First Republic’s Willis Newton Named CFO of the Year

First Republic Bank, a leading private bank and wealth management company, today announced that Chief Financial Officer Willis Newton was honored by the San Francisco Business Times as a 2011 Chief Financial Officer of the Year.

Newton, who has been the CFO of First Republic for the past 19 years, was recognized as the top CFO in the category for public companies with revenues up to $500 million per year.

The award, presented by the Business Times in partnership with Larkin Street Youth Services, annually honors CFOs that demonstrate professionalism, integrity, resilience and mastery of the key skills that make an outstanding CFO.

"Willis Newton is an extraordinary CFO,” said Jim Herbert, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Republic Bank. "His understanding of finance, his ability to manage through complexity and his always wise counsel have been invaluable to First Republic’s success.”

Over the past year, Newton played a key role in re-establishing First Republic’s independence and executing a management buyback that raised $1.8 billion in equity capital. In December, Newton helped First Republic complete an initial public offering. Newton has also been instrumental in the carefully controlled growth of First Republic.

"Willis Newton is a terrific CFO by every standard,” said Katherine August-deWilde, President and Chief Operating Officer of First Republic Bank. "He is the kind of executive whose leadership, vision and expertise inspire people to excellence.”

Newton joined First Republic in 1988 and was named CFO three years later. A Certified Public Accountant, Newton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

About First Republic Bank

First Republic Bank (NYSE:FRC) and its subsidiaries provide private banking, private business banking and private wealth management. Founded in 1985, First Republic specializes in exceptional, relationship-based service offered through preferred banking or wealth management offices primarily in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, San Diego, Portland, Boston, Greenwich and New York City. First Republic offers a complete line of banking products for individuals and businesses, including deposit services, as well as residential, commercial and personal loans. First Republic is a component of the S&P Total Market Index, the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index^SM and nine Dow Jones indices. More information is available on the Bank’s website at www.firstrepublic.com.