Valley Republic Bancorp, the parent company of Valley Republic Bank announced that Geraud Smith, President and CEO of the Company and the Bank, has been appointed as a director of the Company and the Bank, effective March 20, 2019. Smith was named President and CEO of both the Company and the Bank, effective March 1, 2019, to replace Bruce Jay, the lead organizer, President and CEO since the inception of the Bank in 2009. Jay is retiring on March 31, 2019, but will remain a director of both the Company and the Bank. Smith was hired in July, 2018 as Senior Executive Vice President, as part of the Company's succession plan. Most recently, he was the regional manager for the Middle Market Banking group with coverage over the South San Joaquin Valley and parts of the Central Coast and Southern California.