PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third year in a row, Republic First Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRBK), the parent company of Republic Bank, celebrated Small Business Saturday by honoring a valued small business customer on November 26. On a day that generates more than $16 billion in sales for small businesses across the country, Republic Bank chose to honor Serendipity of Haddonfield, by organizing employees from its Haddonfield location to surprise Serendipity's customers and reward them for spending their dollars locally. Serendipity is a gift boutique (located at 127 Kings Highway East) which sells brands like Lilly Pulitzer, Vera Bradley and Crabtree & Evelyn.

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"At Republic Bank, we truly believe in investing in and giving back to the communities that we serve. For the past three years, we've been ranked the top SBA lender in the tri-state area and finished as one of the top 50 SBA lenders in the nation," said Harry Madonna, chairman and CEO of Republic Bank. "Small businesses are the backbone of our local economies and we love the opportunity to champion their cause. For this reason, we're proud to, once again, show our support and join with the other 95 million Americans shopping on Small Business Saturday."

At the celebration, Republic Bank staff - joined by its friendly mascot R Dog - gathered outside Serendipity, encouraging passersby to support the store and the many other small businesses that line Kings Highway. To incentivize people to shop at the longtime Haddonfield mainstay, its employees also purchased and distributed 50 $10 Serendipity gift certificates and special invitations to the bank's "Worth the Switch" program. This program provides new customers a $20 bonus when they open an "absolutely free" checking or savings account at Republic Bank.

Serendipity owner Diann Wilson commented, "When I took over Serendipity more than four years ago, I was immediately impressed with Republic Bank's commitment to its customers. As a small business owner, convenience and flexibility in a banking partner are crucial - and nice people are a bonus! The Republic Bank team continues to exceed my expectations, and I can't thank them enough for their support on this special day."

Republic Bank's Haddonfield location and its other 18 stores are open 7 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 and access to more than 55,000 surcharge free ATMs worldwide. Building on the momentum of its aggressive growth plan, coined "The Power of Red is Back," Republic Bank opened three new stores in 2016 and continues to rapidly expand its regional footprint with several new locations planned for the next year in , southern NJ and southeastern PA.

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 19 offices located in Abington, Bala Cynwyd, Mayfair, Media, Philadelphia, Plymouth Meeting, Torresdale and Wynnewood, Pennsylvania and Berlin, Cherry Hill, Glassboro, Haddonfield, Marlton, Moorestown, Voorhees and Washington Township, 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.