Exhibit 99

PRESS RELEASE

MACKINAC FINANCIAL CORPORATION

REPORTS STRONG EARNINGS GROWTH FOR 2015

Manistique, Michigan — Mackinac Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: MFNC) (the “Corporation”), the bank holding company for mBank, today announced 2015 net income of $5.596 million, or $.90 per share, compared to net income $1.700 million, or $.30 per share in 2014.  The 2015 results include one-time charges related to (i) the transfer of our asset based lending subsidiary assets to mBank, which charges included unamortized debt issue and dissolution costs of the subsidiary, and (ii) regulatory audit costs incurred in connection with our approval as an SBA preferred lender, along with a deferred tax valuation adjustment of $.322 million. The net positive impact of these items was approximately $.02 per share.

In 2014, the Corporation had nonrecurring transaction related expenses totaling $2.475 million. These “one-time” costs reduced the reported net income in 2014 by $1.810 million, or $.32 per share, on an after tax basis. The adjusted net income for 2014 (not inclusive of the nonrecurring transaction related expenses) would equate to $3.510 million, or $.62 per share.

Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2015 totaled $76.602 million, compared to $73.996 million on December 31, 2014. The book value per share equated to $12.32 on December 31, 2015 compared to $11.81 per share a year ago. Weighted average shares outstanding totaled 6,247,416 in 2015 compared to 5,592,738 in 2014.

Key highlights for the 2015 results include:

·                  mBank, the Corporation’s primary asset, recorded net income of $6.940 million in 2015, compared to $4.856 million, as adjusted for nonrecurring transaction related expenses, in 2014, a 43% increase following the seamless integration of Peninsula Bank.

·                  The Corporation recorded “pre-tax, pre-provision” income of $9.133 million in 2015, compared to $6.504 million, as adjusted for nonrecurring transaction related expenses, for the same period in 2014, an increase of 25%.

·                  Nonperforming asset reduction of $1.546 million, or 22.25%, from 2014 year-end.  Nonperforming assets equate to a nominal .73% of total assets for 2015 and a Texas Ratio of 7.04%. Year-end nonperforming assets represent a reduction of $4.949 million from September 30, 2015.

·                  Strong net interest margin, which improved to 4.30% compared to 4.19% in 2014.  The margin was positively affected by the accretive impact of the “marks” to Peninsula acquired loans by approximately 19 basis points.

·                  Increased contribution from secondary mortgage market activity. Income from this source in 2015 totaled $1.071 million compared to $.637 million in 2014.

·                  The recently announced agreement to acquire First National Bank of Eagle River, a Wisconsin community bank with $140 million of assets as of December 31, 2015, for $12.5 million in cash.  The acquisition is expected to be consummated in the second quarter of 2016, and should provide further earnings accretion.

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Loans and Nonperforming Assets

Total loans at December 31, 2015 were $618.394 million, a $17.459 million increase from $600.935 million at December 31, 2014.  In addition to the aforementioned balance sheet totals, the company services $224.612 million of sold mortgage loans and $63.460 million of sold SBA and USDA loans. Total loans under management now total $906 million.

New loan production totaled $234.271 million with the Upper Peninsula contributing $133.738 million, the Northern Lower Peninsula $56.142 million and Southeast Michigan $44.391 million. Commercial loan production accounted for $137.198 million of the total, with consumer loans, primarily 1-4 family mortgages, of $97.073 million.  Commenting on new loan production and overall lending activities, Kelly W. George, President and CEO of mBank stated, “2015 was our best year in terms of new loan production since the recap of the company in December of 2004. We saw positive trends and good opportunities in all our markets and were very pleased with the significant increase in the mortgage lending area. SBA activities slowed some given the very competitive market conditions which in turn led to many more lenders looking at these transactions in conventional lending ways, which can be more appealing to borrowers. Actual outstanding’s growth was stunted due in part to several larger clients who exited the bank for rates and terms we could not match prudently for long term balance sheet stability. We are optimistic we will carry over this loan momentum into 2016 and see further market improvements in part with the addition of the new Wisconsin region we will be entering.”

Nonperforming loans totaled $3.079 million, .50% of total loans at December 31, 2015, down $4.949 million from September 30, 2015 balances of $8.028 million and down $1.546 million from 2014 year end balances of $3.939 million.  Total loan delinquencies greater than 30 days resided at a nominal .58%, or $3.543 million. Mr. George, commenting on credit quality stated, “Our credit quality remains one of the Corporation’s major strengths, with all segments of the loan portfolio performing well on a micro level. From a macro perspective, we remain diverse in terms of the types of originations throughout the various regions of the company which produces low portfolio concentration risk should a negative economic event occur.  We remain at very low levels of problem loans through a disciplined loan underwriting culture that does not stretch proven credit parameters for short term gains. This is coupled with a timely and efficient identification and resolution workout process should a loan default, in order to minimize long term carrying costs and reduce overall loss exposure. This process proved well for 2015 as we were very successful in reducing problem assets acquired from the Peninsula Bank transaction with positive gains to the Corporation from our diligence marks.”

Margin Analysis

Net interest income in 2015 increased to $29.120 million, or 4.30%, compared to $23.527 million, or 4.19%, in 2014.  The increase in net interest income was largely due to the PFC acquisition as we increased earning assets by approximately $90 million.  We also had increased net interest contribution due to the accretive attributes associated with the purchase accounting adjustments related to PFC loan marks under GAAP. Mr. George stated, “As noted above, we were pleased with the accretive resolutions of the exited Peninsula loans and ORE acquired in that transaction supporting our initial review of their lending assets. In terms of our core margin, we expect continued pressure from a highly competitive lending environment coupled with historically still low credit borrowing rates. However, we remain positive in our ability to prudently manage interest rate risk within the balance sheet for long term stability in terms of loan rates, and continue to capture increasing levels of margin dollars with well-structured liability pricing as well.”

Deposits

Total deposits of $610.323 million at December 31, 2015 increased by $3.350 million from deposits of $606.973 million on December 31, 2014.  Mr. George, commenting on core deposits and overall liquidity needs, stated “The Corporation maintains a strong liquidity position to fund loans and operations. Core deposit generation this year was reduced from previous years in a managed way given the stunted loan outstandings growth mentioned above, in an effort to maximize margin dollars. We supplemented core funding needs as customary through the use of targeted brokered deposits to better match loan pricing and term structures. We actively review in market deposit pricing and remain competitive, but are not willing to match up rates to keep non relationship type clients. This issue has become ever increasing throughout this year and is expected to continue with the slight uptick in rates from various different types of financial depository institutions.”

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Noninterest Income/Expense

Noninterest income, at $3.889 million in 2015, increased $.777 million from the 2014 level of $3.112 million.  The primary reason for the improvement was increased year over year activity in the secondary mortgage market.  Income from this source totaled $1.071 million compared to $.637 million in 2014.  Noninterest expense, at $23.876 million in 2015, increased $1.266 million, or 5.60% from 2014. The 2015 increase was largely attributable to the Peninsula transaction in December 2014 in terms of salaries and benefits, occupancy expense of acquired branch offices and some early 2015 data processing costs prior to conversion.  We remain diligent in monitoring and controlling our expense base given the governance and regulatory needs that come with a growing and more complex company. We continue to reside at or below peer levels in terms of overall costs to our asset base, and were pleased with the level of efficiencies we gained through the Peninsula transaction spreading our cost base over a larger platform.

Assets and Capital

Total assets of the Corporation at December 31, 2015 were $739.269 million, down $4.516 million from the $743.785 million reported at December 31, 2014. Common shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2015 totaled $76.602 million, or $12.32 per share, compared to $73.996 million, or $11.81 per share on December 31, 2014.  The Corporation and the Bank are both “well-capitalized” with Tier 1 Capital at the Corporation of 9.81% and 10.56% at the Bank.

Paul D. Tobias, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation added, “With the acquisition of PFC, the combination of our organizations has resulted in accretive earnings as planned, and we expect this contribution to continue in future periods.  The expansion of our footprint from this business combination provided us with increased growth opportunities in the western part of Marquette County and tangent markets. Our increased asset size resulted in the anticipated operational and scale efficiencies, which contributed to earnings accretion. We are looking forward to the expansion of our franchise into neighboring Wisconsin.  As customary, subject to regulatory approval, we will be closing this transaction in the second quarter and we are confident that it is a great cultural fit and business fit.  We will look for additional true community bank partners in Wisconsin and Michigan as the year progresses.

Early in the fourth quarter we moved Mackinac Commercial Credit, our asset based lending subsidiary, into mBank to take advantage of a lower cost of funds and improved marketing opportunities being within the larger bank.  This activity is now contributing to earnings and we expect that contribution to accelerate as the market for closely monitored loans grows as the credit cycle ages.  In conclusion, we remain committed to our shareholders in all of our endeavors to increase value by building a safe and sound company with strong asset growth, increasing core earnings per share and growing returns on equity.”

Mackinac Financial Corporation is a registered bank holding company formed under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 with assets in excess of $730 million and whose common stock is traded on the NASDAQ stock market as “MFNC.”   The principal subsidiary of the Corporation is mBank.  Headquartered in Manistique, Michigan, mBank has 17 branch locations; thirteen in the Upper Peninsula, three in the Northern Lower Peninsula and one in Oakland County, Michigan.  The Company’s banking services include commercial lending and treasury management products and services geared toward small to mid-sized businesses, as well as a full array of personal and business deposit products and consumer loans.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain forward-looking statements.  Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “should,” “will,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements: as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements reflect management’s current beliefs as to expected outcomes of future events and are not guarantees of future performance.  These statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood, and degree of occurrence.  Therefore, actual results and outcomes may materially differ from what may be expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause a difference include among others: changes in the national and local economies or market conditions; changes in interest rates and banking regulations; the impact of competition from traditional or new sources; and the possibility that anticipated cost savings and revenue enhancements from mergers and acquisitions, bank consolidations, and other sources may not be fully realized at all or within specified time frames as well as other risks and uncertainties including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  These and other factors may cause decisions and actual results to differ materially

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from current expectations.  Mackinac Financial Corporation undertakes no obligation to revise, update, or clarify forward-looking statements to reflect events or conditions after the date of this release.

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MACKINAC FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

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MACKINAC FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

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MACKINAC FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

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MACKINAC FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

LOAN PORTFOLIO AND CREDIT QUALITY

(Dollars in thousands)

Loan Portfolio Balances (at end of period):

Credit Quality (at end of period):

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MACKINAC FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(1) Texas ratio equals nonperforming assets divided by tangible shareholders’ equity plus allowance for loan losses

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