Meet the Republic Bank Team
In 1988, Republic Bank was founded, and for the first 20 years, our primary offering was commercial banking services. In 2008, we changed our model and redirected our strategic efforts toward retail banking. Today, Republic Bank is moving towards creating a major commercial and retail bank with a distinct brand. Our focus now is on innovation, customer satisfaction, brand building, and shareholder value creation.
Executive Team
Thomas X. Geisel
President, Chief Executive Officer
Thomas Geisel is President and CEO of Republic Bank and Republic First Bancorp Inc. Prior to joining Republic, Mr. Geisel held senior executive positions at Webster Bank Corporation (formerly known as Sterling Bancorp), which was preceded by his time at Sun Bancorp, Inc. where he served as President & CEO and Director. Prior to Sun Bancorp, Mr. Geisel was at KeyCorp which included serving as President of the Northeast Region.
Michael W. Harrington
EVP, Chief Financial Officer
Michal Harrington is Chief Financial Officer of Republic Bank serving 35 years in various operating roles within the banking sector. Prior to joining the bank, Mr. Harrington was a Banker-in-Residence at JAM Special Opportunity Ventures, and Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of The Bryn Mawr Trust Company. He also served in CFO roles at Susquehanna Bancshares and First Niagara Financial Group.
Sharon Hammel
EVP, Chief Retail Officer
Sharon Hammel joined Republic Bank in 2012 with over 25 years of previous banking experience. She serves as EVP & Chief Retail Officer and is responsible for leading the bank’s Consumer Lending, Marketing, Store Administration, Customer Service and Treasury Management departments. Prior to joining the bank, Ms. Hammel was Senior Retail Market Manager at Commerce Bank.
Steve McWilliams
EVP, Chief Lending Officer
Steve McWilliams is EVP & Chief Lending Officer and previously acted as Republic Bank’s Philadelphia Metro Market President and was a Senior Lender. Mr. McWilliams was also responsible for the bank’s growth in New York City. Since his arrival in 2009, he has been an integral part of the Bank's commercial loan growth to $1.2B or 186%. Prior to joining Republic, Steve worked as RVP in various markets for Commerce Bank for eight years.
Jay Neilon
EVP, Chief Credit Officer
Jay Neilon joined Republic Bank in 2009 as Chief Credit Officer. Mr. Neilon is an Executive Vice President and is responsible for leading the bank’s Credit department. A local banker for over 30 years, Mr. Neilon previously worked for Commerce Bank and Fidelity Bank.
Tracie Young
EVP, Chief Risk Officer
Tracie Young joined Republic Bank in 2010 with over 20 years of previous banking experience. Ms. Young is EVP & Chief Risk Officer and is responsible for leading the Bank’s Compliance and Risk Departments. Prior to joining the bank, she was Director of Internal Audit and Director of Risk Management for Harleysville National Bank.
Board of Directors
Thomas X. Geisel
Thomas Geisel is President and CEO of Republic Bank and Republic First Bancorp Inc. Prior to joining Republic, Mr. Geisel held senior executive positions at Webster Bank Corporation (formerly known as Sterling Bancorp), which was preceded by his time at Sun Bancorp, Inc. where he served as President & CEO and Director. Prior to Sun Bancorp, Mr. Geisel was at KeyCorp which included serving as President of the Northeast Region.
Harry D. Madonna
Harry Madonna founded the Bank in 1988 and is currently Chairman of the Board for Republic Bank and Republic First Bancorp, Inc. Prior to being Chairman, he held several Executive positions including President and CEO of the holding Company from 2001-2022, Chairman from 1988 to 2016, CEO, and President. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. Madonna was of counsel to Spector Gadon & Rosen, PC. In addition, from 1980 to 2001 he was a partner of Blank Rome LLP.
Harris Wildstein
Harris Wildstein has been a Director of the Bank since 1988. Since September 2004, Mr. Wildstein has been an owner and officer of Lifeline Funding, LLC, a pre-settlement funding organization. He has been the Vice President of R&S Imports, Ltd., an automobile dealership, since 1977, and President of HVW, Inc., another automobile dealership since 1982.
Lisa Jacobs
Lisa Jacobs has been Director of the Company and Bank since February 2017. She is a partner at Stradley Ronon Stevens and Young, LLC, resident in its Philadelphia office. Ms. Jacobs is an active member of the Uniform Law Commission, the American Law Institute, the Joint Editorial Board on Uniform Unincorporated Organizations Acts, the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers, and the PA Department of State Corporations Bureau Advisory Board.
Benjamin C. Duster, IV
Ben Duster is Founder of Cormorant IV Corporation LLC, an executive management and strategic advisory consulting practice; and CFO of Mobile Tech, Inc. (MTI). He is a member of the board of directors of several companies, including Chesapeake Energy, Cardone Industries and Weatherford International. Mr. Duster also serves on the board of the 1921 Institute.
Andrew B. Cohen
Andrew Cohen is the Chief Investment Officer and Co-founder of Cohen Private Ventures, LLC. He is a member of the board of directors of several companies, including the New York Mets Baseball Club, Laureate Education, Inc. and the Advisory Board of Metro Bank PLC. Mr. Cohen also serves on the National Advisory Board of Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics and the Painting and Sculpture Committee of The Whitney Museum of American Art.
Peter B. Bartholow
Peter Bartholow has been a director of the Company and the Bank since September 2022. Mr. Bartholow most recently served as COO and member of the Board of Directors of Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. Mr. Bartholow served as Managing Director of Hat Creek Partners LLC, as Corporate VP of Finance at Electronic Data Systems, Corp., as CFO of First USA, Inc., and as Chairman of the Board of Directors, CFO, CEO and President of MCorp.