If you’ve driven down William Dalton Drive lately looking for that familiar red Republic Bank sign, you might’ve done a double-take. It's gone. Basically, the Republic Bank Glassboro New Jersey location—the one right there in the heart of the retail hub—isn't Republic Bank anymore.
It’s Fulton Bank now.
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This wasn't just some casual rebrand or a simple "under new management" situation. It was actually part of the first major bank failure of 2024. On April 26, 2024, regulators stepped in and closed the doors on Republic First Bank (which did business simply as Republic Bank). By the next morning, Fulton Bank had officially taken over the assets and the keys to the Glassboro branch.
Honestly, it’s a lot to process if you’ve been banking there for years. You’re likely wondering if your money is safe, if your checks still work, or if you need to go out and get a whole new debit card today.
What Actually Happened to Republic Bank in Glassboro?
Banks don't just vanish for no reason. For Republic Bank, the trouble was a messy cocktail of rising interest rates, a heavy focus on commercial real estate that wasn't performing well after the pandemic, and some pretty intense internal fighting among the people running the show.
By early 2024, the bank's market value had cratered. They tried to find investors to save them—including a group led by George Norcross—but the deal fell apart in February. That was the final straw. The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities officially seized the bank, and the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) was named the receiver.
In Glassboro, this meant the branch at 100 William Dalton Drive was suddenly part of the Fulton Bank family.
It’s kind of wild how fast it happens. One day you’re a customer of a Philadelphia-based "powerhouse," and the next, you’re banking with a company headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Is Your Money Still There?
The short answer: Yes.
When Fulton Bank stepped in, they assumed all the deposits. Your account didn't disappear; it just changed hands. Because the FDIC facilitated the transition, every penny of your deposit was protected. There was no "run on the bank" because the transition happened over a weekend.
The Glassboro Branch: Life After Republic
For most locals, the Glassboro location was known for those "Fanatic Customer Service" vibes and being open seven days a week. Republic really leaned into that retail model. They wanted to feel more like a store than a stuffy vault.
Fulton Bank operates a bit differently, but they’ve kept the Glassboro branch open because it’s a high-traffic spot near Rowan University.
What stays the same:
- The Location: 100 William Dalton Drive, Glassboro, NJ 08028.
- The Staff: Many of the familiar faces from the Republic days were kept on to help with the transition, though there were some corporate-level layoffs later in the year.
- Your Account Number: For the most part, routing and account numbers stayed active during the initial phase to prevent your bills from bouncing.
What’s definitely different:
The hours. Republic was famous for being open on Sundays and late on Friday nights. Fulton Bank follows a more traditional banking schedule. If you’re used to swinging by the drive-thru on a Sunday afternoon, you’ll likely find the lights off now.
You’ve also probably noticed the signage. The bright "R" logo has been stripped away, replaced by Fulton’s more understated blue and white branding. It marks the end of an era for a bank that once tried to dominate the South Jersey and Philly suburbs.
Dealing with the Redlining Controversy
It wasn't all just "bad luck" with interest rates. After Republic Bank failed, a report from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office dropped some pretty heavy news. An investigation found that Republic had been "redlining"—essentially avoiding lending to Black, Hispanic, and Asian communities in New Jersey for years.
The state found that Republic’s peer banks were lending to Black borrowers at 1.5 times the rate Republic was. For Hispanic borrowers, the gap was even wider.
While the bank is gone, the legal fallout isn't. The State of New Jersey actually filed a claim with the FDIC to get money back for people who were harmed by these practices between 2018 and 2022. If you feel like you were unfairly denied a mortgage or loan at the Glassboro branch during those years, this is something you should definitely keep an eye on.
Navigating the Switch to Fulton Bank
If you were a Republic Bank customer in Glassboro and you haven't really engaged with the new system yet, you're probably getting a lot of mail.
Don't toss it.
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Fulton Bank has been migrating accounts into their own digital systems. This means your old Republic Bank login for mobile banking eventually stops working. You have to register through the Fulton Bank portal.
A few practical tips for the transition:
- Check your Debit Card: Eventually, your Republic-branded card will expire or be deactivated. Fulton should have mailed you a replacement. If you haven't seen it, call their customer service or stop by the Dalton Drive branch.
- Update Your Direct Deposits: While the old routing numbers often work for a "grace period," it’s much safer to update your employer and any automated bill pay services with the new Fulton Bank routing info.
- Review Your Fees: Different banks have different "free" checking requirements. Make sure your balance still meets the threshold to avoid those annoying monthly maintenance fees that sometimes sneak in during a merger.
The Future of Banking in Glassboro
Glassboro is growing fast. With the expansion of Rowan University and the new Inspira hospital nearby, the demand for local banking hasn't slowed down just because one bank failed.
The 100 William Dalton Drive location remains a prime piece of real estate. While Republic Bank is a piece of South Jersey history now, the physical branch continues to serve the community under the Fulton banner.
If you’re looking for alternatives in the immediate 08028 area, you’ve still got:
- Citizens Bank on North Delsea Drive.
- TD Bank nearby.
- First Harvest Federal Credit Union (formerly South Jersey Federal Credit Union), which is a popular local choice for those who prefer the credit union model.
The collapse of Republic Bank was a wake-up call for a lot of people in Gloucester County. It’s a reminder that even the "big" local names aren't invincible. But for the average person just trying to deposit a paycheck or get a car loan, the transition to Fulton Bank has been designed to be as boring as possible—and in banking, boring is usually a good thing.
Immediate Steps for Former Republic Customers:
- Log in to the Fulton Bank online portal to ensure your contact information is current.
- Verify that any scheduled transfers or mortgage payments are still processing correctly.
- Stop by the Glassboro branch to pick up a new fee schedule so you aren't surprised by the change in "convenience" costs compared to the old Republic model.