BANGOR – Edwin N. Clift, chairman and chief executive officer of Merrill Merchants Bancshares Inc. of Bangor, the parent company of Merrill Merchants Bank, has announced that the company has declared a cash dividend of 16 cents per share on the company’s common stock for the second quarter of 2005. This represents an increase of 18 percent over last year’s second quarter dividend.

The cash dividend will be payable to all shareholders of record as of July 15 and will be paid July 29.