Republic Bank of Arizona was named as one of the nation’s top 20 commercial lenders with less than $300 million in assets in the July issue of Independent Banker, the award-winning magazine of the Independent Community Bankers of America.

Republic Bank of Arizona has three branches, one in Phoenix, Scottsdale and a newly opened branch in Gilbert.

“Community banks are pillars of their communities and work hard every day to serve the unique needs of their local customers,” ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said in a press release. “These Top Lenders have combined ingenuity with the hallmarks that make community banking so special. They should take pride in this recognition, knowing that their work makes a positive impact in helping their communities flourish.”

The July issue of Independent Banker features how these top agriculture, commercial, and consumer and mortgage loan producers are navigating the evolving economic environment while meeting the needs of their customers.

To stay ahead of the game, community banks across all three categories adopted various strategies, including embracing digital transformation, developing new products and services, and investing in cutting-edge technologies.

"We're thrilled that our commitment to the customers and communities we serve has been recognized by ICBA Independent Banker," Brian Ruisinger, Republic Bank of Arizona president and CEO, said in the release. "As the only Arizona bank recognized by the ICBA, we're proud to make a difference in the local commercial industry and look forward to
exceeding expectations for our customers.”

Using FDIC data for 2022, Independent Banker calculated a lender score out of 100 for each community bank.

The score combines the average of the bank's percentile rank for lending concentration and for loan growth in each lending category over the past year. Independent Banker then adjusted each score for loan charge-offs in each category at certain percentile thresholds.