Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On December 17, 2012, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Independent Bank Corporation (the "Company") authorized the appointment of William (Brad) Kessel to Chief Executive Officer of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Independent Bank (the "Bank"), effective as of January 1, 2013. The Board also appointed Mr. Kessel to the Board of Directors of the Company and the Bank, effective as of the same date.

These actions are consistent with the senior management succession plan adopted by the Board in February of 2011. Under that plan, Mr. Kessel was appointed to serve as the Company's President, effective as of April 1, 2011. As of January 1, 2013, he will serve as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Magee, the Company's current CEO, will continue to serve as a director of the Company and the Bank, and, as previously announced, will serve as Executive Chairman of both Boards, effective as of January 1, 2013.

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