<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001415889-22-007891.txt : 20220722
<SEC-HEADER>0001415889-22-007891.hdr.sgml : 20220722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20220722131111
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001415889-22-007891
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20220720
FILED AS OF DATE:		20220722
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20220722

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TAMME STOUT SUE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001242469

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24649
		FILM NUMBER:		221099450

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		601 W MARKET ST
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40202

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			REPUBLIC BANCORP INC /KY/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000921557
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				610862051
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			KY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		REPUBLIC CORPORATE CENTER
		STREET 2:		601 WEST MARKET ST
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5025843600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		601 W MARKET ST
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4-07222022_100702.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2022-07-20</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000921557</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>REPUBLIC BANCORP INC /KY/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RBCAA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001242469</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TAMME STOUT SUE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>601 W MARKET ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOUISVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>40202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>false</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2022-07-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>207.254</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21430.448</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">During 2021 and 2022, the Issuer inadvertently failed to pay the Reporting Person certain fees in connection with the Reporting Person's Board committee service. For both years, the Reporting Person had timely elected to defer these fees in accordance with the Issuer's Non-Employee Director and Key Employee Deferred Compensation Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;).  Under the Plan, on a quarterly basis, amounts credited to the Reporting Person's deferred compensation account are to be converted into whole stock units (&quot;Stock Units&quot;) equivalent in value to shares of Issuer Class A common stock at the closing price on the last day of the quarter.  Thereafter, dividends on Stock Units are paid to the Reporting Person in additional Stock Units in accordance with the Issuer's dividend reinvestment plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On July 20, 2022, the Issuer's Board of Directors approved a corrective payment to compensate the Reporting Person for the unpaid fees through a grant of that number of Stock Units that the Reporting Person would have received had the fees been converted to Stock Units under the Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects additional dividend equivalent rights acquired since the date of the Reporting Person's last ownership report.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kevin Sipes, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-07-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
