 | 4337441 | 4096898 |  | 4602199 | 4031545 |
| Total borrowed funds | $749811 | 738628 | 770838 | 796077 | 800577 |  | 744250 | 808713 |
| Total interest-bearing liabilities | $4212878 | 4182398 | 4106315 | 3941876 | 3757588 |  | 4197090 | 3682372 |
| Shareholders' equity | $616229 | 594145 | 582829 | 566852 | 540868 |  | 605248 | 534024 |

---

## Exhibit 99.2

**Exhibit 99.2**

![m01.jpg](m01.jpg)

**Mercantile Bank Corporation and Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation Announce Definitive Merger Agreement**

*Partnership strengthens Mercantile*'*s position as Michigan*'*s largest bank by total assets, enhances core deposit base and liquidity, and accelerates growth in key markets*

**Grand Rapids, Mich.** – **July 22, 2025** – Mercantile Bank Corporation ("Mercantile") (NASDAQ: MBWM) and Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation ("EFIN") (OTCID: EFIN) today jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which EFIN and its wholly owned subsidiary, Eastern Michigan Bank ("Eastern"), will combine with Mercantile in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $95.8 million, as detailed below. Based on financial data as of June 30, 2025, the combined company will have total assets of $6.7 billion, total loans of $4.9 billion, and total deposits of $5.2 billion.

The partnership presents a unique opportunity to combine two culturally aligned franchises and strengthens Mercantile Bank's position as the largest bank founded, headquartered, and operated in Michigan, as measured by total assets. The partnership strategically expands Mercantile Bank's operating footprint with a partner that possesses an exceptional deposit franchise (42 bps cost of deposits)—number one ranked deposit franchise in the state—with substantial excess liquidity (46% loan-to-deposit ratio). The acquisition adds 12 Eastern branches to Mercantile Bank's growing 45-location network, significantly expanding its presence in Eastern and Southeast Michigan—a target growth market for Mercantile Bank. This increased coverage aligns with Mercantile's statewide growth strategy.

EFIN, headquartered in Croswell, Michigan, is the holding company for Eastern, with total assets of $505 million, loans of $208 million, and deposits of $449 million as of June 30, 2025. With a longstanding presence in its communities, Eastern serves Sanilac, Huron, and St. Clair counties with a full range of retail and commercial banking services. Eastern maintains a strong deposit base—99% core and 28% noninterest bearing—and benefits from well-established and long-tenured depositor relationships that support its stable funding and liquidity profile.

"We are pleased to add this high-quality franchise that aligns with our strategy of being the premiere franchise in the State of Michigan. Eastern brings an incredible core deposit base, with a cost of deposits less than 0.50%, and substantial liquidity, that further enhances our balance sheet flexibility. Both Mercantile Bank and Eastern were founded here in Michigan, and that local focus remains at the core of who we are," said Ray Reitsma, President and CEO of Mercantile Bank Corporation. "The combination provides an improved loan-to-deposit ratio, a broader deposit base, and a reduced cost of funds. These enhancements support more efficient capital deployment and further positions the bank for sustained, profitable growth. This expansion isn't just about growth—it's about deepening our commitment to the communities we call home. We're proud to be able to serve our fellow residents of Michigan."

"Today marks an exciting new chapter for Eastern Michigan Bank. Joining forces with Mercantile Bank allows us to expand our reach and enhance the services we provide to our customers and communities. We're proud of our legacy and are confident that Mercantile shares our values, our commitment to local relationships, and our vision for the future. This partnership strengthens our ability to deliver even greater value while honoring the trust our customers have placed in us." said William Oldford, CEO of Eastern Michigan Bank.

**Operational Integration and Core Banking Expertise**

In addition to the acquisition, Mercantile Bank will begin the process of a full core banking system transformation later this year in partnership with Jack Henry, an industry leading financial technology provider. While the technology system will be new to Mercantile Bank, Eastern brings over 40 years of operational experience on the Jack Henry platform, offering valuable expertise to support a smooth and effective system transition. The unified platform will enhance operational efficiency and improve customer experience.

"Our team brings deep, hands-on experience with the Jack Henry platform, and we're proud to contribute that expertise to support Mercantile Bank's system transformation," said Oldford. "At the same time, becoming part of Mercantile Bank gives us the resources, scale, and support to grow beyond what we could achieve alone—opening the door to new opportunities for our customers, employees, and the communities we serve."

Mercantile Bank's system transformation is scheduled to be completed within the first quarter of 2027. During the interim period, Mercantile Bank plans to operate Eastern under Eastern's existing bank charter. Following the Jack Henry conversion, Mercantile plans to consolidate the bank charters of Mercantile Bank and Eastern.

**Aligned Culture and Shared Values**

Both institutions share deep Michigan roots and a commitment to the communities they serve. The organizations are aligned in mission—to deliver financial solutions that empower people—and are guided by shared values: accountability, collaboration, excellence, inclusivity, and innovation. This cultural alignment will help ensure a seamless integration for the Eastern Michigan community.

"We're not just growing our footprint—we're gaining a team of skilled professionals who know these communities and share our commitment to service," said Scott Setlock, Chief Operating Officer of Mercantile Bank. "It's a partnership built on mutual respect, and we're excited about the road ahead."

Eastern team members, including executive leadership and operations, will remain in place and continue operating in their roles in parallel to Mercantile Bank's current organizational structure. Oldford will serve as Regional Market President, reporting directly to Mercantile Bank President and CEO, Ray Reitsma. Similarly, functional areas such as accounting, operations, and branch management will adopt a coordinated reporting structure designed to maintain continuity and alignment across the combined organization.

------

**Transaction Details**

Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, at the closing of the transaction Mercantile will issue 0.7116 shares of its common stock plus $32.32 in cash for each outstanding share of EFIN. Based upon the closing price of Mercantile's common stock of $48.75 on July 21, 2025, the transaction would result in aggregate consideration of $95.8 million (inclusive of the aggregate cash value to EFIN stock option holders).

Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, the transaction is expected to be approximately 11% accretive to Mercantile's dilutive earnings per share once cost savings are fully phased-in. In addition, tangible book value dilution at closing is expected to be approximately 5.8% and earned back in approximately 3.6 years (cross-over method). Post-closing, Mercantile Bank's capital ratios are expected to exceed "well-capitalized" levels.

One EFIN director will join Mercantile's Board of Directors, and Mercantile will establish an advisory board post-closing, comprised of existing EFIN board members.

The transaction has been approved by each company's board of directors and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals, the approval of EFIN shareholders, and the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions.

Stephens Inc. served as financial advisor to Mercantile, and Dickinson Wright PLLC served as Mercantile's legal advisor. Piper Sandler & Co. served as financial advisor to EFIN, and Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP served as EFIN's legal advisor.

**Presentation**

A slide presentation relating to the transaction can be accessed on ir.mercbank.com.

**<u>About Mercantile Bank Corporation</u>**

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mercantile Bank Corporation is the bank holding company for Mercantile Bank. Mercantile provides financial products and services in a professional and personalized manner designed to make banking easier for businesses, individuals, and governmental units. Distinguished by exceptional service, knowledgeable staff, and a commitment to the communities it serves, Mercantile is one of the largest Michigan-based banks with assets of approximately $6.2 billion. Mercantile Bank Corporation's common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "MBWM." For more information about Mercantile, visit www.mercbank.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) @MercBank, and LinkedIn @merc-bank.

**<u>About Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation</u>**

Based in Croswell, Michigan, Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation is the bank holding company for Eastern Michigan Bank. Eastern Michigan operates 12 branches across three counties, offering a full range of personal and business banking services. The bank was originally chartered in 1895 as the State Bank of Croswell under the leadership of Julia H. Mills—making it one of the few banks at the time led by a woman. Today, Eastern Michigan holds the #1 deposit market share among community banks in its primary market, has $505 million in assets, and employs nearly 100 local team members. Eastern is proud of its 130-year legacy of resilience, community service, and adaptability through changing economic cycles. For more information about Eastern, visit www.emb.bank.

**Forward-Looking Statements**

This news release contains statements or information that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will," and similar references to future periods. Any such statements are based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results expressed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include the businesses of Mercantile and EFIN may not be combined successfully, or such combination may take longer than expected; the cost savings from the merger may not be fully realized or may take longer than expected; operating costs, customer loss and business disruption following the merger may be greater than expected; governmental approvals of the merger may not be obtained, or adverse regulatory conditions may be imposed in connection with governmental approvals of the merger or otherwise; the shareholders of EFIN may fail to approve the merger; the interest rate environment may compress margins and adversely affect net interest income; the risks associated with continued diversification of assets and adverse changes to credit quality; and difficulties associated with achieving expected future financial results. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in MBWM's reports (such as the Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the proposed transaction or other matters attributable to MBWM or EFIN or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Except as required by law, MBWM and EFIN do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statement is made.

**No Offer or Solicitation**

This news release is being issued with respect to the proposed merger transaction involving MBWM and EFIN. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.

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**Additional Information and Where to Find It**

In connection with the proposed merger transaction, MBWM expects to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") that will include a Preliminary Proxy Statement of EFIN and a Preliminary Prospectus of MBWM, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. After the Registration Statement is declared effective, EFIN will mail a Definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its shareholders. This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or Registration Statement or for any other document that MBWM or EFIN may file with the SEC and send to EFIN's shareholders in connection with the proposed merger transaction. Shareholders of EFIN are urged to read carefully the Registration Statement and accompanying Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the proposed merger transaction when it becomes available and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information.

Free copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as well as other filings containing information about MBWM, EFIN, and the proposed transaction, may be obtained at the SEC's Internet site (<u>https://www.sec.gov</u>). You will also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from MBWM at <u>https://www.ir.mercbank.com</u> under the tab "SEC Filings" and from EFIN at <u>https://www.emb.bank/</u> under the tab "About Investor Information" or by requesting them in writing or by telephone from MBWM at: Mercantile Bank Corporation, 310 Leonard Street NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49504, ATTN: Corporate Secretary; Telephone (616) 406-3000 or by requesting them in writing or by telephone from EFIN at: Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation, 65 N. Howard Ave, Croswell, MI 48422, ATTN: Corporate Secretary; Telephone (810) 679-2500.

**Participants in the Solicitation**

MBWM, EFIN, and certain of their respective directors and executive officers, under the rules of the SEC may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from EFIN's shareholders in favor of the approval of the definitive merger agreement. Information about such directors and executive officers of MBWM and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, can be found under the headings "Director Compensation," "Director Independence," "Executive Compensation," and "Security Ownership" in MBWM's definitive proxy statement in connection with its 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on April 4, 2025 (available at: <u>https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1042729/000143774925010959/mbwm20250323_def14a.htm</u>), and other documents subsequently filed by MBWM with the SEC. To the extent holdings of common stock by its directors or executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in MBWM's definitive proxy statement in connection with its 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, such changes have been or will be reflected in filings with the SEC on Form 3 (Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities), Form 4 (Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership) or Form 5 (Annual Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities) (which are available at EDGAR Search Results <u>https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/own-disp?action=getissuer&CIK=0001042729</u>). Further information regarding the direct or indirect interests of the directors and executive officers of MBWM, along with information about the directors and executive officers of EFIN and their direct or indirect interests and information regarding the interests of other persons who may be deemed participants in the solicitation, may be obtained by reading the Proxy Statement/Prospectus included in the Registration Statement regarding the merger when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described above.**<u> </u>**

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:**

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **MEDIA:** | **INVESTORS:** |
| **Nichole Kladder** | **Chuck Christmas** |
| **CMO, Mercantile Bank** | **CFO, Mercantile Bank Corporation** |
| **616-242-7760** | **616-726-1202** |
| **nkladder@mercbank.com** | **cchristmas@mercbank.com** |
| **Errin Levitt** | **William Oldford, Jr.** |
| **CFO, Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation** | **President and Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Michigan Financial Corporation** |
| **810-398-5121** | **810-398-5121** |
| **elevitt@emb.bank** | **woldford@emb.bank** |

---

## Exhibit 99.3

**Exhibit 99.3**

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## Exhibit 99.4

**Exhibit 99.4**

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