In 2016, my wife and I had the opportunity to refinance more than $350,000 in graduate student loans through First Republic Bank. The day we locked in a 15-year note at an astonishingly low rate of 2.95% will be forever ingrained in our lives. The refi underscored a financial turning point for our family, coinciding with the arrival of our first daughter. It was a game-changing moment that would not only save us tens of thousands of dollars in interest, but also provided us greater financial stability when we needed it most. As a result, First Republic will have a special place in my heart, and I am truly sad to see it suffer the same fate as Silicon Valley and Signature Banks…
