Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Oct. 31, 2016
Entity Registrant Name	REPUBLIC BANCORP INC /KY/
Entity Central Index Key	0000921557
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Class A Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		18,616,873
Class B Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,245,174