---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001437749-24-005725"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: null
cik: "0000834285"
company_name: "REPUBLIC FIRST BANCORP INC"
filed_at: "2024-02-27T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-05T13:42:58.536267+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.8
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Republic First Bancorp dismisses Crowe, flags material weaknesses and going-concern uncertainty

## Summary
- Audit committee dismissed Crowe effective Feb 21, 2024 citing material weaknesses in internal controls.
- Crowe reported seven material weaknesses including control environment, CECL adoption, core system conversion, and deposit operations.
- Crowe identified going concern and subsequent events (investment securities impairment, CECL changes) as matters impacting financial statements.
- Company appointed Wolf & Company as new auditor for fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024; 2022 10-K not yet filed.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001437749-24-005725
- form_type: 8-K
- cik: 0000834285
- company_name: REPUBLIC FIRST BANCORP INC
- filed_at: 2024-02-27T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 4.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/834285/000143774924005725/0001437749-24-005725-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/834285/000143774924005725/frbk20240226_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-24-005725
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-24-005725.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-24-005725.txt

## Key facts
- Auditor Changes
  REPUBLIC FIRST BANCORP INC engaged Wolf & Company, P.C. as its auditor.
  - Action: engagement
  - Auditor: Wolf & Company, P.C.
  source text: On February 21, 2024, the Audit Committee approved the appointment of Wolf as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal years ended Dece
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/834285/000143774924005725/0001437749-24-005725-index.htm
- Auditor Changes
  REPUBLIC FIRST BANCORP INC dismissed Crowe LLP as its auditor.
  - Action: dismissal
  - Auditor: Crowe LLP
  source text: On February 21, 2024, the Audit Committee (the "Audit Committee") of the Board of Directors of Republic First Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") approved the dismissal of Crowe LLP ("Crowe") as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, effective as of February 21, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/834285/000143774924005725/0001437749-24-005725-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.