FRBK Republic First Bancorp Inc

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Republic First Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRBK), the holding company for Republic First Bank (PA), is pleased to announce the promotion of Louis J. DeCesare to President and Chief Operating Officer. He is also a member of Republic First Bank's Board of Directors and previously served as Chief Lending Officer. He has enjoyed a successful 30-year career in banking, beginning at age 16 as a summer teller with Industrial Valley Bank. During his distinguished career he has also worked for Fidelity Bank, Mellon Bank, Commerce Bank, and Commonwealth Bank and has more than 20 years' experience in commercial lending. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Harry D. Madonna said, "Lou joined us five years ago as a credit officer and has rapidly advanced through the ranks to his present position. Lou epitomizes the young and talented officers who have and will continue to make the Bank grow and its shareholders prosper." (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061220/PHW024 ) Born and raised in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs, he is a graduate of Lower Moreland High School and holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and an M.B.A. from La Salle University. Mr. DeCesare currently resides in Doylestown, PA, with his wife and two sons. Republic First Bank (PA) is a full-service, state-chartered commercial bank, whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Bank provides diversified financial products through its eleven offices located in Abington, Ardmore, Bala Cynwyd, East Norriton, Media, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Voorhees, New Jersey. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061220/PHW024 http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Republic First Bancorp, Inc. CONTACT: Catherine Hall, Marketing, Republic First Bancorp, Inc., +1-215-735-4422 x5264

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