SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       DATE OF THE REPORT (Date of Earliest Event Reported): July 15, 1997

                          REPUBLIC FIRST BANCORP, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


       PENNSYLVANIA                   0-17007                 23-2486815
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION     (COMMISSION FILE          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     OF INCORPORATION)                 NUMBER)              IDENTIFICATION NO.)

                    1608 WALNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA PA 19103
              (ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

        REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE (215) 735-4422

                          FIRST REPUBLIC BANCORP, INC.
          (FORMER NAME OR FORMER ADDRESS, IF CHANGED FROM LAST REPORT)


                                Page 1 of 2 Pages







Item 5.  Other Events.

         On July 15, 1997,  Registrant  amended its certificate of incorporation
to change  its name from  "First  Republic  Bancorp,  Inc." to  "Republic  First
Bancorp, Inc." A copy of the press release announcing this change is attached as
Exhibit 99.1.

                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                   REPUBLIC FIRST BANCORP, INC.
                                         (Registrant)

Dated: July 16, 1997                     By: /s/   GEORGE S. RAPP
                                                   --------------
                                                   George S. Rapp,
                                                   Executive Vice President and
                                                   Chief Financial Officer




                                Page 2 of 2 Pages