Banker says he was fired for exec pay stand

A banker has sued Citizens Republic Bancorp, saying he was fired for questioning a $7.5 million bonus for the company’s chief executive on the eve of a federal bailout payment.

John D. Schwab filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Genesee County Circuit Court in Flint.

Schwab says then-chief executive William R. Hartman fired him as executive vice president in January after Schwab opposed a four-year contract for Hartman with a $7.5 million bonus.

The suit says Hartman sought the deal in anticipation of the Michigan bank getting $300 million in federal aid.

Bank spokesman Brian J. Smith says the Flint-based bank follows all federal executive pay guidelines and has “strong policies and practices to protect” its employees.