Exhibit 23-1(b)


                        Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP





                       [DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP LETTERHEAD]



Independent Auditors' Consent


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this  Registration  Statement of
Republic  First  Bancorp,  Inc.  on Form S-8 of our  report  on  Republic  First
Bancorp,  Inc. for the year ended December 31, 1995 dated March 1, 1996,  except
for Note 1 related to the merger which is dated June 7, 1996,  Note 2 related to
the  earnings  per common  share  which is dated  January  27,  1998 and Note 17
related to the 1998 stock  split  efffected  in the form of a dividend  which is
dated  February 19, 1998,  which report  appears in the December 31, 1997 annual
report on Form 10-KSB of Republic First Bancorp, Inc.



/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Deloitte & Touche LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

July 21, 1998