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): May 20, 1999


                          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
                                                     ---------------

              ----------------------------------------------------
          (FORMER NAME OR FORMER ADDRESS, IF CHANGED FROM LAST REPORT)



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Item 5.  Other Events.

     On May 20, 1999, the Registrant  announced that effective May 24, 1999, the
Board  of  Directors  has  elected  James  V.  Schermerhorn  as  Executive  Vice
President/Chief   Lending  Officer  of  First  Republic  Bank,  a  wholly  owned
subsidiary of the Registrant.

     A copy of the press  release  announcing  this  transaction  is attached as
Exhibit 99.1.







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                                    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: May 20, 1999                         By: /s/ George S. Rapp
                                                -------------------------------
                                                George S. Rapp
                                                Executive Vice President






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