In Brief: Republic of Fla. Taking Over Dime Outpost

Republic Bancshares of St. Petersburg, Fla., announced Wednesday that it will buy the only Florida branch of Dime Savings Bank of New York.

The deal calls for Republic to pay an undisclosed cash sum for the real estate and $202.9 million of deposits of Dime's Deerfield Beach, Fla., office. Dime Savings will retain the loans generated at the branch.

John W. Sapanski, chairman and chief executive officer of $1.6 billion- asset Republic, said the Dime branch would help build his bank's new south Florida franchise. Republic also has deals pending to buy Bankers Savings Bank, Coral Gables, as well as three south Florida branches of NationsBank Corp.

"Having a presence in Broward County will be a nice complement to our proposed expansion in south Florida," he said. "We feel our wide array of products and services will enable Republic to compete very effectively in this highly desirable market."

Mr. Sapanski served as president and chief operating officer of Dime from 1981 to 1987, part of a 38-year career there.

"When I left the Dime, I did not expect to again be in a position to serve Dime customers," he said. "But life is full of surprises."

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