<?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>0001811077</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>502-584-3600</issuerContactPhone>
			<nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>David P Feaster</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>

			<relationshipsToIssuer>
                                				    <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>

			</relationshipsToIssuer>
		</issuerInfo>

				          <securitiesInformation>
			<securitiesClassTitle>Class A Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
			<brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
				<name>RBC Wealth Management</name>
				<address>
				<com:street1>250 Nicollet Mall</com:street1>
                				<com:street2>Suite 1700</com:street2>
                				<com:city>Minneapolis</com:city>
				<com:stateOrCountry>MN</com:stateOrCountry>
				<com:zipCode>55401</com:zipCode>
				</address>
			</brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
			<noOfUnitsSold>1406</noOfUnitsSold>
			<aggregateMarketValue>93393.00</aggregateMarketValue>
			<noOfUnitsOutstanding>17293183</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
			<approxSaleDate>01/29/2025</approxSaleDate>
			<securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
		</securitiesInformation>

    		       <securitiesToBeSold>
         <securitiesClassTitle>Class A Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
         <acquiredDate>01/17/2025</acquiredDate>
         <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Director Compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
                  <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
                  <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
		          <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1406</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
                  <paymentDate>01/17/2025</paymentDate>
                  <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>

    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>



        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>01/29/2025</noticeDate>
                        <signature>  /s/ Kevin Sipes, Attorney-in-Fact</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
	</formData>
    </edgarSubmission>
