BANGOR – Merrill Merchants Bancshares, parent company of Merrill Merchants Bank, announced Thursday that the company had declared a cash dividend of $.07 per share on the company’s common stock for the fourth quarter of 2000. Last year’s fourth quarter dividend was $.06.

The dividend will be payable to all shareholders of record as of Nov. 30, 2000, and will be paid on Dec. 15, 2000. Merrill Merchants maintains 10 branches in central and eastern Maine.