FORM 8-K


                       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 Report
February 18, 1997
- -----------------

                           FIRST REPUBLIC BANCORP INC.
                           ---------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


  Delaware                         0-15882                94-2964497
  --------                         -------                ----------
(State or other jurisdiction     (Commission             (IRS Employer
 of incorporation)               File Number)             Identification No.)



                                388 Market Street
                             San Francisco, CA 94111
                             -----------------------
               (Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)


                                  (415) 392-1400
                                  --------------
               (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                 Not applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former name, former address, if changed since last report)







Item 5.  Other Events

First  Republic  Bancorp  Inc.  hereby  files with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  (the  "Commission")  its press  release,  dated  February  18, 1997,
concerning  its engagement of an investment  banking firm to consider  strategic
alternatives, as distributed on February 18, 1997.




                                   SIGNATURES

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 hereunto duly authorized.


                                              First Republic Bancorp Inc.
                                              (Registrant)



Date: February 18, 1997                                                      
                                              -------------------------
                                              Willis H. Newton, Jr.
                                              Senior Vice President and
                                              Chief Financial Officer





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- ---------------------



                 FIRST REPUBLIC BANCORP RETAINS INVESTMENT BANKER

                                                      Common Stock Symbol - FRC
                                                     New York/Pacific Exchanges

     San Francisco,  California, February 18, 1997 - First Republic Bancorp Inc.
(NYSE:  FRC) announced that it has retained  Montgomery  Securities to assist in
identifying, reviewing and assessing various strategic alternatives.

        James H. Herbert, II, the President and Chief Executive Officer of First
Republic,  said "The assignment we have given to Montgomery  Securities covers a
diverse range of strategic  alternatives.  It includes the  possibility of First
Republic's being acquired or merging with a strategic  partner.  There will also
be active  consideration of other alternatives  which would enhance  shareholder
value."

        First Republic Bancorp has total assets of $2.2 billion and functions as
a direct lender as well as a mortgage  banker through its  FDIC-insured,  Nevada
chartered thrift company  subsidiary.  First Republic Savings Bank provides both
loan and deposit services from thirteen locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Beverly Hills and San Diego, California and in Las Vegas, Nevada.



For further information call:
Willis H. Newton, Jr.
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
388 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 392-1400