BANGOR – Merrill Merchants Bancshares, Inc., the parent company of Merrill Merchants Bank, has announced a 12 percent increase in first quarter earnings for 2005 over the same period in 2004.

The company’s assets were $374.5 million on March 31, an increase of $25.5 million or 7 percent over last year. Total loans grew $26.2 million, or 10 percent, and total deposits increased $21.9 million, or 8 percent, over the same period.

Merrill Merchants Bank provides consumer, commercial, trust and investment services through its 11 locations in central and eastern Maine. The bank is a preferred lender of the Small Business Administration.