Ryan & Maniskas, LLP (www.rmclasslaw.com/cases/crbc) is investigating potential claims against the board of directors of Citizens Republic Bancorp, Inc. ("Citizens Republic" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: CRBC) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law related to the Company's efforts to sell the Company to FirstMerit Corporation in a deal valued at approximately $912 million.

Our investigation concerns possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law related to the approval of the transaction by the Company's board of directors; in particular, whether the Company undertook a fair process to obtain fair consideration for all shareholders of Citizens Republic. For more information regarding our investigation, please contact Ryan & Maniskas, LLP (Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire) toll-free at (877) 316-3218 or by email at rmaniskas@rmclasslaw.com or visit: www.rmclasslaw.com/cases/crbc.

Under the terms of the proposed transaction, Citizens Republic shareholders will receive 1.37 shares of FirstMerit common stock for each share of Citizens Republic common stock they own.

If you own shares of Citizens Republic and would like to learn more about these claims or if you wish to discuss these matters and have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights, contact Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire toll-free at (877) 316-3218 or to sign up online, visit: www.rmclasslaw.com/cases/crbc. You may also email Mr. Maniskas at rmaniskas@rmclasslaw.com. For more information about class action cases in general, please visit our website: www.rmclasslaw.com.

Ryan & Maniskas, LLP is a national shareholder litigation firm. Ryan & Maniskas, LLP is devoted to protecting the interests of individual and institutional investors in shareholder actions in state and federal courts nationwide.

Ryan & Maniskas, LLP
Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire
877-316-3218
www.rmclasslaw.com/cases/crbc
rmaniskas@rmclasslaw.com