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Team Meeting

Meet the Team

Diverse in skills and united in purpose, our team brings together a wealth of experience across various disciplines. From banking and finance to technology and customer service, each member contributes to the dynamic and collaborative environment that defines New Republic Bank.

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Ralph N. Strayhorn

Vice Chairman

Ralph Strayhorn is the vice chairman and president at NRPI. He leads the firm’s growth strategies in markets throughout the United States, with a focus on southeastern states.

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Ajitkumar "Adam" Patel

Chairman of the Board

Ajitkumar (Adam) Patel, is the Chairman of the Board of New Republic Bank since the 2025 merger of New Republic Partners, Inc.—the holding company of New Republic Bank—with American Bancorp, Inc.  

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Dominik Mjartan

President & CEO

Dominik Mjartan is President and CEO of American Bancorp Inc., American Pride Bank, and New Republic Bank.

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Tanji L. Bradley

Credit Underwriter

Tanji L. Bradley is a credit underwriter at New Republic Bank. She is responsible for underwriting new loans and reviewing and renewing existing loans.

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Joni B. Childers

Commercial Loan Closer, Processor and Servicer

Joni has been with New Republic Bank for over 20 years and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. 

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Natalie Davis

Senior Vice President and Deposit Operations Manager

With over a decade of experience in bank operations, systems administration, operations risk management, and regulatory compliance, Natalie has a proven track record of effective leadership.

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Judi Exline-Porch

Accounting Clerk

Judi Exline-Porch serves as an Accounting Clerk at New Republic Bank, contributing to accounts payables, balancing, and other initiatives within the accounting department.

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Jason W. Grooters

Chief Financial Officer

With expertise in finance, accounting, operations, and multi-family office administration, Jason is a key member of the firm’s strategic planning team.

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Rachel B. Hargrave

Deposit Specialist

Rachel Hargrave is a deposit specialist at New Republic Bank. She is responsible for processing wire transfers and conducts Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) monitoring and reporting. 

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Janet Helms

Regional Senior Credit Officer, Loan Operations Manager

Janet Helms is the Regional Senior Credit Officer and Loan Operations Manager at New Republic Bank, where she leads the Credit, Underwriting and Loan Operations Teams. 

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Lauren Jones

Assistant Vice President, Deposit Operations Team Lead

Lauren Jones holds the position of assistant vice president and serves as the deposit operations team lead at New Republic Bank.

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Ian Lay

Accounting Manager

Ian Lay is an Accounting Manager at New Republic Bank.  In this role he is involved in both accounting and finance initiatives.

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Laura I. Marshall

Vice President, Assistant Secretary

Laura Marshall holds the positions of vice president and assistant secretary at New Republic Bank, leveraging over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. 

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Kristie McMahan

Chief Credit Officer

Kristie McMahan brings nearly 25 years of diverse banking experience to her role as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer.

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Jacqueline L. Santella

Assistant Vice President, Senior Commercial Loan Closer

Jackie Santella, Senior Commercial Loan Closer at New Republic Bank, handles due diligence and documentation for business and commercial loans.

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Jeffery W. Smith

Senior Vice President

Jeff Smith, Senior Commercial Relationship Manager and Lender at New Republic Bank oversees the legacy loan portfolio and collaborates with all lenders.

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Renee Smith

Mortgage Loan Servicer

Renee Smith, Mortgage Loan Servicer at New Republic Bank, collaborates with consumer and business clients, managing the existing portfolio and service-only loans.

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Holly N. Wilson

Executive Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer

Holly Wilson holds the dual roles of executive vice president and chief compliance officer for New Republic Bank. In her capacity, she oversees regulatory compliance, external audits, and compliance reporting to the board of directors.

Phone:

888.619.6389

Personalized finance, limitless possibilities.

Loan and deposit products offered by New Republic Bank.  Equal Housing Lender  Member FDIC. Investment advisory services offered by New Republic Capital. Not FDIC insured. No bank guarantee. May lose value.

© 2026 by New Republic Bank.

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