EXHIBIT 32(a)

   CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                 (SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002)

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, the undersigned officer of Republic Bancorp
Inc. (the "Company") hereby certifies, to such officer's knowledge, that the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (the
"Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as
applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information
contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial
condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated: March 12, 2004                    /s/ Dana M. Cluckey
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         Name: Dana M. Cluckey
                                         Title: President and Chief Executive
                                                Officer

The foregoing certification (i) accompanies the filing and is being furnished
solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, (ii) will not be deemed "filed" for
purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise
subject to the liability of that section, and (iii) will not be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or
the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically
incorporates it by reference.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement
required by Section 906, has been provided to Republic Bancorp Inc. and will be
retained by Republic Bancorp Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange
Commission or its staff upon request.