Citizens Republic Announces Departure of Grunst, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer

Citizens Republic Announces Departure of Grunst, Treasurer and Principal
Accounting Officer
Boike Appointed as Treasurer; Czopek Designated as Principal Accounting
Officer

FLINT, Mich., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Citizens Republic Bancorp
(Nasdaq: CRBC) announced today that Martin E. Grunst, senior vice president,
treasurer and principal accounting officer, will be leaving effective October
16, 2009 to accept a similar position with a regional financial services
company based in the Southwestern United States. Grunst joined Citizens
Republic in July 2003.

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Citizens also announced today the appointment of Brian D. J. Boike to
treasurer and the designation of Joseph C. Czopek to principal accounting
officer effective October 16, 2009. Boike will have responsibility for all
treasury activities, including management of the company's balance sheet,
capital, funding and liquidity. In addition to his responsibilities as
corporate controller, Czopek will lead the daily activities of SEC reporting
and SOX compliance for the company. Boike and Czopek will report to Charles
Christy, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

"We wish Marty well in his new endeavor," said Cathleen Nash, president and
chief executive officer for Citizens Republic Bancorp. "During his tenure
with Citizens, Marty built a strong treasury department and was instrumental
in helping the company strengthen its capital and liquidity position over the
past two years."

"We are pleased to have the internal talent to fill the roles that Marty will
vacate," continued Nash. "Having served as the asset/liability manager for
Citizens for four years, Brian is well qualified to lead our treasury
activities. Joe's depth of experience in corporate accounting and financial
reporting make him a natural fit as principal accounting officer."

About Boike
Boike joined Citizens in 2004 as a treasury analyst. He became the
asset/liability manager in 2005. Prior to joining Citizens, Boike completed
coursework and field exams for the Doctoral Program in Economics at Boston
University in Boston, Massachusetts. He earned a Master of Arts in Political
Economy from Boston University in May 2003, and he received a Bachelor of Arts
in Economics from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan in May
1998. Boike became a Chartered Financial Analyst in 2007.

About Czopek
Czopek joined Citizens in March 2009 as assistant controller, and was named
corporate controller in July. Previously, he was chief financial officer at
Ace Holding Company and Ace Mortgage Funding in Indianapolis, Indiana. In
addition, Czopek held financial positions with Oak Street Mortgage, Bank One
Corporation, Bank One Leasing Corp, Household International and Subsidiaries,
and KPMG Peat Marwick. Czopek earned a Master of Management degree from J.L.
Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University in 1992. He
received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 1979 from DePaul
University. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Corporate Profile
Citizens Republic Bancorp (Nasdaq: CRBC) is a diversified financial services
company providing a wide range of commercial, consumer, mortgage banking,
trust and financial planning services to a broad client base. Citizens
Republic serves communities in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio as Citizens Bank
and in Iowa as F&M Bank, with 231 offices and 267 ATMs. Citizens Republic
Bancorp is the largest bank holding company headquartered in Michigan with
roots dating back to 1871. Citizens Republic is the 42nd largest bank holding
company headquartered in the United States with $12.3 billion in assets. More
information about Citizens Republic Bancorp is available at
www.citizensbanking.com.

SOURCE Citizens Republic Bancorp, Inc.

Investors, Charles D. Christy, EVP & Chief Financial Officer, +1-810-237-4200,
Charlie.Christy@citizensbanking.com, or Kristine D. Brenner, Director of
Investor Relations, +1-810-257-2506, Kristine.Brenner@citizensbanking.com,
Media, Brian Smith, Public Relations, +1-810-237-3695,
Brian.Smith@citizensbanking.com