SBC Communications Announces Voice and Data Networking Services Contract with Republic Bancorp Inc

Business Wire, March 9, 2005

SAN ANTONIO -- SBC Companies to Deliver Multiple Services to Large Midwest Banking Company

SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) today announced a new three-year contract with Michigan-based Republic Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:RBNC), one of the state's largest banking companies with customers located throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.

In addition to local, long distance and toll-free conferencing services, SBC companies will provide Republic Bancorp with SBC PremierSERV(SM) Dedicated Internet Access (DIA), SBC PremierSERV(SM) Frame Relay, SBC PremierSERV(SM) Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), and Synchronous Optical Network service (SONET) Services.

Together, these services will connect the bank's 94 retail, commercial, and mortgage banking locations as well as 89 of its ATM locations and will help Republic Bancorp improve vendor relations as well as enhance overall business communications across the company. In addition, the new network will allow Republic Bancorp to utilize disaster recovery components and will enable Internet access.

"We look forward to completely redesigning our network," said Greg Bixby, CIO, Republic Bancorp. "We're excited about the expanded capabilities which will allow greater flexibility, improved communications, and the scalability we require to assist with future expansion."

"We are pleased that Republic Bancorp has decided to consolidate its voice and data services with SBC companies," said Bob Ferguson, group president & CEO, SBC Enterprise Business Services. "We look forward to helping Republic Bancorp enhance its communications capabilities today and in the future."

About Republic Bancorp Inc.

Republic Bancorp Inc., with $5.8 billion in assets, is a regional bank holding company specializing in Distinctive Personal Service and commercial, consumer, and mortgage lending. Republic is the third largest bank holding company headquartered in Michigan and the 79th largest bank holding company in the country. Its subsidiary, Republic Bank, serves customers in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana with 94 retail, commercial, and mortgage banking offices and 89 ATMs.

About SBC

SBC Communications Inc. is a Fortune 50 company whose subsidiaries, operating under the SBC brand, provide a full range of voice, data, networking, e-business, directory publishing and advertising, and related services to businesses, consumers and other telecommunications providers. SBC holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which serves 49.1 million wireless customers. SBC companies provide high-speed DSL Internet access lines to more American consumers than any other provider and are among the nation's leading providers of Internet services. SBC companies also now offer satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC products and services is available at www.sbc.com.

Long distance, InterLATA SBC PremierSERV(SM)Frame Relay, and InterLATA SBC PremierSERV(SM)ATM services are provided by SBC Long Distance, Inc. SBC PremierSERV(SM) Dedicated Internet Access service is provided by SBC Internet Services, Inc. Local and SONET services are provided by SBC local exchange telephone companies, based upon the service address.

SBC, the SBC logo and other product and service names are trademarks of SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (C) 2005 SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P. All rights reserved.