<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Republic
Bancorp Inc.'s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1998 and its
consolidated statement of income for the year then ended, as well as financial
schedules and other required disclosures and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Company's 1998 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          17,627
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          14,106
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     47,269
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      1,973,657
<ALLOWANCE>                                     10,451
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,195,612
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,378,691
<SHORT-TERM>                                    53,500
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            565,504
<LONG-TERM>                                     47,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       118,766
<OTHER-SE>                                      31,651
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,195,612
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                141,537
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                4,109
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   359
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               146,005
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              59,095
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              86,364
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           59,641
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    4,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               (305)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                157,466
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 35,616
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      22,890
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    22,890
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .97
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .96
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.24
<LOANS-NON>                                     12,112
<LOANS-PAST>                                        74
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  5,131
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 7,334
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,118
<RECOVERIES>                                       235
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               10,451
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            10,451
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          3,072