Exploring career pathways in banking with Mercantile Bank

Recently, students in Grawn Hall met with representatives of Mercantile Bank. Founded in 1997 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mercantile Bank was established by a group of entrepreneurs dedicated to providing personalized banking services to businesses, individuals, and government units. Today, the bank focuses on local communities and client relationships, assessing risk and lending money to businesses while offering a wide range of financial services.

Opportunities for students

For students and recent graduates, Mercantile Bank primarily offers the credit analyst role—available both as internships and full-time positions. During their campus visit on Sept. 23, 2025, representatives set up at the College of Business Administration to meet students and discuss opportunities.

Olivia Svendor, credit development manager and campus recruiter for Central Michigan University, explained the unique value of gaining banking experience early in a career. “Banking isn’t something taught in the classroom, so I think it’s great to learn more about different opportunities that are out there, like banking,” Svendor said. “It’s a great way to learn about multiple industries.”

Preparing future leaders

Svendor emphasized that Mercantile Bank doesn’t just look at credit analyst interns as entry-level hires. “We aren’t just hiring for credit interns and credit analysts, we are hiring for future leaders of our Bank” she said.

She added, “You get that good, basic understanding of the bank and how it works, and then once you show leadership qualities, we try to place you in different roles around the bank.”

Connect with Mercantile Bank

If you missed the visit, you could connect with Mercantile Bank through their career website, by reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn, or by contacting them on Handshake.