<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001647430</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000921557</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>REPUBLIC BANCORP INC /KY/</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>000-24649</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>REPUBLIC CORPORATE CENTER</com:street1>
        <com:street2>601 WEST MARKET ST</com:street2>
        <com:city>LOUISVILLE</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>KY</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>40202</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>5025843600</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Montano Juan</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>RAYMOND JAMES &amp; ASSOCIATES</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>880 CARILLON PARKWAY</com:street1>
          <com:city>ST. PETERSBURG</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33716</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>5500</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>252340.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>17221953</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>11/13/2023</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/01/2019</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>PSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1286</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/01/2019</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>04/29/2019</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>OPTION</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>912</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>04/29/2019</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>06/12/2019</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>GRANT</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>920</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>06/12/2019</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>06/12/2019</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>OPTION</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>797</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>06/12/2019</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/09/2019</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>10 YEARS OF SERVICE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/09/2019</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>06/07/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>OPTION</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>789</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>06/07/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/02/2020</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>PSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>794</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/02/2020</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>11/14/2023</noticeDate>
      <signature>Melissa Fisher, as duly authorized representative of Raymond James &amp; Associates, Inc., as attorney-in-fact for Juan Montano</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
