<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000940397-03-000208
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031212
<FILING-DATE>20031231
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>REPUBLIC BANCORP INC /KY/
<CIK>0000921557
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6022
<IRS-NUMBER>610862051
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>KY
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>REPUBLIC CORPORATE CENTER
<STREET2>601 WEST MARKET ST
<CITY>LOUISVILLE
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>40202
<PHONE>5025843600
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>TRAGER BERNARD M
<CIK>0001078406
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-24649
<FILM-NUMBER>031079850
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>601 WEST MARKET STREET
<CITY>LOUISVILLE
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>40202
<PHONE>5025843600
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>repbtrag121203f4_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-12-12</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000921557</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>REPUBLIC BANCORP INC /KY/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RBCAA</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001078406</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TRAGER BERNARD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>601 WEST MARKET STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOUISVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>40202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>Chairman</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1243.74</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>322823.294</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By Jaytee Properties Limited Partnership</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>2050</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>444959</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>35762</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>409197</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>5000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By 401(k) Plan</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>11898.72</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>3088434.51</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By Teebank Family Limited Partnership</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>207864.281</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By ESOP</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>264.62</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
            <footnoteId id="F7"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>264.62</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>68685.567</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>By Jaytee Properties Limited Partnership</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
            <footnoteId id="F7"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>0</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>117454</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>By Spouse</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
            <footnoteId id="F7"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>0</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>1000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>By 401(k) Plan</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
            <footnoteId id="F7"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>0</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>543726</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1539.80</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
            <footnoteId id="F7"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1539.8</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>399673.05</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>By Teebank Family Limited Partnership</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Jaytee Properties Limited Partnership is a family limited partnership of which the reporting person is a general partner and a limited partner and of which the reporting person's wife is a limited partner.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> Teebank Family Limited Partnership is a family limited partnership of which the reporting person is a general partner and a limited partner and of which the reporting person's wife is a limited partner.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F3"> Includes 205,651.8368 unallocated shares of Class A Common Stock  held by the ESOP, of which the reporting person serves as a member of the Administrative Committee, and 1,167.4212 shares of Class A Common Stock allocated under the ESOP to the reporting person's adult son.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities.  Also includes 1,045.023 shares of Class A Common Stock allocated to the reporting person under the ESOP.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F4"> Gifts reported herein consisted of units representing an interest in the partnership's assets.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F5"> Conversion is on a share for share basis.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F6"> Immediate</footnote>

      <footnote id="F7"> None</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Bernard M. Trager</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-31</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
