Rhonda Costello, EVP/Chief Retail Officer at Republic Bank, Receives 2015 SmartCEO Philadelphia Brava Award

PHILADELPHIA, July 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Republic First Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRBK), the parent company of Republic Bank, announced that Rhonda Costello, Executive Vice President/Chief Retail Officer, has been selected as a 2015 SmartCEO Philadelphia Brava Award winner.  The award, presented by SmartCEO, recognizes female CEOs, nonprofit leaders and high impact executives who combine their irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for giving back to the community.  Costello and her fellow honorees will be featured in the July/August issue of SmartCEO, and were recognized at an awards reception at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia.

"It is an honor to join this extraordinary group of women – women who also happen to be some of Philadelphia's most influential business leaders, mentors and philanthropists," said Costello.  "We all work to drive strong business growth while creating a lasting impact on our communities.  Through empowering our rising female corporate stars to think bigger and to strive for excellence every day, we hope to pave the way for the next generation of great female leaders around the region."

Costello began her storied banking career at Commerce Bank in 1985 as a store manager and her role quickly expanded, as she became the first woman to hold a senior leadership position at the bank.  During her next two decades at Commerce Bank, Costello worked closely with the bank's executive team to help rapidly grow the institution from a small, community bank into a regional powerhouse with more than 450 stores.  She brought the same transformative attitude to Republic Bank when she joined the team in 2008. As a staunch supporter of the bank's customer-centric philosophy, she has helped drive Republic Bank's delivery of outstanding customer service, while also adding new products and services to better serve businesses and consumers.  Under Costello's leadership, Republic Bank has grown to 17 locations throughout the Greater Philadelphia area and plans to add 10 more stores by 2017 through its "The Power of Red is Back" expansion plan.

A South Jersey native, Costello is dedicated to giving back to the Philadelphia region at the grassroots level, which aligns perfectly with Republic Bank's community-focused mission.  Passionate about creating positive change in South Jersey, she is proud to serve as a Trustee on the Kennedy University Hospital Board as well as on the Hospital's Quality and Safety Committee.  Costello also serves as a Trustee on the Board for The Joseph Fund and is an active Advisory Board member of L.U.C.Y. (Lifting Up Camden's Youth), two non-profit organizations serving the people of Camden, NJ.  She has previously served on boards and committees for the United Way, YMCA and American Heart Association.

As one of the largest Philadelphia-based retail banking institutions with 17 convenient locations regionally, Republic Bank stores are open seven days a week, 361 days a year, with extended lobby and drive-thru hours, providing customers with the longest hours of any bank in the area.  The bank also offers absolutely free checking, free coin counting, ATM/Debit cards issued on the spot and access to more than 55,000 surcharge free ATMs worldwide via the Allpoint network. 

For more information about Republic Bank, please visit www.myrepublicbank.com.

About Republic Bank

Republic Bank is the operating name for Republic First Bank.  Republic First Bank is a full-service, state-chartered commercial bank, whose deposits are insured up to the applicable limits by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).  The Bank provides diversified financial products through its 17 offices located in Abington, Ardmore, Bala Cynwyd, Plymouth Meeting, Media and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Berlin, Cherry Hill, Glassboro, Haddonfield, Marlton and Voorhees, New Jersey.

Forward Looking Statements

Republic First Bancorp, Inc. ("the Company") may from time to time make written or oral "forward-looking statements", including statements contained in this release and in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Company's beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates, and intentions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control.  These factors include competition, timing, credit risks of lending activities, changes in general economic conditions, price pressures on loan and deposit products, and other factors detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The words "may", "could", "should", "would", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "plan", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  All such statements are made in good faith by the Company pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company, except as may be required by applicable law or regulations.

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SOURCE Republic First Bancorp, Inc.