PARENT COMPANY CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION - CASH FLOWS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Net income	$ 7,418	$ 5,640	$ 8,320	$ 13,788	$ 5,235	$ 5,246	$ 6,322	$ 11,984	$ 1,345	$ 4,603	$ 6,119	$ 13,356	$ 35,166	$ 28,787	$ 25,423
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Accretion of Investment security													729	424	394
Director deferred compensation - Parent Company													223	187	193
Other assets													(2,785)	(2,145)	488
Change in other liabilities													5,473	(2,570)	(12,278)
Net cash provided by operating activities													50,046	26,705	22,257
Investing activities:
Purchases of securities available for sale													(1,512,809)	(876,854)	(194,527)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities													(358,208)	(470,894)	43,552
Financing activities:
Common Stock repurchases													(551)	(347)	(4,095)
Net proceeds from Common Stock options exercised													1,136	1,103	467
Cash dividends paid													(15,839)	(14,930)	(14,009)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities													445,366	346,204	(32,637)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS													137,204	(97,985)	33,172
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR				72,878				170,863				137,691	72,878	170,863	137,691
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR	210,082				72,878				170,863				210,082	72,878	170,863
Republic Bancorp, Inc.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Net income													35,166	28,787	25,423
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Accretion of Investment security													(4)
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries													(19,512)	(13,995)	(10,931)
Director deferred compensation - Parent Company													108	98	99
Other assets													1,853	3,834	(7,895)
Change in other liabilities													201	(1,500)	2,086
Net cash provided by operating activities													17,812	17,224	8,782
Investing activities:
Investment in Republic Insurance Services, Inc.														(246)
Purchases of securities available for sale													(3,401)
Redemption of Republic Investment Company common stock															23,621
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities													(3,401)	(246)	23,621
Financing activities:
Common Stock repurchases													(551)	(347)	(4,095)
Net proceeds from Common Stock options exercised													1,136	1,103	467
Cash dividends paid													(15,839)	(14,930)	(14,009)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities													(15,254)	(14,174)	(17,637)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS													(843)	2,804	14,766
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR				$ 133,554				$ 130,750				$ 115,984	133,554	130,750	115,984
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR	$ 132,711				$ 133,554				$ 130,750				$ 132,711	$ 133,554	$ 130,750