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                                                                    Exhibit 4(k)


                    AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES

         AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES (this "Agreement") dated as of
____________ ______, 2001 between REPUBLIC BANCORP INC., a Michigan corporation
(the "Company"), and REPUBLIC CAPITAL TRUST I, a Delaware business trust (the
"Trust").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, the Trust intends to issue its common securities (the "Common
Securities") to, and receive ___% Subordinated Debentures (the "Debentures")
from, the Company and to issue and sell up to 1,840,000 ___% Cumulative Trust
Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") with such powers, preferences
and special rights and restrictions as are set forth in the Amended and Restated
Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of ___________ _______, 2001, as the same
may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement");

         WHEREAS, the Company shall directly or indirectly own all of the Common
Securities of the Trust and shall issue the Debentures;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each holder of the
Preferred Securities, which purchase the Company hereby agrees shall benefit the
Company and which purchase the Company acknowledges shall be made in reliance
upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company, including in its
capacity as holder of the Common Securities, and the Trust hereby agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

         Section 1.1. Guarantee by the Company.

         Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company, including in
its capacity as holder of the Common Securities, hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantees to each person or entity to whom the Trust is now or
hereafter becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries") the full payment when
and as due, of any and all Obligations (as hereinafter defined) to such
Beneficiaries. As used herein, "Obligations" means any costs, expenses or
liabilities of the Trust other than obligations of the Trust to pay to the
holders of any Preferred Securities or other similar interests in the Trust the
amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or
such other similar interests, as the case may be. This Agreement is intended to
be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether
or not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof.

         Section 1.2. Term of Agreement.

         This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect
upon the later of (a) the date on which full payment has been made of all
amounts payable to all holders of all the Preferred Securities (whether upon
redemption, liquidation, exchange or otherwise); and (b) the date on which there
are no Beneficiaries remaining; provided, however, that this Agreement shall
                                --------  -------
continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time any holder of the Preferred Securities or any Beneficiary must restore
payment of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities, under any obligation
under the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement dated the date hereof by the
Company and Wilmington Trust Company as guarantee trustee, or under this
Agreement for any reason whatsoever. This Agreement is continuing, irrevocable,
unconditional and absolute.

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         Section 1.3. Waiver of Notice.

         The Company hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Agreement and of
any obligation to which it applies or may apply, and the Company hereby waives
presentment, demand for payment, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of
dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.

         Section 1.4. No Impairment.

         The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Company under
this Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the
happening from time to time of any of the following:

                  (a) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all
or any portion of the Obligations or for the performance of any other obligation
under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Obligations;

                  (b) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the
part of the Beneficiaries to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege,
power or remedy conferred on the Beneficiaries with respect to the Obligations
or any action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any
kind; or

                  (c) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment
of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of the
assets of the Trust.

         There shall be no obligation of the Beneficiaries to give notice to, or
obtain the consent of, the Company with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.

         Section 1.5. Enforcement.

         A Beneficiary may enforce this Agreement directly against the Company,
and the Company waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought
against the Trust or any other person or entity before proceeding against the
Company.

                                   ARTICLE II

         Section 2.1. Binding Effect.

         All guarantees and agreements contained in this Agreement shall bind
the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Company
and shall inure to the benefit of the Beneficiaries.

         Section 2.2. Amendment.

         So long as there remains any Beneficiary or any Preferred Securities of
any series are outstanding, this Agreement shall not be modified or amended in
any manner adverse to such Beneficiary or to the holders of the Preferred
Securities.

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         Section 2.3. Notices.

         Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be
given hereunder shall be given in writing by delivering the same by facsimile
transmission (confirmed by mail), telex, or by registered or certified mail,
addressed as follows (and if so given, shall be deemed given when mailed or upon
receipt of an answer back, if sent by telex):

         Republic Capital Trust I c/o Republic Bancorp Inc., 1070 East Main
Street, Owosso, Michigan 48867. Facsimile No.: (989) 723-8762. Attention: Chief
Financial Officer.

         Republic Bancorp Inc., 1070 East Main Street, Owosso, Michigan 48867.
Facsimile No.: (989) 723-8762. Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

         Section 2.4. Governing Law.

         This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan (without regard to conflict of
laws principles).


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         THIS AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                     REPUBLIC BANCORP INC.



                                     By: _______________________________________
                                         Dana M. Cluckey
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer


                                     REPUBLIC CAPITAL TRUST I



                                     By: _______________________________________
                                         Name:  _______________________
                                         Title: Administrative Trustee

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