CHFC 2018 Proxy Statement

235 East Main Street Midland, Michigan 48640 NOTICE OFANNUALMEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS To Be Held April 25, 2018 To Our Shareholders: The 2018 annual meeting of shareholders of Chemical Financial Corporation will be held at the Devos Place, 303 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at 3:30 p.m. local time. At the meeting, we will consider and vote on: 1. The election of 13 directors; 2. The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2018; and 3. An advisory vote on compensation of our named executive officers. We will also conduct any other business that properly comes before the meeting or at any adjournment of the meeting. You are receiving this notice and can vote at the meeting and any adjournment of the meeting if you were a shareholder of record as of the close of business on February 26, 2018. The enclosed proxy statement and proxy are first being sent to our shareholders on approximately March 16, 2018. A copy of our annual report for the year ended December 31, 2017 is enclosed with this notice. Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on April 25, 2018. This year, we are taking advantage of the rules of the SEC that allow us to furnish our proxy materials over the Internet. We are mailing to our shareholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, rather than mailing a full paper set of the materials. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials contains instructions on how to access our proxy materials on the Internet, as well as instructions on obtaining a paper or email copy of the proxy materials. This process will reduce our costs to print and distribute our proxy materials. We urge you to please vote your shares nowwhether or not you plan to attend the meeting. Voting by the Internet or telephone is fast and convenient, and your vote is immediately confirmed and tabulated. If you request to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials, you may also vote by completing, signing, dating and returning the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed return envelope furnished for that purpose. By using the Internet or voting by telephone, you help us reduce postage and proxy tabulation costs. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting. By Order of the Board of Directors, David T. Provost Chief Executive Officer and President March 16, 2018