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MERCANTIL COMMERCEBANK ANNOUNCES THE RETIREMENT OF J. GUILLERMO VILLAR IN DECEMBER 2008 AND APPOINTS NEXT PRESIDENT AND CEO

Coral Gables, FL – July 24, 2008

Mercantil Commercebank, one of the largest privately held banks in South Florida, has announced the retirement of its President and CEO, J. Guillermo Villar, effective end of December 2008. Villar has headed the Bank during the last 18 years and has served as Global International Operations Manager for Mercantil Servicios Financieros (MSF) with fiduciary responsibilities in its subsidiaries in Switzerland, Cayman, Curazao, and Panama. Mercantil Servicios Financieros is the Venezuelan financial holding owner of Mercantil Commercebank Holding Corp.

Gustavo Marturet, President of Mercantil Servicios Financieros and Chairman of Mercantil Commercebank NA, said that Villar has played an important role in the international positioning of MERCANTIL, and particularly in the growth of Mercantil Commercebank in South Florida, New York and Houston.

J. Guillermo Villar said he is very pleased with his career at MERCANTIL, and with the challenges and achievements he has shared with the Bank’s personnel throughout his professional years in the company, which started in 1974 in Venezuela. He added that he has several options and ideas for his retirement, particularly a change of his fast-pace schedule, and enjoying more time with his family and friends.

Mercantil Commercebank has $6.0 billion in assets, capital of $ 473 million, and a solid reputation in the financial industry, including a Community Reinvestment Act rating of "Outstanding" from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Gustavo Marturet said that the Board of Directors of Mercantil Commercebank agreed to appoint Millar Wilson to serve as President and CEO of Mercantil Commercebank and that Wilson will be appointed as Global International Operations Manager of MERCANTIL in early January 2009. Wilson has served MERCANTIL since 1977. He graduated from Bradford University, England, with a Degree in Business Administration and completed the Management Development Program at Harvard Business School. Along with Villar, Wilson has participated in the development of the international operations at Mercantil; in 1983 as General Manager of Mercantil Banco Universal Coral Gables Agency, followed by several important positions in Mercantil Commercebank, including the Presidency of the Bank. During the last four years, Wilson has served as Global Risk Manager of Mercantil Servicios Financieros. Wilson has lived in Miami during the last 26 years

ABOUT MERCANTIL COMMERCEBANK
Mercantil Commercebank N.A. is one of the largest privately held banks in South Florida serving its community for over 27 years. The Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercantil Commercebank Holding Corp., which in turn is owned by Mercantil Servicios Financieros, the largest provider of financial services in Venezuela, with more than 80 years of experience. Mercantil Commercebank has assets of $6 billion. The Bank is headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida, and has thirteen Banking Centers in South Florida; one in Manhattan, New York; and one in Houston, Texas. Mercantil Commercebank offers a wide variety of domestic, international, personal, and commercial banking services, including investment, trust, and estate planning through its subsidiaries, Mercantil Commercebank Investment Services, Inc. and Mercantil Commercebank Trust Company, N.A. For more information, please visit www.mercantilcb.com.