NEW BUSINESS: NEW BANK PLANNED

JACKSON -- Mercantile Bank of Southeast Missouri-Cape Girardeau is planning a bank at Jackson.

The new bank, said Lowell Peterson, Mercantile Community Bank president, will be on East Jackson Boulevard.

"We're pleased to be able to better serve the Jackson community with our new facility," said Peterson. "Mercantile and Jackson share a proud tradition of community service and we'll soon be able to form a partnership in meeting the needs of the city of Jackson."

Mercantile Bank of Southeast Missouri-Cape Girardeau has three banks at 325 N. Kingshighway, 3060 William and Town Plaza in Cape Girardeau. It also has an ATM at West Park Mall.

Mercantile Bank of Southeast Missouri-Cape Girardeau is an affiliate of Mercantile Bancorporation, one of the largest banking corporation in the Midwest.

Mercantile provides a full range of commercial and retail banking services, as well as institutional and personal trust services.

Mercantile Bancorporation, headquartered in St. Louis, has assets of $30 billion and operates in more than 500 sites throughout Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Arkansas.

Mercantile Bancorporation officials also announced plans to merge with Firstbank of Illinois, headquartered in Springfield, Ill., with 40 offices in 11 markets in Illinois and Missouri. The merger is subject to the approval of Firstbank shareholders and regulatory authorities.