WINONA, Minn. – Merchants Financial Group announced that its third-quarter earnings were strong and that shareholders can expect higher dividends. The semiannual dividend will go from 80 to 85 cents per share. There also will be one-time special dividend of $1 per share. In making the announcement, chief executive Greg Evans noted that Merchants is publicly owned company with most shareholders owners being families and the company’s 480 employees.
