Several local nonprofits will receive a nice gift this November thanks to a bank’s 15th anniversary and its generosity.
Mercantile Bank of Michigan launched its “15 Days of Giving” program Nov. 5 and for 15 consecutive days, they’re giving away $1,000 each day to area nonprofits chosen by the public on Facebook.
On November 19 -- the 15th day -- they’re also randomly picking one charity to receive $5,000. Altogether, the bank is giving away $20,000 over the 15-day period.
The reason for the “15 Days of Giving” program is to celebrate the bank’s 15th anniversary and give back to the community that has helped it succeed.
As a local community bank, Mercantile Bank began in 1997 and now has seven full-service banking offices in Grand Rapids, Holland, and Lansing.
December 15 will mark 15 years for the bank and according to President and CEO, Robert Kaminski, “This is a special deal for us.”
Shortly after they opened, Mercantile experienced rapid growth and now, they’re the largest bank chartered in Grand Rapids and one of the largest headquartered in Michigan.
Kaminski says Mercantile fills “a niche between the very small banks and the big, regional banks.”
In addition to the “15 Days of Giving” program, Mercantile will celebrate its 15th anniversary with customer appreciation events at its branches. A ribbon cutting is also planned at the company's headquarters on Leonard Street in December, with local dignitaries and customers invited to attend.
“We want to have local folks there who have been very supportive to us over the 15 years,” Kaminski says.
For the third time in 15 years, Mercantile’s three corporate officers -- Chairman and CEO Michael Price, CFO Chuck Christmas, and Kaminski -- will also ring the opening bell at the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City's Times Square in mid-December. Mercantile Bank Corporation's common stock is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "MBWM."
To enter the “15 Days of Giving” program, visit Mercantile's Facebook page and post the organization’s name on their timeline. Nominations can be submitted now through Nov. 19.
Once selected, Mercantile will post the organization on its voting page and with a special app, users can vote for their favorite charity. Each person gets one vote per day between 9 a.m. and midnight with the winners posted on the Facebook page the next morning. The daily $1,000 winners will be chosen based on which one gets the most votes, and the $5,000 winner will be selected randomly with their award presented at a special ceremony.
In order to be considered, the charity must be an approved 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Michigan. Anything that is political or deemed inappropriate will not be selected for the program.
Kaminski expects the bank will get at least 100 charities entering the “15 Days of Giving” program throughout the 15-day period. He hopes by showcasing these nonprofits on Mercantile’s Facebook page, it will bring a greater awareness to the services they provide.
“We see this as a win-win for the community and a neat way to commemorate for us and our shareholders,” Kaminski says.
To find out more about the “15 Days of Giving” program and Mercantile Bank, here are some links:
- Visit the
“15 Days of Giving” program online for more details and to nominate a nonprofit organization.
- Visit
Mercantile Bank online to find out more about the services they provide.
- Like Mercantile Bank on
Facebook.
- Follow
@MercBank on Twitter.
Sources: Robert Kaminski, President and CEO of Mercantile Bank of Michigan
Writer: Heidi Stukkie, Do Good Editor
Images provided by Mercantile Bank.
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