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Article: Republics at War in Southern Florida On Whether They Can Still Share Name.
- Article from:
- American Banker
- Article date:
- December 14, 1998
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 SourceMedia, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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By LOUIS WHITEMAN South Florida apparently is not big enough for two banks named Republic.
Republic National Bank of Miami, a $1.5 billion-asset bank based in Coral Gables, has filed suit against $2.3 billion-asset Republic Bank, St. Petersburg, demanding that the central Florida bank change its name to avoid possible customer confusion.
The banks peacefully shared the Republic name in the Sunshine State for 25 years, but that was when they did business 260 miles from each other. Republic Bank has swallowed up seven other Florida banks in recent years, including one deal that put it right on Republic National's doorstep.
Republic Bank's ...