REPUBLIC BANCORP INC /KY/
10-Q, 1998-08-14
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

             X  Quarterly  report  pursuant  to  Section  13  or  15(d)  of  the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 1998

                                       OR

 Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
 Act of 1934

                         Commission File Number 0-24649

                             REPUBLIC BANCORP, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Kentucky                                      61-0862051
 State of other jurisdiction or             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

  601 West Market Street, Louisville, Kentucky                          40202
   (Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (502) 584-3600

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  and  Exchange Act of 1934
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter  period that the  registrant
was  required  to file such  reports),  and (2) has been  subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                    X Yes   No

The number of shares outstanding of the issuer's class of common stock as of the
latest practicable date: 14,621,188 shares of Class A Common Stock and 2,337,948
shares of Class B Common Stock as of August 10, 1998.

The Exhibit index is on page 34. This filing  contains 36 pages  (including this
facing sheet).


<PAGE>


REPUBLIC BANCORP, INC.
FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                              PAGE

Item 1.       Financial Statements                                          3-17
Item 2.       Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                 Condition and Results of Operations                       18-29
Item 3.       Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk      29

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2.       Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds                       30
Item 4.       Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders        30-31
Item 6.       Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                32
              Signatures                                                      33


<PAGE>


PART I

ITEM 1

REPUBLIC BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (dollars in thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                    June 30,        December 31,
                                                                                      1998              1997
<S>                                                                              <C>               <C>
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents:
     Cash and due from banks                                                     $     23,253     $      24,546
     Securities purchased
         under agreements to resell                                                    30,000
                                                                                    ---------         ----------
         Total cash and cash equivalents                                               53,253            24,546

Securities available for sale                                                         161,047            93,826
Securities to be held to maturity                                                      69,099            98,546
Loans, less allowance for loan losses of
     $8,234 (1998) and $8,176 (1997)                                                  828,556           794,939
Mortgage loans held for sale                                                           11,586             9,970
Federal Home Loan Bank stock                                                           10,961             8,124
Accrued interest receivable                                                             9,319             8,803
Premises and equipment, net                                                            13,804            12,774
Other assets                                                                            4,098             3,422
                                                                                    ---------          --------
TOTAL                                                                            $  1,161,723     $   1,054,950
                                                                                    =========         =========

LIABILITIES:
     Deposits:
         Non-interest bearing                                                    $     78,237     $       65,913
         Interest bearing                                                             667,316            665,685
     Securities sold under agreements to repurchase and
         other short-term borrowings                                                  102,497            111,137
     Other borrowed funds                                                             219,020            124,405
     Accrued interest payable                                                           6,764              6,233
     Guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in
       Company's subordinated debentures                                                6,452              6,452
     Other liabilities                                                                  5,695              6,739
                                                                                 ------------      -------------
         Total liabilities                                                          1,085,981            986,564
                                                                                 ------------      -------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
     Class A and Class B Common stock, no par value                                     3,615              3,613
     Additional paid-in capital                                                        10,890             10,833
     Retained earnings                                                                 61,310             53,994
     Net unrealized depreciation on securities available
       for sale, net of tax                                                               (73)               (54)
                                                                                 -------------     -------------
         Total stockholders' equity                                                    75,742             68,386
                                                                                 ------------      -------------
TOTAL                                                                            $  1,161,723      $   1,054,950
                                                                                 ============      =============
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

REPUBLIC BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except per share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              Three Months Ended             Six Months Ended
                                                                    June 30,                       June 30,

                                                               1998            1997           1998           1997
<S>                                                        <C>             <C>           <C>             <C>
INTEREST INCOME:
     Loans, including fees                                 $   19,097      $  19,557     $   38,220      $  38,372
     Securities available for sale                              2,086          1,441          3,811          2,904
     Securities to be held to maturity:
         Taxable                                                1,153          1,955          2,520          3,933
         Non-taxable                                               28             32             56             63
     FHLB dividends                                               196            117            384            227
     Other                                                        469            140            823            353
                                                            ---------       --------      ---------       --------
         Total interest income                                 23,029         23,242         45,814         45,852
                                                            ---------       --------      ---------       --------

INTEREST EXPENSE:
     Deposits                                                   8,821         10,148         17,353         19,812
     Short-term borrowings                                      1,167          1,098          2,383          2,340
     Long-term debt                                             2,724          1,756          5,391          3,453
                                                           ----------      ----------      ---------      ---------
         Total interest expense                                12,712          13,002        25,127         25,605
                                                           ----------      ----------     ---------      ---------

NET INTEREST INCOME                                            10,317          10,240        20,687         20,247

PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES                                         741           1,416         1,384          2,714
                                                           ----------      ----------     ---------      ---------

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER
  PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES                                     9,576           8,824        19,303         17,533
                                                           ----------      ----------     ---------      ---------
NON-INTEREST INCOME:
     Service charges on deposit accounts                          850            824          1,603          1,601
     Other service charges and fees                               206            170            603            480
     Bank card services                                                           99                           508
     Loan servicing income                                        149            186            315            375
     Net gain on sale of deposits                                                             4,116
     Net gain on sale of bank card                                             3,410                         3,410
     Net gain on sale of loans                                  1,143            263          2,152            544
Net gain on sale of securities                                    167             16            491             16
     Other                                                        558            189            705            319
                                                           ----------      ----------    ----------      ---------
         Total non-interest income                              3,073           5,157         9,985          7,253
                                                           ----------      ----------    ----------      ---------

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE:
     Salaries and employee benefits                             4,539          4,103          8,615          7,791
     Occupancy and equipment                                    1,841          1,962          3,703          3,968
     Communication and transportation                             408            469            834            905
     Marketing and development                                    407            349            712            712
     FDIC deposit insurance                                        50                           134             53
     Supplies                                                     256            265            516            507
     Other                                                      1,094          1,143          2,155          2,350
                                                           ----------      ----------    ----------      ---------
         Total non-interest expense                             8,595          8,291         16,669         16,286
                                                           ----------      ----------    ----------      ---------

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES                                      4,054          5,690         12,619          8,500

INCOME TAXES                                                    1,452          2,034          4,493          2,964
                                                           ----------      ----------    ----------      ---------
NET INCOME                                                 $    2,602      $   3,656     $    8,126      $   5,536
                                                           ==========      =========     ==========      =========
</TABLE>

(Continued)

<PAGE>

REPUBLIC BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (CONTINUED)
SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND 1997 ( in thousands, except per share data)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Three Months Ended             Six Months Ended
                                                                    June 30,                       June 30,
                                                              1998            1997             1998        1997

<S>                                                        <C>             <C>           <C>             <C>
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS),
     NET OF TAX:
     Change in unrealized gain (loss) on securities        $      278      $     564     $      472      $   (100)
     Reclassification of realized amount                         (167)           (16)          (491)          (16)
                                                           ----------      ---------     ----------      --------
     Net unrealized gain (loss) recognized in
         comprehensive income                                     111            548            (19)         (116)
                                                           ----------      ---------     ----------      --------

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME                                       $    2,713      $   4,204     $    8,107      $   5,420
                                                           ==========      =========     ==========      =========


EARNINGS PER SHARE
     Class A                                               $      .17      $     .25     $      .54      $      37
     Class B                                               $      .17      $     .24     $      .54      $     .36


EARNINGS PER SHARE ASSUMING DILUTION
     Class A                                               $      .17      $     .24     $      .52      $     .36
     Class B                                               $      .17      $     .23     $      .52      $     .36

</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE>

REPUBLIC BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except for per share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                        Net Unrealized
                                                                                                         Depreciation
                                                             Common Stock            Additional          on Available     Total
                                                     Class A    Class B                Paid-In   Retained  For Sale    Stockholders'
                                                      Shares     Shares    Amount      Capital   Earnin   Securities      Equity

<S>                                                     <C>      <C>     <C>         <C>       <C>         <C>          <C>
BALANCE, January 1, 1998                                12,531   2,418   $  3,613    $ 10,833  $  53,994   $  (54)      $ 68,386

Exercised options                                           10                  2          57                                 59

Conversion of Class B to Class A                             4      (4)

Dividend Declared
     Common: Class A ($.055 per share)                                                              (690)                   (690)
             Class B ($.05 per share)                                                               (120)                   (120)

Net changes in unrealized depreciation
   on securities available for sale                                                                           (19)           (19)

Net Income                                                                                         8,126                   8,126
                                                       -------   -----   --------    --------   --------   -------       -------
BALANCE, June 30, 1998                                  12,545   2,414   $  3,615    $ 10,890  $  61,310   $  (73)      $ 75,742
                                                       =======   =====   ========    ========   ========   =======       =======
</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

REPUBLIC BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND 1997 (in thousands)
                                                                                      1998              1997
<S>                                                                                 <C>              <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
     Net income                                                                     $   8,126        $   5,536
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
       by (used in) operating activities:
         Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment                        1,674            2,048
         Amortization and accretion of securities                                         127              315
         FHLB stock dividends                                                            (370)            (208)
         Provision for loan losses                                                      1,384            2,714
         Net gain on sale of securities                                                  (491)             (16)
         Net gain on sale of loans                                                     (2,152)            (544)
         Net gain on sale of Bank card                                                                  (3,410)
         Net gain on sale of deposits                                                  (4,116)
         Proceeds from sale of loans                                                  137,905           46,993
         Origination of mortgage loans held for sale                                 (137,369)         (46,015)
         Changes in assets and liabilities:
           Accrued interest receivable                                                   (516)             124
           Other assets                                                                    14           (9,577)
           Accrued interest payable                                                       531            1,589
           Other liabilities                                                           (1,044)           1,644
                                                                                    ---------        ---------
                Net cash provided by operating activities                               3,703            1,193
                                                                                    ---------        ---------

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
     Proceeds from sale of bank card                                                                    25,555
     Purchases of securities available for sale                                      (127,669)          (5,044)
     Purchases of securities to be held to maturity                                                    (11,189)
     Purchases of Federal Home Loan Bank Stock                                         (2,467)          (1,000)
     Proceeds from maturities of securities to be held to maturity                     29,597           66,516
     Proceeds from sales and paydowns of securities available for sale                 60,634            9,140
     Net increase in loans                                                            (35,682)         (62,478)
     Purchases of premises and equipment                                               (4,054)          (2,319)
     Disposal of premises and equipment                                                 1,350              175
                                                                                    ---------        ---------
                Net cash used in investing activities                                 (78,291)          19,356
                                                                                    ----------       ---------

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
     Net increase in deposits                                                          79,635           47,184
     Sale of deposits                                                                 (61,564)
     Net decrease in securities sold under agreement to
         repurchase and other short-term borrowings                                    (8,640)         (95,554)
     Payments on other borrowings                                                     (62,285)        (136,159)
     Proceeds from other borrowings                                                   156,900          139,250
     Proceeds from issuance of guaranteed preferred beneficial
         interests in Company's subordinated debentures                                                  6,452
     Proceeds from stock options exercised                                                 59
     Cash dividends paid                                                                 (810)            (995)
                                                                                    ---------        ----------
                Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities                   103,295          (39,822)
                                                                                    ---------        ----------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                                   28,707          (19,273)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD                                         24,546           56,671
                                                                                    ---------        ---------

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD                                            $  53,253        $  37,398
                                                                                    =========        =========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
     Cash paid during the period for:
         Interest                                                                   $  24,597        $  24,016
                                                                                    =========        =========
         Income taxes                                                               $   6,272       $    1,839
                                                                                    =========        =========
</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE>

REPUBLIC BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

1.  BASIS OF PRESENTATION (AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES)

Basis of  Presentation  - The  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the
accounts of Republic Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly-owned  subsidiaries;  Republic
Mortgage Company,  Republic Insurance Agency,  Inc., Republic Capital Trust, and
Republic Bank & Trust Company (Bank),  collectively "Republic".  All significant
intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying  unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared
in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting   principles  for  interim
financial  information  and with the  instructions  to Form  10-Q and Rule 10 of
Regulation  S-X.  Accordingly,  they do not include all of the  information  and
footnotes  required by generally  accepted  accounting  principles  for complete
financial statements. In the opinion of management,  all adjustments (consisting
of normal recurring accruals)  considered necessary for a fair presentation have
been  included.  Operating  results for the  three-month  and six-month  periods
ending June 30, 1998 are not  necessarily  indicative of the results that may be
expected for the year ended December 31, 1998. For further information, refer to
the  consolidated   financial  statements  and  footnotes  thereto  included  in
Republic's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997.

New  Accounting  Pronouncements  - In June 1997,  the FASB  issued SFAS No. 131,
"Disclosures  about  Segments of an Enterprise  and Related  Information".  This
standard  changes the way public companies  report  information  about operating
segments in annual financial statements and requires that those companies report
selected  information about operating segments in interim financial reports.  It
also establishes  standards for related disclosures about products and services,
geographic areas, and major customers. Operating segments are parts of a company
for which  separate  information  is  available  which is evaluated by the chief
operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in evaluating
performance.  Required  disclosures for operating segments include total segment
revenues,  total segment profit or loss, and total segment assets.  The standard
also requires  disclosures  regarding revenues derived from products or services
(or  similar  groups of products or  services),  countries  in which the company
derives  revenue or holds  assets,  and about  major  customers,  regardless  of
whether this  information  is used in  operating  decision  making.  Republic is
required to adopt the disclosure  requirements in its 1998 annual report, and in
interim  periods in 1999.  The 1999 interim period  disclosures  are required to
include comparable 1998 information.

In  June  1998,  the  FASB  issued  SFAS  No.  133  "Accounting  for  Derivative
Instruments and Hedging  Activities".  This new standard  requires  companies to
record  derivatives on the balance sheet as assets or liabilities at fair value.
Depending  on the use of the  derivative  and  whether  it  qualifies  for hedge
accounting,  gains or  losses  resulting  from  changes  in the  values of those
derivatives would either be recorded as a component of net income or as a change
in stockholders' equity. Republic is required to adopt this new standard January
1, 2000. Management has not yet determined the impact of this standard.

Comprehensive  Income -  Republic  adopted  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting
Standard No. 130, "Reporting  Comprehensive  Income",  effective for the interim
period ended March 31, 1998. This Standard  requires  reporting of comprehensive
income, defined as changes in equity other than those resulting from investments
by  or  distributions  to  stockholders.   Net  income,  plus  or  minus  "other
comprehensive  income" results in comprehensive  income.  The only item of other
comprehensive  income applicable to Republic is the change in unrealized gain or
loss on securities  available for sale.  Comprehensive income is reported on the
statement  of income.  The period  ended June 30, 1997 was  restated to meet the
current reporting format.

Earnings Per Share - Earnings per share and earnings per share assuming dilution
are computed  under a new  accounting  standard  effective in the quarter  ended
December  31,  1997.  All prior  amounts  have been  restated to be  comparable.
Earnings per share is based on income less preferred  stock  dividends  (and, in
the case of Class B Common stock, less the dividend preference on Class A Common
stock) divided by the weighted average number of shares  outstanding  during the
period.  Earnings per share  assuming  dilution  shows the effect of  additional
common shares  issuable under stock  options,  convertible  preferred  stock and
guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in Republic's subordinated debentures.
All per share amounts have been restated to reflect the two-for-one  stock split
of the Class A Common stock and Class B Common stock effective July 1, 1998.

<PAGE>

Reclassifications - Certain amounts have been reclassified in the 1997 financial
statements   to  conform   with  the   current   period   classifications.   The
reclassifications  have no  effect  on net  income  or  stockholders'  equity as
previously reported.

2.  CASH & CASH EQUIVALENTS

During 1998,  the Bank  entered into  agreements  to purchase  securities  under
agreements to resell ("reverse repurchase  agreements").  At June 30, 1998 these
reverse repurchase  agreements totaled $30.0 million.  The securities  purchased
under these reverse  repurchase  agreements are government agency securities and
are pledged against the Bank's customer repurchase  accounts.  The fair value of
the pledged securities as of June 30, 1998 was approximately $30.3 million.  The
securities purchased under these agreements are overnight in term and maintained
by a third  party  safekeeping  agent for the  benefit of the Bank.  The average
balance  of  securities  purchased  under  reverse  repurchase   agreements  for
year-to-date  1998 was $11.4 million with a maximum  balance  outstanding at any
month end of $30.0 million.

3.  SECURITIES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Available For Sale Securities:
                                                                              June 30, 1998
                                                                             (in thousands)

                                                                         Gross          Gross
                                                        Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized       Estimated
                                                          Cost           Gains         Losses        Fair Value

<S>                                                  <C>                              <C>          <C>
U.S. Treasury Securities and U.S.
  Government Agencies                                $   125,448                      $    (13)    $   125,435
Mortgage-backed securities                                35,709                           (97)         35,612
                                                     -------------     ---------      ---------    -----------

Total securities to be held to maturity              $   161,157                      $   (110)    $   161,047
                                                     ===========       =========      =========    ===========

</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Securities To Be Held To Maturity:

                                                                             June 30, 1998
                                                                             (in thousands)

                                                                         Gross          Gross
                                                        Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized       Estimated
                                                          Cost           Gains         Losses        Fair Value

<S>                                                  <C>               <C>            <C>          <C>
U.S. Treasury Securities and U.S.
  Government Agencies                                $    64,372       $     122      $   (177)    $    64,317
Obligations of state and political
  subdivisions                                             4,188             161                         4,349
Mortgage-backed securities                                   539                           (29)            510
                                                     -----------       ---------      ---------    -----------

Total securities to be held to maturity              $    69,099       $     283      $   (206)    $    69,176
                                                     ===========       =========      =========    ===========

</TABLE>

Securities  having an  amortized  cost of $227  million and a fair value of $227
million at June 30, 1998,  were pledged to secure  public  deposits,  securities
sold under  agreements  to  repurchase  and for other  purposes,  as required or
permitted by law.

<PAGE>

4.  LOANS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 June 30, 1998             December 31, 1997

                                                                             (in thousands)

<S>                                                             <C>                       <C>
Residential real estate                                         $   502,232               $   480,874
Commercial real estate                                               97,614                    76,306
Real estate construction                                             38,996                    37,940
Commercial                                                           23,478                    21,552
Consumer                                                             69,363                    81,967
Home equity                                                         104,890                   102,512
Other                                                                 1,952                     4,094
                                                                -----------               -----------

         Total loans                                                838,525                   805,245

Less:
     Unearned interest income and unamortized
        loan fees                                                    (1,735)                   (2,130)
     Allowance for loan losses                                       (8,234)                   (8,176)
                                                                -----------               -----------

Loans, net                                                      $   828,556               $   794,939
                                                                ===========               ===========
</TABLE>

The following table sets forth the changes in the allowance for loan losses:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                              Three months ended June 30,           Six months ended June 30,
                                               1998                  1997               1998              1997
                                                                         (in thousands)

<S>                                         <C>                   <C>               <C>              <C>
Balance, beginning of period                $   8,234             $  6,281          $   8,176        $   6,241
  Provision charged to income                     741                1,416              1,384            2,714
  Charge-offs                                    (879)              (1,530)            (1,581)          (2,965)
  Recoveries                                      138                  114                255              291
                                            ---------            ---------          ---------         --------
Balance, end of period                      $   8,234            $   6,281          $   8,234        $   6,281
                                            =========            =========          =========        =========

</TABLE>

Information about Republic's investment in impaired loans is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 June 30, 1998             December 31, 1997
                                                                             (in thousands)

<S>                                                               <C>                        <C>
Gross impaired loans                                              $   1,640                  $  1,640
Less: Related allowance for loan losses                                 240                       240
                                                                  ---------                  --------
Net impaired loans with related allowances                            1,400                     1,400
Impaired loans with no related allowances                                 0                         0
                                                                  ----------                 --------
Total                                                             $   1,400                  $  1,400
                                                                  =========                  ========
Average impaired loans outstanding                                $   1,640                  $  1,639
                                                                  =========                  ========

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

5.  DEPOSITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 June 30, 1998             December 31, 1997
                                                                             (in thousands)

<S>                                                             <C>                        <C>
Demand (NOW, Super NOW and Money Market):                       $   170,155                $  118,870
Savings                                                              11,628                    12,165
Money market certificates of deposit                                 34,429                    41,307
Individual retirement accounts                                       22,578                    30,167
Certificates of deposit, $100,000 and over                           67,453                    63,045
Other certificates of deposit                                       323,512                   352,478
Brokered deposits                                                    37,561                    47,653
                                                                -----------              ------------

Total interest bearing deposits                                     667,316                   665,685

Total non-interest bearing deposits                                  78,237                    65,913
                                                                -----------               -----------
                                                                $   745,553               $   731,598
                                                                ===========               ===========
</TABLE>

6.  SECURITIES SOLD UNDER AGREEMENTS TO REPURCHASE AND OTHER SHORT-TERM
     BORROWINGS

Short-term borrowings consist of repurchase agreements and overnight liabilities
to deposit customers arising from a cash management program offered by Republic.
While  effectively  deposit  equivalents,  such  arrangements are in the form of
repurchase  agreements.  The  repurchase  agreements  are treated as financings;
accordingly,  the securities involved with the agreements are recorded as assets
and are held by a  safekeeping  agent  and the  obligations  to  repurchase  the
securities are reflected as liabilities.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 June 30, 1998              December 31, 1997
                                                                               (in thousands)

<S>                                                             <C>                          <C>
     Average outstanding balance                                $     111,049                $     100,291
     Average interest rate                                               4.29%                        4.57%
     Maximum outstanding at month end                           $     130,754                $     111,137
     End of period                                              $     102,497                $     111,137

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

7.  OTHER BORROWED FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                               June 30,       December 31,
                                                                                 1998             1997
                                                                                     (in thousands)

<S>                                                                          <C>              <C>
     Federal Home Loan Bank convertible fixed rate
         advance (1)                                                         $     30,000
     Federal Home Loan Bank variable interest rate
       advances, with weighted average interest rate
       of 5.74% at June 30, 1998, due through 1999                                115,500     $    116,000
     Federal Home Loan Bank fixed interest rate advances, with 
       weighted average interest rate of 5.84% at 
       June 30, 1998, due through 2003                                             73,520            8,405
                                                                             ------------     ------------
                                                                             $    219,020     $    124,405
                                                                             ============     ============
</TABLE>

- -----------------------------
(1) During the first quarter of 1998, Republic entered into a 5 year convertible
fixed rate advance  with the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) for $30 million.  The
advance is fixed for 1 year at 5.11%. At the end of the first year, the FHLB has
the right to convert the fixed rate  advance on a quarterly  basis to a variable
rate advance tied to the 3 month LIBOR index.  The advance can be prepaid at any
quarterly  date without  penalty,  but may not be prepaid at any time during the
fixed rate term.

The Federal Home Loan Bank advances are  collateralized  by a blanket  pledge of
eligible real estate loans with an unpaid principal balance of greater than 150%
of the  outstanding  advances.  Republic  has  sufficient  collateral  to borrow
approximately $104 million additional from the Federal Home Loan Bank.  Republic
also has unsecured  lines of credit  totaling $16.7 million and secured lines of
credit of $104.7 million available through various financial institutions.

Aggregate future principal payments on borrowed funds as of June 30, 1998 are as
follows:

     Year                                  (in thousands)


     1998                                 $     42,683
     1999                                       85,044
     2000                                        1,103
     2001                                          190
     2002
     2003                                       90,000
                                           -----------
                                          $    219,020
                                           ===========


8.  GUARANTEED PREFERRED BENEFICIAL INTERESTS

In February 1997,  Republic  Capital Trust (RCT), a trust subsidiary of Republic
Bancorp,  Inc.,  completed the private  placement of shares of cumulative  trust
preferred securities  ("Preferred  Securities") with a liquidation preference of
$100 per  security.  Each  security can be converted  into ten shares of Class A
Common  Stock at the option of the holder.  The  proceeds of the  offering  were
loaned to Republic  Bancorp,  Inc. in exchange for subordinated  debentures with
terms  that  are  similar  to the  Preferred  Securities.  Distributions  on the
securities are payable  quarterly at the annual rate of 8.5% of the  liquidation
preference and are included in interest  expense in the  consolidated  financial
statements.  Republic  undertook the issuance of these securities to enhance its
regulatory capital position. The Bank intends to utilize the capital for general
business  purposes and to support the Bank's  future  opportunities  for growth.
These  securities  are  considered as Tier I capital  under  current  regulatory
guidelines.

<PAGE>

The Preferred  Securities  are subject to mandatory  redemption,  in whole or in
part, upon repayment of the subordinated debentures at maturity or their earlier
redemption  at the  liquidation  preference.  The  subordinated  debentures  are
redeemable prior to the maturity date of April 1, 2027 at the option of Republic
on or after April 1, 2002, or upon the  occurrence of specific  events,  defined
within the trust  indenture.  Republic has the option to defer  distributions on
the  subordinated  debentures  from  time to time for a period  not to exceed 20
consecutive quarters.

9.  EARNINGS PER SHARE

A reconciliation of the combined Class A and Class B Common Stock numerators and
denominators of the earnings per share and earnings per share assuming  dilution
computations is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                         Three Months Ended              Six Months Ended
                                                               June 30,                      June 30,
                                                          1998           1997           1998           1997
                                                                           (in thousands)

<S>                                                    <C>             <C>            <C>          <C>       
     Earnings Per Share
        Net Income                                     $   2,602       $   3,656      $   8,126    $    5,536
        Less: Dividends declared on preferred stock                         (106)                        (213)
                                                       ---------       ---------       ---------    ---------
        Net Income available to common shares
          outstanding                                  $   2,602       $   3,550      $   8,126    $    5,323
                                                       =========       =========      =========    ==========
     Weighted average shares outstanding                  14,959          14,443         14,959        14,443
                                                       =========       =========      =========    ==========
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                         Three Months Ended              Six Months Ended
                                                               June 30,                      June 30,
                                                          1998           1997           1998           1997
                                                                           (in thousands)

<S>                                                    <C>             <C>            <C>          <C>       
     Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution
         Net Income                                    $   2,602       $   3,656      $   8,126    $    5,536
         Add:  Interest expense, net of tax benefit,
           on assumed conversion of guaranteed
           preferred beneficial interests in
           Republic's subordinated debentures                 88              88            175           131
                                                       ---------       ---------      ---------    ----------
         Net Income available to common shareholder
           assuming conversion                         $   2,690       $   3,744      $   8,301    $    5,667
                                                       =========       =========      =========    ==========

     Weighted average shares outstanding                  14,959          14,443         14,959        14,443
     Add dilutive effects of assumed
       conversion and exercise:
         Convertible guaranteed preferred
           beneficial interest in Republic's
           subordinated debentures                           645             645            645           484
         Convertible Series A, 8.5% Preferred stock                          600                          600
         Stock options                                       269             206            270           195
                                                       ---------       ---------      ---------    ----------
     Weighted average shares and dilutive
       potential shares outstanding                       15,873          15,894         15,874        15,722
                                                       =========       =========      =========    ==========
</TABLE>

     The  difference  in  earnings  per share  between the two classes of common
     stock result solely from the dividend  premium paid to Class A over Class B
     Common Stock.

<PAGE>

10.  SEGMENT INFORMATION

Republic's  operations include two segments:  banking and mortgage banking.  The
banking  segment is  composed  of those  operations  involved  in making  loans,
investing in  government  and  government  agencies'  securities  and  receiving
deposits  from  customers.  The  mortgage  banking  segment  consists  of  those
operations involved in originating  residential mortgage loans for resale in the
secondary mortgage market and in servicing loans for others.

Intersegment  interest  income  and  expense  represent  interest  on loans  and
advances from the bank segment to the mortgage  banking  segment are computed at
the Bank's prime rate.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                           Three Months Ended June 30, 1998
                                                                    (in thousands)

                                                        Mortgage
                                            Banking      Banking        Other       Eliminations      Consolidated

<S>                                     <C>           <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>
Interest income:
   Unaffiliated customer                $    22,693   $      336                                    $     23,029
   Intersegment                                 266                  $     147       $     (413)
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------        ----------    ------------
Total interest income                        22,959          336           147             (413)          23,029

Interest expense:
   Unaffiliated customer                     12,575                        137                            12,712
   Intersegment                                   3          266           144             (413)
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------        ----------     -----------
Total interest expense                       12,578          266           281             (413)          12,712
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------        ----------     -----------

   Net interest income                       10,381           70         (134)                            10,317

Provision for loan losses                       741                                                          741

Other income                                  1,973        1,100                                           3,073

Non-interest expense                          8,056          498            41                             8,595
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------       -----------    ------------
Operating profit                              3,557          672         (175)                             4,054
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
Indentifiable assets                      1,149,344       12,360        91,709          (91,690)       1,161,723
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
Depreciation and amortization                   796           40                                             836
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
Capital Expenditures                          1,997           56                                           2,053
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Three Months Ended June 30, 1997
                                                                       (in thousands)

                                                        Mortgage
                                          Banking        Banking       Other        Eliminations     Consolidated

<S>                                     <C>           <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>
Interest income:
   Unaffiliated customer                $    23,026   $      216                                    $     23,242
   Intersegment                                 173                  $     154       $     (327)
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------        ----------    ------------
Total interest income                        23,199          216           154             (327)          23,242

Interest expense:
   Unaffiliated customer                     12,829                        173                            13,002
   Intersegment                                   9          173           145             (327)
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------       ----------
Total interest expense                       12,838          173           318             (327)          13,002
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------       -----------    ------------

   Net interest income                       10,361           43         (164)                            10,240

Provision for loan losses                     1,416                                                        1,416

Other income                                  4,581          576                                           5,157

Non-interest expense                          8,006          283             2                             8,291
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------       -----------    ------------
Operating profit                              5,520          336         (166)                             5,690
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
Indentifiable assets                      1,102,768        6,925        79,908          (79,888)       1,109,713
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
Depreciation and amortization                   971           30                                           1,001
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
Capital Expenditures                            877          414                                           1,291
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                            Six Months Ended June 30, 1998
                                                                  (in thousands)

                                                        Mortgage
                                          Banking        Banking       Other        Eliminations     Consolidated

<S>                                     <C>           <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>    
Interest income:
   Unaffiliated customer                $    45,201   $      613                                    $     45,814
   Intersegment                                 464                  $     292       $     (756)
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------        ----------    ------------
Total interest income                        45,665          613           292             (756)          45,814

Interest expense:
   Unaffiliated customer                     24,853                        274                            25,127
   Intersegment                                   5          464           287             (756)
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------       ----------     ------------
Total interest expense                       24,858          464           561             (756)          25,127
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------       -----------    ------------

   Net interest income                       20,807          149         (269)                            20,687

Provision for loan losses                     1,384                                                        1,384

Other income                                  7,972        2,013                                           9,985

Non-interest expense                         15,675          949            45                            16,669
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------       -----------    ------------
Operating profit                             11,720        1,213         (314)                            12,619
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
Indentifiable assets                      1,149,344       12,360        91,709          (91,690)       1,161,723
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
Depreciation and amortization                 1,592           82                                           1,674
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
Capital Expenditures                          3,768          286                                           4,054
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Six Months Ended June 30, 1997
                                                                  (in thousands)

                                                        Mortgage
                                          Banking        Banking       Other        Eliminations     Consolidated

<S>                                     <C>           <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>   
Interest income:
   Unaffiliated customer                $    45,511   $      341                                    $     45,852
   Intersegment                                 260                  $     243       $     (503)
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------        ----------    ------------
Total interest income                        45,771          341           243             (503)          45,852

Interest expense:
   Unaffiliated customer                     25,314                        291                            25,605
   Intersegment                                  17          260           226             (503)
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------       ----------     ------------
Total interest expense                       25,331          260           517             (503)          25,605
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------       -----------    ------------

   Net interest income                       20,440           81         (274)                            20,247

Provision for loan losses                     2,714                                                        2,714

Other income                                  6,222        1,031                                           7,253

Non-interest expense                         15,638          588            60                            16,286
                                        -----------   ----------     ---------       -----------    ------------
Operating profit                              8,310          524         (334)                             8,500
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
Indentifiable assets                      1,102,768        6,925        79,908          (79,888)       1,109,713
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
Depreciation and amortization                 2,003           45                                           2,048
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
Capital Expenditures                          1,902          417                                           2,319
                                        ===========   ==========     =========       ===========    ============
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


PART 1

ITEM 2

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS

GENERAL

Republic Bancorp, Inc., headquartered in Louisville,  Kentucky, was incorporated
on January 2,  1974.  The Bank is a  commercial  banking  and trust  corporation
organized and chartered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Bank
is also  headquartered  in Louisville,  Kentucky and provides  banking  services
through 18 banking centers  throughout  Kentucky.  The Bank's activities include
the  acceptance  of deposits for  checking,  savings and time deposit  accounts,
making  secured and  unsecured  loans,  and  investing in  securities  and trust
services.  The Bank's lending  services  include the origination of real estate,
commercial and consumer  loans.  Operating  revenues are derived  primarily from
interest and fees on domestic real estate,  commercial and consumer  loans,  and
from  interest on  securities  of the United  States  Government  and  Agencies,
states, and municipalities.  Regulators for Republic include the Federal Deposit
Insurance  Corporation (FDIC),  Federal Reserve Bank and the Kentucky Department
of Financial Institutions.

REPUBLIC HAS MADE, AND MAY CONTINUE TO MAKE, VARIOUS FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS
WITH RESPECT TO CREDIT QUALITY  (INCLUDING  DELINQUENCY TRENDS AND THE ALLOWANCE
FOR LOAN LOSSES), CORPORATE OBJECTIVES AND OTHER FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS MATTERS.
WHEN  USED IN THIS  DISCUSSION  THE  WORDS  "ANTICIPATE,"  "PROJECT,"  "EXPECT,"
"BELIEVE,"  AND SIMILAR  EXPRESSIONS  ARE  INTENDED TO IDENTIFY  FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS.  REPUBLIC CAUTIONS THAT THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE SUBJECT
TO NUMEROUS ASSUMPTIONS,  RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES,  ALL OF WHICH MAY CHANGE OVER
TIME. ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.

IN ADDITION TO FACTORS  DISCLOSED  BY REPUBLIC,  THE  FOLLOWING  FACTORS,  AMONG
OTHERS,   COULD   CAUSE   ACTUAL   RESULTS  TO  DIFFER   MATERIALLY   FROM  SUCH
FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS:  PRICING  PRESSURES  ON LOAN AND DEPOSIT  PRODUCTS;
COMPETITION;  CHANGES IN ECONOMIC  CONDITIONS  BOTH NATIONALLY AND IN THE BANK'S
MARKETS;  THE  EXTENT  AND  TIMING OF  ACTIONS  OF THE  FEDERAL  RESERVE  BOARD;
CUSTOMERS'  ACCEPTANCE OF THE BANK'S  PRODUCTS AND SERVICES;  AND THE EXTENT AND
TIMING OF LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ACTIONS AND REFORMS.

OVERVIEW

Republic's  total  assets  increased  slightly  in 1998 from  $1.05  billion  at
December  31, 1997 to $1.16  billion at June 30,  1998.  The  increase  resulted
primarily from additional  securities  held for sale, cash and cash  equivalents
and loans.  Republic  continues to experience  steady overall loan demand in its
markets.

In July of 1998 Republic sold 2 million shares of its class A common stock at an
initial  price of $13 per share and  received  approximately  $23.3  million  in
offering  proceeds.  The  proceeds of the  offering  are expected to be used for
continued  banking  center  expansion,   broadening   existing  business  lines,
potential acquisitions and other general corporate purposes. Republic's stock is
now being traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "RBCAA".

<PAGE>

The  following  table  summarizes  selected  financial   information   regarding
Republic's financial performance.

Table 1
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        Three Months Ended               Six Months Ended
                                                             June 30,                        June 30,
                                                        1998           1997           1998            1997
                                                                       (dollars in thousands)

<S>                                                <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>        
Net income                                         $     2,602    $     3,656     $     8,126    $     5,536
Net income excluding asset dispositions                  2,602          1,474           5,492          3,354
Class A earnings per share                                 .17            .25             .54            .37
Class B earnings per share                                 .17            .24             .54            .37
ROA                                                        .89%           .73%           1.19%           .81%
ROA excluding asset disposition                            .89            .54             .96            .61
ROE                                                      13.59          13.22           18.30          14.75
ROE excluding asset disposition                          13.59           9.66           15.15          11.13

</TABLE>

DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

During 1997,  Republic  elected to focus its  resources on its North Central and
Central  Kentucky  markets.  Consistent  with this new focus,  Republic sold its
banking centers in the Western Kentucky cities of Murray,  Benton,  Paducah, and
Mayfield. The Murray, Benton and Paducah sales were closed in the second half of
1997. During the first quarter of 1998,  Republic completed the sale of deposits
and fixed assets at the Mayfield  banking  center.  Republic  realized a pre-tax
gain of  approximately  $4.1 million from the Mayfield banking center sale which
was completed  during January,  1998.  This sale was comprised of  approximately
$65.7  million in deposits and certain  other fixed  assets.  Republic  retained
substantially  all of its Mayfield  banking center loan portfolio.  The Mayfield
transaction represented the final Western Kentucky banking center sale.

Also during  1997,  Republic  sold its $17 million  credit card  portfolio,  its
merchant  processing assets and its $6 million,  50% interest in a joint venture
credit card arrangement,  totaling $23 million. Collectively,  these asset sales
resulted in a pre-tax gain of $3.4 million.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Net Interest Income.  For the second quarter 1998, net interest income was $10.3
million,  up $77,000 over the $10.2 million attained during second quarter 1997.
Overall, the net interest rate spread decreased from 3.36% during second quarter
of 1997 to 3.14% in the  comparable  quarter of 1998.  The  Bank's net  interest
margin  decreased  from 3.88% in second  quarter 1997 to 3.76% in second quarter
1998. The decrease in the net interest  spread and margin  occurred  because the
yield on interest  earning assets  decreased 43 basis points while the rate paid
on liabilities  only decreased 21 basis points.  During the second quarter 1998,
average  interest-earning  assets were $1.1 billion,  an increase of $44 million
over second quarter 1997. The yield on average interest-earning assets decreased
from 8.82% during second quarter of 1997 to 8.39% during second quarter of 1998.
Total average  interest bearing  liabilities  increased from $953 million in the
second  quarter of 1997 to $969 million in the second  quarter of 1998. The cost
of average  interest-bearing  liabilities  decreased  from 5.46%  during  second
quarter of 1997 to 5.25% in the second quarter of 1998.

Net interest  income for the six months  ended June 30, 1998 was $20.7  million,
down slightly from $20.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 1997. When
comparing the respective six month periods,  average  earning assets grew by $27
million in 1998 and average interest bearing liabilities increased $2 million

As a result of an overall decline in market rates,  Republic's yield on interest
earning assets and rate paid on interest bearing liabilities declined during the
period.  The decline in spread  occurred as the reduction in  Republic's  higher
yielding  unsecured  consumer  portfolio was replaced  with lower  yielding real
estate secured  loans.  Net interest  margin  declined at a slower rate than net
interest  spread  because  Republic  was able to fund a greater  portion  of its
interest earning assets through equity and non-interest bearing deposits.

Tables 2 and 3 provide  detailed  information  as to average  balance,  interest
income/expense,  and rates by major balance sheet category for the three and six
months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997.

<PAGE>

Table 2 - Average Balance Sheet Rates for Second Quarter, 1998 and 1997 (dollars
in thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                Three Months Ended June 30, 1998  Three Months Ended June 30, 1997
                                                 Average               Average      Average               Average
ASSETS                                           Balance    Interest    Rate        Balance   Interest     Rate
                                                 -------    --------    ----        -------   --------     ----
<S>                                          <C>           <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>  
Earning Assets:

U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government
  Agency Securities                          $176,055      $2,589      5.88%      $ 216,558    $ 3,324       6.14%

State and Political Subdivision Securities      4,215          84      7.97%          4,544         96       8.45%

Other Investments                              10,891         196      7.24%          6,752        117       6.93%

Mortgage-Backed Securities                     37,870         594      6.27%            641          8       4.99%

Federal Funds Sold and Securities Purchased
  Under Agreements to Resell                   34,026         469      5.51%         10,318        140       5.43%

Total Loans and Fees                          835,330      19,097      9.14%        815,648     19,557       9.59%
                                              -------      ------                   -------     ------
Total Earning Assets                        1,098,387      23,029      8.39%      1,054,461     23,242       8.82%
                                            ---------      ------                 ---------     ------

Less: Allowance for Loan Losses               (8,234)                                (6,281)

Non-Earning Assets:

Cash and Due From Banks                        17,882                                21,191

Bank Premises and Equipment, Net               13,510                                17,887

Other Assets                                   15,167                                13,528
                                               ------                                ------
Total Assets                              $ 1,136,712                           $ 1,100,786
                                          ===========                           ===========

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
  EQUITY

Interest Bearing Liabilities:

Transaction Accounts                        $ 103,058       $ 839      3.26%      $ 133,733    $ 1,159       3.47%

Money Market Accounts                          99,408       1,177      4.74%         41,340        490       4.74%

Individual Retirement Accounts                 22,688         341      6.01%         37,429        546       5.84%

Certificates of Deposit and Other
  Time Deposits                               441,165       6,464      5.86%        530,274      7,953       6.00%

Repurchase Agreements and Other
  Borrowings                                  302,644       3,891      5.14%        209,868      2,854       5.44%
                                              -------       -----                   -------      -----
Total Interest Bearing Liabilities            968,963      12,712      5.25%        952,644     13,002       5.46%

Non-Interest Bearing Liabilities:

Non-Interest Bearing Deposits                  80,037                                67,631

Other Liabilities                              13,467                                19,465

Stockholders' Equity                           74,245                                61,046
                                               ------                                ------
Total Liabilities and Stockholders'
  Equity                                  $ 1,136,712                           $ 1,100,786
                                          ===========                           ===========
Net Interest Income                                       $10,317                             $ 10,240
                                                          =======                             ========
Net Interest Spread                                                    3.14%                                 3.36%
                                                                       =====                                 =====
Net Interest Margin                                                    3.76%                                 3.88%
                                                                       =====                                 =====
</TABLE>

For the purposes of these  calculations,  non-accruing loans are included in the
quarterly average loan amounts outstanding.

<PAGE>

Table 3 - Average Balance Sheet Rates for Six Months,  1998 and 1997 (dollars in
thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                 Six months ended June 30, 1998   Six months ended June 30, 1997
                                                 Average               Average     Average               Average
ASSETS                                           Balance    Interest    Rate       Balance   Interest     Rate
                                                 -------    --------    ----       -------   --------     ----

<S>                                         <C>           <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>  
Earning Assets:

U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government
  Agency Securities                         $ 166,680     $ 4,897      5.88%      $ 225,106    $ 6,688       5.94%

State and Political Subdivision Securities      4,239         176      8.30%          4,533        196       8.65%

Other Investments                              10,531         384      7.31%          6,593        227       6.89%

Mortgage-Backed Securities                     42,297       1,314      6.21%            649         16       4.93%

Federal Funds Sold                             29,430         823      5.59%         12,775        353       5.53%

Total Loans and Fees                          824,850      38,220      9.27%        801,345     38,372       9.58%
                                              -------      ------                   -------     ------
Total Earning Assets                        1,078,027      45,814      8.50%      1,051,001     45,852       8.73%
                                            ---------      ------                 ---------     ------
Less: Allowance for Loan Losses               (8,227)                                (6,271)

Non-Earning Assets:

Cash and Due From Banks                        19,531                                22,737

Bank Premises and Equipment, Net               13,155                                17,810

Other Assets                                   13,795                                12,991
                                               ------                                ------
Total Assets                              $ 1,116,281                           $ 1,098,268
                                          ===========                           ===========

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
  EQUITY

Interest Bearing Liabilities:

Transaction Accounts                         $ 98,705     $ 1,601      3.24%      $ 135,067    $ 2,333       3.45%

Money Market Accounts                          89,426       2,163      4.84%         40,641        957       4.71%

Individual Retirement Accounts                 22,713         680      5.99%         36,874      1,078       5.85%

Certificates of Deposit and Other
  Time Deposits                               439,753      12,909      5.87%        520,783     15,444       5.93%

Repurchase Agreements and Other
  Borrowings                                  301,725       7,774      5.15%        216,833      5,793       5.34%
                                              -------       -----                   -------      -----
Total Interest Bearing Liabilities            952,322      25,127      5.28%        950,198     25,605       5.39%

Non-Interest Bearing Liabilities:

Non-Interest Bearing Deposits                  76,370                                69,956

Other Liabilities                              14,887                                17,836

Stockholders' Equity                           72,702                                60,278
                                               ------                                ------
Total Liabilities and Stockholders'
  Equity                                  $ 1,116,281                           $ 1,098,268
                                          ===========                           ===========
Net Interest Income                                      $ 20,687                             $ 20,247
                                                         ========                             ========
Net Interest Spread                                                    3.22%                                 3.34%
                                                                       =====                                 =====
Net Interest Margin                                                    3.84%                                 3.85%
                                                                       =====                                 =====

</TABLE>

For the purposes of these  calculations,  non-accruing loans are included in the
quarterly average loan amounts outstanding.

<PAGE>

Table 4 presents  the extent to which  changes in interest  rates and changes in
the volume of interest  earning  assets and interest  bearing  liabilities  have
affected  Republic's  interest  income and interest  expense  during the periods
indicated.  Information is provided in each category with respect to (i) changes
attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume  multiplied by prior rate),
(ii) changes  attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by old
volume),  and (iii) the net change.  The changes  attributable  to the  combined
impact of volume and rate have been allocated proportionately to the changes due
to volume and the changes due to rate.

Table 4 - Volume/Rate Variance Analysis (in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                       Three Months Ended June 30, 1998               Six months ended June 30, 1998
                                                  Compared to                                   Compared to
                                       Three Months Ended June 30, 1997               Six months ended June 30, 1997
                                       --------------------------------               ------------------------------
                                              Increase/(Decrease)                           Increase/(Decrease)
                                                    due to                                        due to

                                     Total Net                                    Total Net
                                      Change        Volume          Rate           Change        Volume       Rate
<S>                                   <C>             <C>          <C>         <C>             <C>            <C>   
Interest Income (1):

U.S. Treasury and
Government Agency Securities          $ (735)         $ (622)      $ (113)     $  (1,791)      $  (1,751)     $ (40)

State and Political
Subdivision Securities                   (12)             (7)          (5)           (20)            (13)        (7)

Other Investments                         79              71            8            157             135         22

Mortgage-Backed Securities               586             465          121          1,298           2,330     (1,032)

Federal Funds Sold                       329             322            7            470             460         10

Total Loans and Fees (2)                (460)            472         (932)          (152)          1,126     (1,278)
                                       -----           -----        -----           ----           -----      -----
     Net Change in Interest Income      (213)            701         (914)           (38)          2,287     (2,325)
                                       -----           -----        -----           ----           -----      -----
Interest Expense:

Interest Bearing
Transaction Accounts                    (320)           (266)         (54)          (732)           (628)      (104)

Money Market Accounts                    687             688           (1)         1,206           1,149         57

Individual Retirement Accounts          (205)           (215)          10           (398)           (414)        16

Certificates of Deposit and
Other Time Deposits                   (1,489)         (1,337)        (152)        (2,535)         (2,404)      (131)

Repurchase Agreements and
Other Borrowings                       1,037           1,262         (225)         1,981           2,268       (287)
                                       -----           -----        -----           ----           -----      -----
     Net Change in Interest Expense     (290)            132         (422)          (478)            (29)      (449)
                                       -----           -----        -----           ----           -----      -----
Increase in Net Interest Income         $ 77           $ 569       $ (492)         $ 440         $ 2,316   $ (1,876)
                                        ====           =====       ======          =====         =======   ========
</TABLE>

(1)  Interest  income for loans on  non-accrual  status  have been  included  in
Interest Income.
(2) The amount of fees in interest on loans was approximately  $765 and $448 for
the years ended June 30, 1998 and 1997, respectively.

<PAGE>

Non-Interest Income.  Non-interest income was $3.1 million during second quarter
1998,  down from $5.2 million  during second  quarter of 1997.  The decrease was
primarily  due to the  one-time  gains  from the sale of the  Bank's  bank  card
portfolio during 1997 of $3.4 million.  Excluding the one-time sale of bank card
during 1997,  non-interest  income  increased by $1.3 million.  The increase was
principally a result of a higher number of loan originations and gains generated
from subsequent sales into the secondary market.

Non-interest  income  increased  from $7.3 million for the six months ended June
30,  1997 to $10.0  million for the  comparable  period in 1998.  Excluding  the
one-time  gain on sale of deposits of $4.1  million  during 1998 and the sale of
bankcard  totaling $3.4 million during 1997,  non-interest  income  increased by
$2.0 million.  The increase was primarily in additional gains on loans sold into
the  secondary  market.  Also  during  the  first six  months of 1998,  Republic
realized  $491,000 in gains from sales of  securities.  Future gains on sales of
securities, if any, are dependent upon market conditions and other factors.

Service charges on deposit  accounts  remained  constant at $1.6 million for the
six month periods ended June 30, 1998 and 1997, notwithstanding the sale of five
banking  centers  in  Western  Kentucky.   Republic   continues  to  market  its
transaction  accounts,  review fees assessed and improve collection  activities.
Other service charges and fees increased $123,000 to $603,000 for the six months
ended  June  30,  1998  due  to  increased  volume  associated  with  Republic's
participation in a rapid tax refund joint venture.  Revenues generated from this
joint  venture  are  primarily  realized  only  during  the tax  filing  season,
comprised of the first quarter and to a lesser extent the second  quarter of the
year.

Revenue from mortgage banking activities during the six month period ending June
30, 1998 has been  positively  influenced  by  increases in  origination,  sales
volume and the sale of most loans with servicing  released.  Proceeds from sales
of loans were $47.0 million and $137.9  million for the six month periods ending
June  30,  1997  and  1998,  respectively.  Secondary  market  residential  loan
originations  are heavily  influenced by interest  rates,  which was the primary
factor for the  increased  volume.  Net gains from sales of loans  closely track
loan origination  volume.  Net gains as a percentage of loans sold were 1.6% and
1.2% for the six month  periods  ending  June 30,  1997 and 1998,  respectively.
Management made a change from selling loans with servicing retained to servicing
released  in 1995 in order to  offset  downward  market  pressure  on loan  sale
pricing.  The sale of a  significant  number of loans with  servicing  released,
coupled with normal loan paydowns and payoffs,  has resulted in a decline in the
size  of the  loan  servicing  portfolio  and a  corresponding  decline  in loan
servicing  income.  As of June 30, 1998,  Republic was servicing $241 million in
mortgage  loans for other  investors,  compared to $263  million at December 31,
1997.

Non-Interest  Expense.  Total  non-interest  expense was $8.6  million in second
quarter 1998,  compared to $8.3 million for second  quarter  1997.  Non-interest
expense  increased  marginally  from $16.3 million for the six months ended June
30, 1997, to $16.7 million for the  comparable  period in 1998. The increase for
the six  months  ended  June  30,  1998  was  primarily  attributable  to  costs
associated with salaries and employee  benefits.  Excluding the one-time gain on
sale  of  deposits  and   bankcard,   Republic's   non-interest   expense  ratio
(non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest
expense) at June 30, 1998 was 63% compared to 69% at June 30, 1997.

Salary and employee  benefit  expense  increased 11% for the second quarter 1998
over  second  quarter,  1997,  and 11% for the six months  ended  June 30,  1998
compared to June 30, 1997. This rise was due an increase in the number of higher
salaried technical staff, lending staff additions, commissions, and annual merit
salary  increases.  Republic's  overall  staffing level reduced to 412 full-time
equivalent employees (FTE's) at June 30, 1998, compared to 443 FTE's at June 30,
1997, primarily due to the sale of the Bank's Western Kentucky banking centers.

Occupancy and equipment expense decreased marginally from $2.0 million in second
quarter 1997 to $1.8 million for the comparable  period in 1998.  These expenses
are not  expected  to decrease  further in the near term as the Bank  intends to
open additional  locations in its existing  markets as well as incur  additional
expenses  for  technology  enhancements  in the areas of  deposit,  lending  and
customer support systems.

<PAGE>

COMPARISON OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AT JUNE 30, 1998 AND DECEMBER 31, 1997

Cash and cash equivalents.  Cash and cash equivalents increased from $25 million
at December  31, 1997 to $53 million at June 30,  1998.  Cash and due from banks
decreased $1 million,  while Republic entered into overnight reverse  repurchase
agreements  totaling $30 million.  The overnight reverse  repurchase  agreements
provided  the bank  with  additional  collateral  which can be  pledged  against
short-term borrowings and public funds deposits.

Securities available for sale.  Securities available for sale consists primarily
of mortgage-backed securities, U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government Agencies with a
weighted average maturity of 1.42 years. Securities available for sale increased
from $94 million at December 31, 1997 to $161 million at June 30, 1998. Republic
elected to invest funds from  maturing  securities  previously  held to maturity
into securities  available for sale in order to provide for more  flexibility in
administering the investment portfolio in changing market conditions.

Securities to be held to maturity . Securities to be held to maturity  decreased
from $99 million at  December  31,  1997 to $69  million at June 30,  1998.  The
decrease was due to management's  decision to reinvest maturing  securities into
securities  available  for  sale.  Securities  to be held to  maturity  consists
primarily of U.S.  Treasury and U.S government  Agencies with a weighted average
maturity of 1.05 years.

Loans. Net loans increased $34 million to $829 million at June 30, 1998 compared
to $795  million  at  December  31,  1997.  The  increase  in  loans  was led by
residential  real estate  lending  portfolio  which  increased $21 million since
December 31, 1997. Republic also increased its commercial real estate lending by
$21  million  to $98  million  at June 30,  1997,  a 28%  increase.  The rise in
residential  real estate loan volume was a result of a continued  favorable rate
environment. The rise in commercial real estate lending was primarily due to the
Bank's decision to capitalize on customer demand through its recently  developed
commercial  lending  unit.  Commercial  real estate  lending  remains  primarily
concentrated within the Bank's existing markets.

Republic's  consumer  loans  decreased from $189 million at December 31, 1997 to
$176 million at June 30,  1998.  The consumer  loan  portfolio  consists of both
secured (home equity,  auto, etc.) and unsecured  loans.  Republic's home equity
portfolio  increased  from $103  million at December 31, 1997 to $105 million at
June 30,  1998.  Following  strong  growth in this product  during 1997,  credit
utilization by existing customers has moderated. The

<PAGE>

home  equity line  portfolio  increased  $2 million to $105  million for the six
month period  ending June 30, 1998.  Approximately  41% of loans in the consumer
portfolio are unsecured.  Republic's  unsecured  consumer portfolio includes the
"All Purpose" and "Pre Approved" loan products.  Republic's "All Purpose" loans,
with  total  outstandings  of $10  million at June 30,  1998 and $13  million at
December 31 1997,  are  originated  through  Republic's  banking  centers.  "Pre
Approved"  loans  decreased from $25 million at December 31, 1997 to $18 million
at June 30, 1998.  These loans were originated  through direct mail.  Management
plans to continue to allow the "All  Purpose" and "Pre  Approved"  portfolios to
reduce in the near term.

Allowance and Provision for Loan Losses.  The allowance for loan losses remained
constant at $8.2  million from  December  31, 1997 to June 30, 1998.  Republic's
allowance  to total loan ratio was .98% at June 30,  1998  compared  to 1.02% at
December 31, 1997.

The provision for loan losses was $741,000 in the second quarter, 1998, compared
to $1.4  million  in the  second  quarter  of  1997.  Overall,  net  charge-offs
decreased  $675,000  during second quarter 1998 compared to the comparable  1997
period.  Republic's unsecured consumer loan portfolio accounted for 92% of total
charge-offs in the second quarter of 1998.

The provision for loan losses was $1.4 million for the six months ended June 30,
1998,  compared to $2.7  million  for the six months  ended June 30,  1997.  Net
charge-offs  decreased $1.3 million from year-to-date 1997 to year-to-date 1998.
The decrease in net charge-offs  during 1998 resulted from continued  moderation
of  charge-offs  in the  unsecured  consumer  loan  portfolio  This  portfolio's
outstandings  are  expected to  continue to reduce in the near term.  Management
believes,  based on  information  presently  available,  that it has  adequately
provided for loan losses at June 30, 1998.

Table 5 below depicts the allowance  activity by loan type for the three and six
months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997.

Table 5 - Summary of Loan Loss Experience
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      Three Months Ended                    Six months ended
                                                           June 30,                             June 30,
                                                      1998            1997                 1998           1997
(in thousands)
<S>                                                 <C>           <C>                  <C>             <C>    

Allowance for loan losses:
     Balance-beginning of period                    $  8,234      $   6,281            $  8,176        $ 6,241

Charge-offs:
     Real Estate                                         (59)          (142)                (78)          (164)
     Commercial                                                          (5)                               (43)
     Consumer                                           (820)        (1,383)             (1,503)        (2,758)
                                                    ---------     ---------            ---------       -------
       Total                                            (879)        (1,530)             (1,581)        (2,965)
                                                    ---------     ---------            ---------       -------

Recoveries:
     Real Estate                                           2                                  5             18
     Commercial                                                                               4
     Consumer                                            136            114                 246            273
                                                    --------      ---------            --------        -------
       Total                                             138            114                 255            291
                                                    --------      ---------            --------        -------
Net charge-offs                                         (741)        (1,416)             (1,326)        (2,674)

Provision for loan losses                                741          1,416               1,384          2,714
                                                    --------      ---------            --------        -------
Allowance for loan losses:
     Balance-end of period                          $  8,234      $   6,281            $  8,234        $ 6,281
                                                    ========      =========            ========        =======
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

Deposits.  Total deposits increased to $746 million at June 30, 1998 compared to
$732 million at December 31, 1997. The overall increase in deposits was achieved
even though $66 million in deposits  at the  Mayfield  banking  center were sold
during the first quarter of 1998. Excluding the sale of deposits at the Mayfield
banking  center,  total deposits would have reflected an increase of $80 million
during the six month  period.  Republic's  growth in deposits  was the result of
management's  emphasis  on retail  deposit  gathering  and its  commercial  cash
management program. Republic plans to continue its deposit gathering initiatives
by utilizing  aggressive pricing strategies and offering competitive products in
its existing markets.

Other borrowed  funds.  Other borrowed  funds,  which consists of FHLB advances,
increased  from $124  million at December  31, 1997 to $219  million at June 30,
1998.  The increase was primarily  due to  additional  advances from the FHLB to
fund the sale of  deposits  at the  Mayfield  banking  center  during  the first
quarter  of  1998.  Additional  borrowings  were  used  to  purchase  investment
securities which were used to collateralize deposits due to the bank's growth in
public funds and high balance commercial accounts.

ASSET QUALITY

Loans, including impaired loans under SFAS 114 and excluding consumer loans, are
placed on  non-accrual  status  when they  become past due 90 days or more as to
principal or interest,  unless they are adequately secured and in the process of
collection.  When loans are placed on  non-accrual  status,  all unpaid  accrued
interest  is  reversed.  These  loans  remain on  non-accrual  status  until the
borrower  demonstrates  the  ability  to  remain  current  or the loan is deemed
uncollectible  and is charged off.  Consumer loans are not placed on non-accrual
status but are  reviewed  periodically  and charged off when they reach 120 days
past due and are deemed  uncollectible.  At June 30, 1998, Republic had $648,000
in consumer  loans 90 days or more past due compared to $497,000 at December 31,
1997.

Table 6 provides information related to non-performing  assets and loans 90 days
or more past-due.  Total non-performing  assets increased slightly from December
31, 1997 to June 30, 1998.

Table 6 - Non-Performing Loans
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              June 30,             December 31,
(dollars in thousands)                                                        1998 (1)               1997 (1)

<S>                                                                          <C>                   <C>      
Loans on non-accrual status (2)                                              $ 2,785               $   2,676
Loans past due 90 days or more                                                 4,553                   4,459
                                                                             -------               ---------

Total non-performing loans                                                     7,338                   7,135

Other real estate owned                                                          290                      22
                                                                             -------               ---------
Total non-performing assets                                                  $ 7,628               $   7,157
                                                                             =======               =========

Percentage of non-performing loans to total loans                               .88%                    .90%

Percentage of non-performing assets to total loans                              .91%                    .90%

</TABLE>

(1) The table is exclusive of impaired loans which remained on accrual status.
(2)  Interest  income  that would have been earned and  received on  non-accrual
loans was not material.

Non-performing  assets  increased from $7.2 million at December 31, 1997 to $7.6
million at June 30, 1998. This increase is largely  comprised of loans which are
primarily secured by 1-4 family residential loans.  Management does not consider
the increase in non-performing assets to be material.

Republic  defines  impaired  loans  to  be  those  commercial  real  estate  and
commercial  loans  greater than  $499,999  that  management  has  classified  as
doubtful (collection of all amounts due is highly questionable or improbable) or
loss (all or a portion of the loan has been written off or a specific  allowance
for loss has been  provided).  Republic's  policy is to  charge  off all or that
portion  of its  investment  in an  impaired  loan  upon a  determination  it is
probable the full amount will not be  collected.  Impaired  loans consist of one
commercial  real estate loan which  remained  constant from December 31, 1997 to
June 30, 1998 at $1.4 million.

<PAGE>

LIQUIDITY

Republic maintains sufficient liquidity in order to fund loan demand and routine
deposit withdrawal activity. Liquidity is managed by retaining sufficient liquid
assets in the form of  investment  securities  and core deposits to meet demand.
Funding and cash flows can also be realized  from the available for sale portion
of the  securities  portfolio and paydowns from the loan  portfolio.  Republic's
banking   centers  also  provide  access  to  their  retail   deposit   markets.
Approximately $76 of repurchase  agreements and money markets are comprised of 3
entities at June 30,  1998.  Should  these funds be  removed,  Republic  has the
ability to replenish  these funds through  various  funding sources noted below.
Republic has established lines of credit with other financial institutions,  the
FHLB and brokerage firms.  While Republic  utilizes  numerous funding sources in
order  to  meet  liquidity  requirements,  FHLB  borrowings  remain  a  material
component of management's balance sheet strategies.

Republic's   objectives  include  preserving  an  adequate  liquidity  position.
Asset/liability  management  control is designed to ensure safety and soundness,
maintain liquidity and regulatory  capital standards,  and achieve an acceptable
net interest margin.  While Republic continues to experience steady loan demand,
management  continues to monitor  interest rate and liquidity risk and implement
appropriate funding and balance sheet strategies.

CAPITAL

Regulatory  agencies  measure  capital  adequacy  within a framework  that makes
capital  requirements,  in part,  dependent on the  individual  risk profiles of
financial institutions.  Republic improved its capital position during the first
six months of 1998 due to the increase in retained  earnings achieved during the
period.  As a result of the improved  capital  position , Republic's  capital to
assets ratio  increased to 6.66% at June 30, 1998  compared to 6.26% at December
31, 1997.  Republic continues to exceed the regulatory  requirements fro Tier I,
Tier I Leverage  and total  risk-based  capital . The Bank intends to maintain a
capital  position that meets or exceeds the "well  capitalized"  requirements as
defined by the FDIC.  Table 7 below  indicates  the  capital  ratios at June 30,
1998.

Table 7 - Capital Ratios
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       Minimum
                                                                                                     Requirement
                                                                                    Minimum          To Be Well
                                                                                  Requirement        Capitalized
                                                                                  For Capital       Under Prompt
                                                                                   Adequacy          Corrective
                                                                Actual             Purposes       Action Provisions
                                                            Amount     Ratio   Amount     Ratio   Amount     Ratio
                                                                           (dollars in thousands)
<S>                                                     <C>          <C>      <C>           <C>   <C>           <C>
As of June 30, 1998
     Total Risk Based Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
         Consolidated                                   $ 90,482     12.71%   $ 56,972      8%    $ 71,215      10%
         Bank only                                      $ 90,142     12.65%   $ 56,988      8%    $ 71,235      10%

     Tier I Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
         Consolidated                                   $ 82,248     11.55%   $ 28,486      4%    $ 42,729      6%
         Bank only                                      $ 81,908     11.50%   $ 28,494      4%    $ 42,741      6%

     Tier I Leverage Capital (to Average Assets)
         Consolidated                                   $ 82,248      7.24%   $ 45,468      4%    $ 56,835      5%
         Bank only                                      $ 81,908      7.21%   $ 45,468      4%    $ 56,835      5%

</TABLE>

Kentucky banking  regulations  limit the amount of dividends that may be paid to
Republic by the Bank without  prior  approval of the Bank's  regulatory  agency.
Under  these  regulations,  the  amount  of  dividends  that  may be paid in any
calendar year is limited to the Bank's current year's net income,  as defined in
the  regulations,  combined  with the retained net income of the  preceding  two
years, less any dividends  declared during those periods.  At June 30, 1998, the
Bank had $15 million of retained earnings available for payment of dividends.

<PAGE>

ASSET/LIABILITY MANAGEMENT AND MARKET RISK

Asset/liability  management  control is designed to ensure safety and soundness,
maintain liquidity and regulatory capital standards,  and achieve acceptable net
interest income.  Management  considers interest rate risk to be Republic's most
significant  market risk.  Interest rate risk is the exposure to adverse changes
in the net interest income as a result of market fluctuations in interest rates.

Management  regularly  monitors  interest  rate risk in relation to  prospective
market and business  conditions.  The Board of Directors sets policy  guidelines
establishing   maximum  limits  on  the  Bank's  interest  rate  risk  exposure.
Management  monitors  and  adjusts  exposure to interest  rate  fluctuations  as
influenced by the Bank's loan and deposit portfolios.

Republic  uses an  earnings  simulation  model to analyze  net  interest  income
sensitivity.  Potential  changes in market  interest rates and their  subsequent
effect on interest  income is then  evaluated.  The model projects the effect of
instantaneous  movements  in  interest  rates of both 100 and 200 basis  points.
Assumptions  based on the  historical  behavior of Republic's  deposit rates and
balances in relation to changes in interest rates are also incorporated into the
model.  These assumptions are inherently  uncertain and, as a result,  the model
cannot precisely  measure net interest income or precisely predict the impact of
fluctuations  in market  interest rates on net interest  income.  Actual results
will differ from the model's  simulated  results due to timing,  magnitude,  and
frequency of interest rate changes as well as changes in market  conditions  and
the application of various management strategies.

Interest rate risk  management  focuses on  maintaining  acceptable net interest
income  within  Board  approved   policy  limits.   Republic's   Asset/Liability
Management  Committee  monitors  and manages  interest  rate risk to maintain an
acceptable level of change to net interest income resulting from market interest
rate changes.  Republic's  Board approved  policy  established for interest rate
risk is stated in terms of the change in net interest income given a 100 and 200
basis point  immediate  and  sustained  increase or decrease in market  interest
rates.  The current limits  approved by the Board are plus or minus 8% for a 100
basis point change and plus or minus 12% for a 200 basis point movement.

The  interest  sensitivity  profile  of  Republic  at any  point in time will be
effected  by a number of  factors.  These  factors  include  the mix of interest
sensitive  assets and liabilities as well as their relative  pricing  schedules.
The table  above  may not be a precise  measurement  of the  effect of  changing
interest rates on Republic in the future.

Table 8 - Interest Rate Sensitivity
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                  Decrease in Rates                         Increase in Rates
                                                  200            100                         100           200
                                             Basis Points  Basis Points       Base      Basis Points   Basis Points
                                                                     (dollars in thousands)

<S>                                         <C>             <C>           <C>         <C>              <C>      
Projected interest income
Loans                                       $    61,537     $   66,874    $   72,508  $    78,295      $  83,642
Investments                                      13,954         14,822        15,709       16,483         17,256
Short-term investments                              198            274           361          458            547
                                            -----------     ----------    ----------  -----------      ---------
Total interest income                       $    75,689     $   81,970    $   88,578  $    95,236      $ 101,445

Projected interest expense
Deposits                                    $    30,220     $   32,474    $   34,728  $    37,033      $  39,760
Other borrowings                                 15,562         14,804        17,045       19,287         21,528
                                            -----------     ----------    ----------  -----------      ---------
Total interest expense                           42,782         47,278        51,773       56,320         61,288

Net interest income                         $    32,907     $   34,692    $   36,805  $    38,916      $  40,157
Change from base                            $    (3,898)     $  (2,113)               $     2,111      $   3,352
% Change from base                              (10.59)%        (5.74)%                     5.74%           9.11%

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

YEAR 2000

Management has assessed the operational  and financial  implications of its year
2000 needs and  developed  a plan to ensure  that data  processing  systems  can
properly handle the century change. Management has determined that if a business
interruption  as a  result  of the  year  2000  issue  occurred,  that  such  an
interruption could be material to the Bank's overall financial performance.  The
primary  effort  required to prevent a potential  business  interruption  is the
installation  of  the  most  current  software   releases  for  major  mainframe
applications developed by Republic's third party software application providers.
Software upgrades and modifications will also be required for certain other data
processing  applications.  Republic has retained certain employees whose primary
function is to year 2000  compliance.  The loss of these  employees could have a
material adverse effect on the implementation of Republic's year 2000 plan.

Certain  software  upgrades  have been  commenced,  or in some cases  completed,
earlier  than would  otherwise  have been  planned.  Year 2000  remediation  has
resulted  in some  delay in other data  processing  projects , none of which are
deemed material to the Bank's  financial  performance.  Management  believes its
current state of year 2000 readiness to be satisfactory and in line with overall
industry and regulatory recommendations. At this time, the Bank has no reason to
believe that its software  providers will not be able to adequately  address the
Bank's needs for year 2000 software functionality.  However,  Republic must also
rely to some extent on the year 2000 readiness of additional third parties,  not
only from hardware and software  providers,  but from other third party entities
such as public utilities and governmental  units.  These and other like entities
provide  important  ongoing  services  to  the  Bank.  Management  is  therefore
currently developing ongoing contingency plans, all of which are scheduled to be
in place by year end 1998.

In  carrying  out its  overall  year 2000  plan,  Republic  will  incur  certain
operational  expenses and may replace some existing  software which has not been
fully amortized.  Most of the expenditures  associated with software application
upgrades  represent  costs that would have been incurred in the normal course of
business and, accordingly,  will be capitalized.  The operating expenses will be
expensed as incurred,  and the unamortized  cost of software  replaced,  if any,
will be  charged  off when the  applicable  software  is removed  from  service.
Republic has expensed  approximately $450,000 in costs attributable to year 2000
remediation  and  anticipates  total costs and  charges to be in an  approximate
range of $1.2 to $1.8  million.  These  expenses  could  vary from  management's
estimates  if the  scope of the  Bank's  year  2000  plan  exceeds  management's
projections.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

See  discussion  in Note 1 to financial  statements  for a discussion  of recent
accounting pronouncements.

ITEM 3

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The  information  for  this  item is  incorporated  by  reference  to the  Asset
/Liability   Management  and  Market  Risks  section  of  Item  2.  Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

<PAGE>

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2.    Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

     (a)  Following  receipt of  shareholder  approval  at a special  meeting of
shareholders  held June 30, 1998,  Republic  Bancorp,  Inc. (the  "Corporation")
amended its Articles of Incorporation to:

     a. Change the capital structure of the Corporation as follows: (i) increase
the number of authorized  shares of Class A Common Stock from 15 million  shares
to 30 million shares,  (ii) increase the number of authorized  shares of Class B
Common Stock from 2 million shares to 5 million  shares,  (iii) split the issued
and  outstanding  shares of Class A Common  Stock and Class B Common  Stock on a
two-for-one  basis,  (iv) provide  that any  recapitalization  or other  similar
change in either the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock will require a
proportionate  recapitalization  or similar  change in the other class,  and (v)
provide  that the  payment of a dividend  (other than a share  dividend)  on the
Class A Common  Stock does not  require  the  payment of such a dividend  on the
Class B Common Stock;

     b. Limit the liability of a director to the Corporation or its shareholders
except  for any  transaction  in which the  director  has a  personal  financial
conflict of interest,  for acts or omissions  not in good faith or which involve
intentional  misconduct  or are known to the  director to be a violation of law,
for  any  vote  for  an  unlawful  distribution  to  shareholders,  or  for  any
transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit;

     c.  Limit  the  right  of   shareholders  to  call  a  special  meeting  of
shareholders  by  requiring  the  consent of the holders of more than 50% of the
voting power of the Corporation to call a special meeting of shareholders; and

     d.  Increase to a majority of the voting  power the vote  required to amend
the new provision summarized in paragraph c above.

           The  foregoing  amendments  to the  Articles  of  Incorporation  were
effective  July 1,  1998.  The  description  of the Class A Common  Stock of the
Corporation  contained  in the  Form  8-A  filed  by the  Corporation  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission on July 20, 1998, reflects such amendments.

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders

A special  meeting of the  shareholders  of the Corporation was held on June 30,
1998. At the special meeting the proposals to adopt the following  amendments to
the Articles of  Incorporation of the Corporation were submitted to and approved
by shareholders of the Corporation by the votes indicated:

     1. Amendment to Article V of the Articles of Incorporation  to, among other
things,  increase the authorized number of shares of Class A Common Stock of the
Corporation from 15 million to 30 million and the number of authorized shares of
Class B Common Stock of the Corporation from 2 million to 5 million,  remove the
series designation of authorized shares of preferred stock of the corporation no
longer outstanding, provide that any recapitalization or other similar change in
either  the Class A Common  Stock or the  Class B Common  Stock  will  require a
proportionate  recapitalization  or similar  change in the other class,  provide
that a payment of a dividend (other than a share dividend) on the Class A Common
Stock does not require a payment of such a dividend on the Class B Common Stock,
and effect of a two-for-one  split of the  outstanding  shares of Class A Common
Stock and Class B Common Stock.

     2. The  addition  of a new Article  XII to the  Articles  of  Incorporation
eliminating, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the personal liability of a
director to the Corporation or its  shareholders for monetary damages for breach
of his duties as a director.

     3. The addition of a new Article XIII to the Articles of  Incorporation  to
provide that  shareholders  of the Corporation may not call a special meeting of
shareholders without the affirmative written consent of the holders of more than
50% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation,
considered as a single group.

<PAGE>

     4. The addition of a new Article XIV (and the deletion of the Article that,
prior  to  the   amendments   appeared  as  Article  XII)  of  the  Articles  of
Incorporation to increase to a majority of the voting power the vote required to
amend,  alter or  repeal,  or adopt any  provision  inconsistent  with,  the new
Article XIV or Article XIII.

                                                           * * * * * * *

           The total number of votes cast for and against each amendment by each
voting group entitled to vote separately thereon was:

     Amendment No. 1:  ARTICLE V
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                Number of Votes Cast
                                                 -------------------------------------------------------
     Voting Group                                  For                   Against                 Abstain

<S>                                              <C>                      <C>                       <C>
     Class A Common Stock                        5,330,341                16,220                    0
     Class B Common Stock                       10,399,680                38,240                    0
                                                ----------                ------                    -
     Total                                      15,730,021                54,460                    0

     Amendment No. 2:  ARTICLE XII

                                                                Number of Votes Cast
                                                 -------------------------------------------------------
     Voting Group                                  For                   Against                 Abstain

     Class A Common Stock                        5,312,498                20,252               13,811
     Class B Common Stock                       10,392,040                20,260               25,620
                                                ----------                ------               ------
     Total                                      15,704,538                40,512               39,431

Amendment No. 3:  ARTICLE XIII

                                                                Number of Votes Cast
                                                 -------------------------------------------------------
     Voting Group                                  For                   Against                 Abstain

     Class A Common Stock                        5,324,219                22,342                    0
     Class B Common Stock                       10,417,480                20,440                    0
                                                ----------                ------                    -
     Total                                      15,741,699                42,782                    0

Amendment No. 4:  ARTICLE XIV

                                                                Number of Votes Cast
                                                 -------------------------------------------------------
     Voting Group                                  For                   Against                 Abstain

     Class A Common Stock                        5,307,879                38,682                    0
     Class B Common Stock                       10,379,000                58,920                    0
                                                ----------                ------                    -
     Total                                      15,686,879                97,602                    0

</TABLE>

There were no broker non-votes.

<PAGE>

Item 6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

     a. The exhibits  required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are attached to and
listed in the Exhibit Index on page 34.

     b. On July 7,  1998,  Republic  Bancorp,  Inc.  filed a Report on Form 8-K,
dated July 1, 1998,  to report under Item 5 of that form the  amendments  to its
Articles of Incorporation  and summary of financial results for the period ended
June 30, 1998.


<PAGE>

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                             Republic Bancorp, Inc.
                                  (Registrant)

                                           Principal Executive Officer:

Date:08/14/98                              /s/ Steven E. Trager
     -------------------------             ----------------------------
                                           Steven E. Trager
                                           Chief Executive Officer


                                           Principal Financial Officer:

Date:08/14/98                              /s/ Mark A. Vogt
     -------------------------             ----------------------------
                                           Mark A. Vogt
                                           Chief Financial Officer

<PAGE>


EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                           Incorporated
Exhibit                    Description                                     By Reference To


<S>                        <C>                                             <C>   
3(i), 4.1                  Articles of Incorporation                       Articles of Incorporation, as amended,
                                                                           of Republic are incorporated by reference to 
                                                                           Exhibit 3(i) of the Registration Statement on Form S-1
                                                                           of Republic (Registration No. 333-56583)

3(ii), 4.2                 By laws                                         By laws, as amended, of Republic are
                                                                           incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                                                                           3(ii) of the Registration Statement on
                                                                           Form S-1 of Republic
                                                                           (Registration No. 333-56583)

10.10                      Lease Agreement between                         Lease Agreement between Republic
                           Republic Bank & Trust Company                   Bank & Trust Company and Teeco
                           and Teeco Properties dated                      Properties dated October 1, 1996, is
                           October 1, 1996                                 incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                                                                           10.10 of the Registration Statement on
                                                                           Form S-1 of Republic
                                                                           (Registration No. 333-56583)

10.14                      Officer Compensation Continuation               Officer Compensation Continuation
                           Agreement, Mark A. Vogt                         Agreement, Mark A. Vogt, is incorporated by 
                                                                           reference to Exhibit 10.14 of the Registration Statement
                                                                           on Form S-1 of Republic (Registration No. 333-56583)

10.15                      Stock Option Plan Agreement,                    Stock Option Plan Agreement, Mark A.    
                           Mark A. Vogt                                    Vogt, is incorporated by reference to
                                                                           to Exhibit 10.15 of the Registration 
                                                                           Statement on Form S-1 of Republic 
                                                                           (Registration No. 333-56583)

11                          Statement Regarding  Computation               Filed as Exhibit 11 on page 35 of this of
                            Per Share  Earnings                            Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1998

27                          Financial Data Schedule                        Filed as Exhibit 27 on page 36 of this
                                                                           Form 10-Q for the period ended
                                                                           June 30, 1998

99                          Underwriting Agreement                         Filed as Exhibit 99 on page 37 of this
                                                                           Form 10-Q for the period ended
                                                                           June 30, 1998
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

Exhibit 11.
Statement Regarding Computation of Per Share Earnings

See Item 1, Note 9 "Earnings Per Share" for calculations.


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>

This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated balance sheet, the consolidated statement of income and bank
records and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such report on Form
10-Q.

dollars in thousands, except earning per share figures

</LEGEND>
<CIK>0000921557
<NAME> Republic Bancorp, Inc
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       

<S>                          <C>                              <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                6-MOS                            6-MOS         
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998                      DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998                      JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998                      JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                          23,253                           37,148
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                                0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                30,000                              250
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                                0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    161,047                          103,275
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          69,099                          118,683
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            69,176                          118,567
<LOANS>                                        828,556                          796,403
<ALLOWANCE>                                      8,234                            6,281
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,161,723                        1,109,713
<DEPOSITS>                                     745,553                          830,325
<SHORT-TERM>                                   102,497                           86,080
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             18,911                           19,799
<LONG-TERM>                                    219,020                          110,065
                                0                                0
                                          0                            5,000
<COMMON>                                         3,615                            3,491
<OTHER-SE>                                      72,127                           54,953
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,161,723                        1,109,713
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 38,220                           38,372
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                6,771                            7,127
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   823                              353
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                45,814                           45,852
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              17,353                           19,812
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              25,127                           25,605
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           20,687                           20,247
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    1,384                            2,714
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 491                               16
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  2,155                            2,350
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 12,619                            8,500
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       8,126                            5,536
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                                0
<CHANGES>                                            0                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,126                            5,536
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .54<F1>                          .36<F1><F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .52<F2>                          .36<F2><F3>
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.84                             3.85
<LOANS-NON>                                      2,785                            2,823
<LOANS-PAST>                                    25,346                           16,608
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 1,809                            1,809
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  2,705                            2,718
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 8,176                            6,281
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,581                            2,965
<RECOVERIES>                                       255                              291
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                8,234                            6,281
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             8,234                            6,281
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                                0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0                                0
        
<FN>
<F1> BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL 
     ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NO. 128.
<F2> DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL
     ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NO. 128.
<F3> RESTATED TO GIVE RETROACTIVE EFFECT TO THE 2-FOR-1 STOCK SPLIT DISTRIBUTED
     JULY 1, 1998.
</FN>

</TABLE>



                             REPUBLIC BANCORP, INC.

                                2,140,000 SHARES

                              CLASS A COMMON STOCK
                                 (NO PAR VALUE)




                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT




July 21, 1998

Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc.
      As Representatives of the Underwriters
50 No. Front Street, 20th Floor
Memphis, TN 38103

Dear Sirs:

         Republic  Bancorp,  Inc., a Kentucky  corporation (the "Company"),  and
Bernard M. Trager  (the  "Selling  Stockholder")  propose to sell to the several
underwriters named in Schedule I (collectively, the "Underwriters") an aggregate
of 2,140,000  shares of the  Company's  Class A common  stock,  no par value per
share (the  "Class A Common  Stock"),  as set forth in  Schedule I hereto  (such
2,140,000  shares are herein referred to as the "Firm Shares").  The Firm Shares
are to be sold to each  Underwriter,  acting severally and not jointly,  in such
amounts as are set forth in Schedule I opposite the name of such Underwriter.

         Solely for the purpose of covering  over-allotments  in the sale of the
Firm  Shares,  the  Company  grants  pro rata to the  Underwriters  the right to
purchase up to an additional 260,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the "Option
Shares").  The Firm Shares and Option Shares are herein sometimes referred to as
the "Shares."

         The Company operates one (1) active wholly owned  subsidiary,  Republic
Bank &  Trust  Company  (the  "Bank"),  which  is a  Kentucky  corporation  (the
"Subsidiary").  The term  "Republic"  refers to the Company  and the  Subsidiary
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

     Section 1.  REPRESENTATIONS  AND  WARRANTIES  OF THE  COMPANY.  The Company
represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:

         (a) A  registration  statement  on Form S-1 (File No.  333-56583)  with
respect to the Shares,  including a preliminary  form of  prospectus  subject to
completion, has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements
of the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"),  and the applicable
rules  and  regulations  (the  "1933 Act  Regulations")  of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission") and has been filed with the Commission;
and such amendments to such registration statement as may have been required, if
any,  prior to the date  hereof  have been filed with the  Commission,  and such
amendments have been similarly prepared.  Copies of such registration  statement
and amendment or amendments and of each related preliminary prospectus,  and the
exhibits,  financial  statements and schedules,  as finally amended and revised,
have been  delivered to you.  The Company has  prepared in the same manner,  and

<PAGE>

proposes  so to file with the  Commission,  one of the  following:  (i) prior to
effectiveness  of such  registration  statement,  a further  amendment  thereto,
including  the form of final  prospectus,  (ii) if the Company  does not rely on
Rule 434 of the 1933 Act  Regulations,  a final  prospectus in  accordance  with
Rules  430A and  424(b)  of the 1933 Act  Regulations,  or (iii) if the  Company
relies on Rule 434 of the 1933 Act  Regulations,  a term sheet  relating  to the
Shares  that shall  identify  the  preliminary  prospectus  that it  supplements
containing  such  information as is required or permitted by Rules 434, 430A and
424(b)  of the 1933  Act  Regulations.  The  Company  also  may  file a  related
registration  statement with the Commission  pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1993
Act  Regulations  for the purpose of registering  certain  additional  shares of
Class A Common Stock, which registration statement will be effective upon filing
with the Commission.  As filed, such amendment, any registration statement filed
pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act  Regulations and any term sheet and form
of final  prospectus,  or such final  prospectus,  shall  include  all Rule 430A
Information (as defined below) and, except to the extent that you shall agree in
writing to a modification, shall be in all respects in the form furnished to you
prior to the date and time that this Agreement was executed and delivered by the
parties  hereto,  or, to the extent not  completed at such date and time,  shall
contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that
contained  in the  latest  preliminary  prospectus)  as the  Company  shall have
previously advised you in writing would be included or made therein.

         The term "Registration  Statement" as used in this Agreement shall mean
such  registration  statement at the time such  registration  statement  becomes
effective  and,  in the  event  any  post-effective  amendment  thereto  becomes
effective  prior to the Closing Time (as hereinafter  defined),  shall also mean
such registration  statement as so amended;  provided,  however,  that such term
shall also include all Rule 430A Information contained in any Prospectus and any
Term  Sheet  (as  hereinafter  defined)  and  deemed  to  be  included  in  such
registration statement at the time such registration statement becomes effective
as  provided  by Rule 430A of the 1933 Act  Regulations.  The term  "Preliminary
Prospectus" shall mean any preliminary  prospectus  referred to in the preceding
paragraph and any preliminary  prospectus included in the Registration Statement
at the time it becomes  effective  that omits  Rule 430A  Information.  The term
"Prospectus"  as used in this Agreement  shall mean (a) if the Company relies on
Rule 434 of the 1933 Act Regulations, the Term Sheet relating to the Shares that
is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) (7) of the 1933 Act Regulations, together
with  the  Preliminary  Prospectus  identified  therein  that  such  Term  Sheet
supplements,  or (b) if the  Company  does  not rely on Rule 434 of the 1933 Act
Regulations,  the  prospectus  relating to the Shares in the form in which it is
first  filed  with  the  Commission  pursuant  to Rule  424(b)  of the  1933 Act
Regulations or, if no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations
is  required,   shall  mean  the  form  of  final  prospectus  included  in  the
Registration   Statement  at  the  time  such  Registration   Statement  becomes
effective.  The term "Rule 430A  Information"  means information with respect to
the Shares and the offering thereof permitted  pursuant to Rule 430A of the 1933
Act  Regulations to be omitted from the  Registration  Statement when it becomes
effective.  The term  "462(b)  Registration  Statement"  means any  registration
statement  filed with the  Commission  pursuant  to Rule  462(b) of the 1933 Act
Regulations (including the Registration Statement and any Preliminary Prospectus
or  Prospectus  incorporated  therein  at the time such  registration  statement
becomes  effective).  The term "Term Sheet" means any term sheet that  satisfies
the requirements of Rule 434 of the 1933 Act  Regulations.  Any reference to the
"date" of a  Prospectus  that  includes a Term Sheet shall mean the date of such
Term Sheet.

         (b) No  order  preventing  or  suspending  the  use of any  Preliminary
Prospectus has been issued by the Commission and no proceedings for that purpose
have been  instituted or threatened  by the  Commission or the state  securities
authority of any jurisdiction,  and each Preliminary Prospectus,  at the time of
filing thereof,  conformed in all material  respects to the  requirements of the
1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations  and did not contain any untrue  statement
of a  material  fact or omit to state a  material  fact  required  to be  stated
therein  or  necessary  to make  the  statements  therein,  in the  light of the
circumstances  under which they were made, not  misleading;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
that this  representation  and warranty shall not apply to untrue  statements or
omissions of material  facts to the extent they are corrected in the  Prospectus
first filed  pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act  Regulations,  or to any
statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished in writing to the Company by an  Underwriter  expressly for use in the
Registration Statement or any 462(b) Registration Statement.

<PAGE>

         (c)  When  the  Registration  Statement  and  any  462(b)  Registration
Statement  shall  become  effective,  or any  Term  Sheet  that  is  part of the
Prospectus  is  filed  with  the  Commission  pursuant  to Rule  434,  when  the
Prospectus is first filed  pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act  Regulations,
when any  amendment to the  Registration  Statement  or any 462(b)  Registration
Statement becomes  effective,  and when any supplement to the Prospectus or Term
Sheet is filed with the Commission,  and at each Date of Delivery (as defined in
Section 3), (i) the Registration  Statement,  the 462(b) Registration Statement,
the  Prospectus,  the Term  Sheet and all  amendments  thereof  and  supplements
thereto will conform in all material  respects with the applicable  requirements
of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations  and (ii) neither the  Registration
Statement, the 462(b) Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Term Sheet nor
any  amendment or  supplement  thereto,  will contain any untrue  statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or
necessary  in order to make the  statements  therein not  misleading;  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,  that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statement
or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with  information  furnished
in  writing  to  the  Company  by  an  Underwriter  expressly  for  use  in  the
Registration Statement or any 462(b) Registration Statement.

         (d) The Company and the Subsidiary have been duly incorporated and each
is validly  existing as a  corporation  in good  standing  under the laws of its
respective  state of  incorporation,  with all  requisite  corporate  power  and
authority to own, lease and license its properties,  and conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus. The Company and the Subsidiary have qualified to do
business and are in good standing as a foreign corporation in every jurisdiction
in which the ownership or leasing of its  properties or the nature or conduct of
its  business  requires  such  qualification,  except where the failure to do so
would have no  material  adverse  effect on the assets,  properties,  results of
operations,  financial  condition or business  prospects of Republic  taken as a
whole.  The  Company  does  not own or  control,  directly  or  indirectly,  any
corporation,  association or other entity,  other than the Subsidiary,  Republic
Capital Trust,  Republic Insurance Agency,  Inc., and Republic Mortgage Company,
and Republic  Financial  Services  Corporation.  The Company has full  corporate
authority to enter into this Agreement and perform the obligations hereunder.

         (e) The Company has the full legal right,  power and authority to enter
into this  Agreement,  and to issue  sell and  deliver  the  Shares as  provided
herein.  This Agreement has been duly authorized,  executed and delivered by the
Company  and  constitutes  the  valid  and  binding  agreement  of the  Company,
enforceable  against it in accordance with its terms,  except to the extent that
the indemnification  provisions set forth in Section 9 of this Agreement, may be
limited by applicable law or equitable principles,  and except as enforceability
may be  limited  by  bankruptcy,  reorganization,  moratorium  or  similar  laws
affecting the  enforceability  of creditors'  rights  generally and rules of law
governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies.

         (f) Each consent, approval, authorization, order, designation or filing
by  or  with  any   governmental   agency  or  body   necessary  for  the  valid
authorization,  issuance,  sale  and  delivery  of the  Shares,  the  execution,
delivery  and  performance  of  this  Agreement,  and  the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby has been made or  obtained by the Company and
the Subsidiary and are in full force and effect, except as may be required under
applicable state securities laws. The issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares,
the execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the consummation
of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement will not result in a breach
or violation of any of the terms and  provisions  of, or constitute a default by
the Company or the Subsidiary under their  respective  Articles of Incorporation
or Bylaws  and will not result in a breach or  violation  of any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default by the Company or the  Subsidiary  under,
any indenture,  mortgage,  deed of trust,  loan agreement,  note, lease or other
agreement or instrument to which the Company or the Subsidiary are a party or to
which it or its  properties  is subject,  or of any statute,  judgment,  decree,
order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body applicable
to the Company, the Subsidiary, or any of their respective properties.

<PAGE>

         (g) (i) The  Company has common  stock  issued and  outstanding  as set
forth  in the  Registration  Statement.  The  Company  has no other  issued  and
outstanding  capital stock.  The Company has authorized,  issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization"
as of the date therein.  All the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common
Stock  of  the  Company,  including  the  Shares  to  be  sold  by  the  Selling
Stockholder,  have been duly authorized and validly  issued,  are fully paid and
nonassessable  and  conform  to the  description  of the  Class A  Common  Stock
contained in the Prospectus and the rights set forth in the instruments defining
the same.  All offers and sales of the  Company's  capital  stock by the Company
prior to the date hereof were at all relevant  times duly  registered  under the
1933 Act or were exempt from the  registration  requirements  of the 1933 Act by
reason of Sections 3(a),  3(b) , 4(2) or 4(6) thereof.  The Shares to be sold by
the Company  when issued and  delivered  by the Company and paid for pursuant to
this Agreement,  will be validly issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable and will
conform in all material  respects to the  description  thereof  contained in the
Prospectus.  No  preemptive  rights of  stockholders  exist with  respect to the
Shares.  No person or entity  holds a right to  require  or  participate  in the
registration  under the 1933 Act of the  Shares  and no person  holds a right to
require  registration  under the 1933 Act of any  shares of Common  Stock of the
Company at any other time. No person or entity has a right of  participation  or
first refusal with respect to the sale of the Shares by the Company. None of the
issued  shares of capital  stock of the Company has been issued in  violation of
any  preemptive  or similar  rights.  All shares of common  stock of the Company
subject  to  outstanding  options  or  warrants  have been duly  authorized  and
reserved for  issuance,  and,  when issued in  accordance  with the terms of the
applicable  option  or  warrant,   will  be  validly  issued,   fully  paid  and
nonassessable  and will not be  issued  in  violation  of any  preemptive  right
(contractual or other).  There is no outstanding option,  warrant or other right
calling for the issuance of and no commitment, plan or arrangement to issue, any
share of  capital  stock of the  Company  or any  security  convertible  into or
exchangeable  for capital  stock of the  Company,  except as is disclosed in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

                  (ii) All of the shares of issued and outstanding capital stock
of the Subsidiary have been duly  authorized and validly issued,  are fully paid
and nonassessable and are owned free and clear of all liens, security interests,
pledges, charges, or encumbrances.  Other than the Subsidiary,  the Company does
not own directly or indirectly,  any capital stock or other equity securities of
any other  corporation  or any  ownership  interest  in any  partnership,  joint
venture or other  association  except securities held by the Bank in a fiduciary
capacity or as  collateral  for  extensions  of credit and except for the common
securities  of  Republic  Capital  Trust and except for the common  stock of the
following non-operating subsidiaries:  Republic Insurance Agency, Inc., Republic
Mortgage Company, and Republic Financial Services Corporation.

         (h) The  financial  statements  of the Company  (including  the related
notes and schedules)  included in the Registration  Statement and the Prospectus
present fairly the financial  position of the Company as of the dates  indicated
and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the periods  specified,
all in conformity with generally  accepted  accounting  principles  applied on a
consistent  basis  throughout  the  periods  involved  and  in  conformity  with
Regulation  S-X of the  Commission.  The  supporting  schedules  included in the
Registration  Statement  and the amounts in the  Prospectus  under the  captions
"Summary Consolidated  Financial Data," and "Consolidated  Financial Statements"
are accurately  computed,  fairly present the information shown therein and have
been determined on a basis consistent with the financial  statements included in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.  No other financial statements or
schedules  are  required  by  Form  S-1  or  otherwise  to be  included  in  the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus.

         The financial  data  statements  and schedules  (including  the related
notes) of each of the Company and the  Subsidiary  included in the  Registration
Statement,  the  Prospectus  or any  Preliminary  Prospectus  were  prepared  in
accordance with generally accepted accounting  principals  consistently  applied
throughout the periods  involved and fairly  present the financial  position and
result of operations of each of the Company and the  Subsidiary at the dates and
periods presented.

<PAGE>

         (i) Crowe Chizek and Company  LLP,  which has examined and is reporting
upon the audited financial statements and schedules included in the Registration
Statement, are, and were during the periods covered by their reports included in
the Registration  Statement and Prospectus,  independent public accountants with
respect to the Company and the Subsidiary within the meaning of the 1933 Act and
the 1933 Act Regulations.
         (j) The  Company  has  obtained  for the benefit of the Company and the
Underwriters  from  each  of its  directors,  executive  officers,  the  Selling
Stockholder,  Jean Trager, Shelly Trager Kusman and Sheldon Gilman,  trustee for
Bernard M. Trager's  grandchildren a written  agreement that for a period of 180
days from the date of the Prospectus such director,  officer or stockholder will
not, without your prior written consent,  offer sell,  contract to sell, pledge,
grant any option to purchase,  or otherwise  dispose of, directly or indirectly,
any  shares of Class A Common  Stock or other  instrument  which by its terms is
convertible into,  exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares of Class A Common
Stock  of  which  the  undersigned  is now,  or may in the  future  become,  the
beneficial  owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the  Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended), other than securities issued by Republic Capital Trust
and other than an exercise of stock options or sale of Common Stock  pursuant to
a "cashless  exercise" of stock options which are either (i)  outstanding on the
date of the Prospectus, or (ii) issued under the Company's stock option plan, or
a bona fide gift of Common Stock,  provided that the donee agrees to be bound by
the terms hereof.

         (k)  Neither  the  Company  nor the  Subsidiary  has  sustained,  since
December 31, 1997,  any material  loss or  interference  with its business  from
fire, explosion,  flood, hurricane,  accident or other calamity,  whether or not
covered by  insurance,  or from any labor  dispute or  arbitrators'  or court or
governmental  action,   order  or  decree,   otherwise  than  as  set  forth  or
contemplated  in the  Prospectus;  and, since the  respective  dates as of which
information  is given in the  Registration  Statement  and the  Prospectus,  and
except as otherwise stated in the Registration  Statement and Prospectus,  there
has not been (i) any  material  change in the  capital  stock,  long-term  debt,
obligations under capital leases or short-term  borrowings of the Company or the
Subsidiary;  (ii) any material  adverse change,  or any development  which could
reasonably be seen as involving a prospective  material  adverse  change,  in or
affecting the business, prospects,  properties, assets, results of operations or
condition (financial or other) of Republic taken as a whole; (iii) any liability
or obligation,  direct or contingent,  incurred or undertaken by the Company and
the  Subsidiary  which is material to the  business or condition  (financial  or
other) of  Republic,  except for  liabilities  or  obligations  incurred  in the
ordinary course of business;  (iv) any declaration or payment of any dividend or
distribution  of any kind on or with  respect to its capital  stock;  or (v) any
transaction that is material to Republic taken as a whole,  except  transactions
in the ordinary course of business.

         (l)  Neither  the Company nor the  Subsidiary  is in  violation  of its
Articles  of  Incorporation  or Bylaws and,  as of the date  hereof,  no default
exists, and no event has occurred, nor state of facts exists, which, with notice
or after the lapse of time to cure or both,  would  constitute  a default in the
due  performance  and  observance  of  any  obligation,   agreement,   covenant,
consideration or condition contained in any indenture,  mortgage, deed of trust,
loan  agreement,  note,  lease or other  agreement  or  instrument  to which the
Company or the  Subsidiary is a party or by which it or any of its properties is
subject,  and no violation  exists of any law, order,  rule,  regulation,  writ,
injunction or decree of any government,  governmental  instrumentality or court,
domestic or foreign,  in any such case where the  consequences of such violation
or default is likely to  materially  adversely  affect the  assets,  properties,
results of  operation,  financial  condition  or business  prospects of Republic
taken as a whole.

         (m) Except as otherwise  disclosed in the  Prospectus:  (i) neither the
Company nor the  Subsidiary  has authorized or conducted or has knowledge of the
generation, transportation, storage, presence, use, treatment, disposal, release
or  handling  of (in an amount or of a type that has been or must be reported to
any  governmental  agency,  violates any  Environmental  Law, or has required or
could  require  remediation  expenditures)  any hazardous  substance,  asbestos,
radon,  polychlorinated biphenyl ("PCBs"), petroleum product or waste (including
crude oil or any fraction thereof), natural gas, liquefied gas, synthetic gas or
other material  defined,  regulated,  controlled or  potentially  subject to any
remediation  requirement under any environmental law  (collectively,  "Hazardous
Materials"),  on, in or under any real  property  owned,  leased or by any means

<PAGE>

controlled by the Company or the Subsidiary; (ii) the Company and the Subsidiary
are in compliance  with all federal,  state and local laws,  ordinances,  rules,
regulations and other governmental  requirements relating to pollution,  control
of chemicals, management of waste, discharges of materials into the environment,
health,   safety,   natural  resources,   and  the  environment   (collectively,
"Environmental Laws"); and (iii) the Company and the Subsidiary have, and are in
compliance   with,   all  licenses,   permits,   registrations   and  government
authorizations  necessary to operate under all  applicable  Environmental  Laws;
except  for such  matters  as would not have a  material  adverse  effect on the
assets,  properties,  results of  operations,  financial  condition  or business
prospects of Republic  taken as a whole.  Except as  otherwise  disclosed in the
Prospectus,  neither the Company nor the  Subsidiary has received any written or
oral notice  from any  governmental  entity or any other  person and there is no
pending or threatened claim,  litigation or any administrative agency proceeding
that: (i) alleges a violation of any  Environmental  Laws by the Company and the
Subsidiary;  (ii) alleges the Company and the  Subsidiary is a liable party or a
potentially  responsible party under the Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,
Compensation  and Liability  Act, 42 U.S.C.  Section 9601, et seq., or any state
superfund  law;  has  resulted  in or  could  result  in  the  attachment  of an
environmental  lien on any real  property  owned,  leased or  controlled  by the
Company or the Subsidiary;  or (iii) alleges the occurrence of  contamination of
any of such real property,  damage to natural  resources,  property  damage,  or
personal   injury  based  on  their   activities  or  the  activities  of  their
predecessors  or third  parties  (whether  at the real  property  or  elsewhere)
involving  Hazardous  Materials,  whether arising under the Environmental  Laws,
common law principles, or other legal standards.

         (n) The Company and the Subsidiary  have good and  marketable  title to
all real  property  owned by them,  free and clear of all  liens,  encumbrances,
claims,  security  interests,  restrictions  and  defects  except  such  as  are
reflected  in the  Prospectus.  Each parcel of real  property  owned,  leased or
controlled by the Company and/or the Subsidiary,  and each improvement  thereon,
complies with all applicable  codes,  laws and regulations  (including,  without
limitation, building and zoning codes, laws and regulations and laws relating to
access to facilities  located on such real property) except if and to the extent
disclosed in the  Prospectus,  and except for such failures to comply that would
not  individually  or in the  aggregate  have a material  adverse  impact on the
assets,  properties,  results of  operation,  financial  condition  or  business
prospects  of Republic  taken as a whole.  The Company has no  knowledge  of any
pending  or  threatened  condemnation  proceedings,   zoning  change,  or  other
proceeding  or  action  that  will in any  manner  affect  the size of,  use of,
improvements   on,   construction  on  or  access  to  such  real  property  and
improvements,  except such proceedings or actions that would not have a material
adverse  effect on the  assets,  properties,  results  of  operation,  financial
condition or business prospects of Republic taken as a whole.

         (o) Any real  property  and  buildings  held under lease by the Company
and/or the  Subsidiary  is held by such  entity  under a valid,  subsisting  and
enforceable  lease with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere
in any  material  respect  with  the use made  and  proposed  to be made of such
property and building by the Company and/or the Subsidiary;  such leases conform
to the description thereof, if any, set forth in the Registration Statement; and
no notice has been given or material  claim  asserted  by anyone  adverse to the
rights of the Company and/or the Subsidiary under any of the leases or affecting
their rights to the continued possession of the leased property.

         (p) Except as described in the Prospectus, to the best of the Company's
knowledge,  there is not pending nor threatened,  any action, suit,  proceeding,
inquiry or investigation,  against the Company and/or the Subsidiary or of their
respective  officers,  directors  or  significant  stockholders  or to which the
properties,  assets  or  rights of the  Republic  taken as a whole are  subject,
before  or  brought  by any  court or  governmental  agency  or body or board of
arbitrators,  which could result in any material  adverse  change in the assets,
properties,  results of operation,  financial condition or business prospects of
Republic,  taken as a whole, or which could adversely affect the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

<PAGE>

         (q) There are no contracts or other documents  required by the 1933 Act
or the 1933 Act Regulations to be described in or incorporated by reference into
the  Registration  Statement  or  Prospectus  or to be filed as  exhibits to the
Registration  Statement which have not been accurately described in all material
respects in the Prospectus or incorporated or filed as required.  The agreements
to which the Company and the  Subsidiary  are parties which are described in the
Registration  Statement and the  Prospectus,  are valid and  enforceable  in all
material respects by the Company and the Subsidiary, as the case may be, and, to
the best of the Company's knowledge, no party or parties thereto are in material
breach or default under any of such agreements.

         (r) The Company and the  Subsidiary  own,  possess or have obtained all
material  permits,  licenses,   franchises,   certificates,   consents,  orders,
approvals and other authorizations of governmental or regulatory  authorities as
are  necessary  to own or  lease,  as the  case  may be,  and to  operate  their
properties and to carry on their businesses as presently conducted.  Neither the
Company nor the Subsidiary  has received any notice of  proceedings  relating to
revocation or modification of any such license,  permit,  certificate,  consent,
order,   approval  or  authorization  which  revocation  or  modification  could
materially and adversely  affect the assets,  properties,  results of operation,
financial condition or business prospects of Republic taken as a whole.

         (s) The Company and/or the Subsidiary own or possess adequate  licenses
or other  rights to use all patents,  trademarks,  service  marks,  trade names,
copyrights,   software  and  design  licenses,   trade  secrets,   manufacturing
processes,   other  intangible   property  rights  and  know-how   (collectively
"Intangibles") necessary to entitle them to conduct their businesses now, and as
proposed to be conducted or operated as described in the Prospectus, and neither
the Company nor the  Subsidiary  has received any notice of  infringement  of or
conflict  with (and the  Company  knows of no such  infringement  of or conflict
with)  asserted  rights of others with  respect to any  Intangibles  which could
materially and adversely  affect the assets,  properties,  results of operation,
financial condition or business prospects of Republic taken as a whole.

         (t) The systems of internal accounting controls utilized by the Company
and the Subsidiary are sufficient to meet the objectives of internal  accounting
control  insofar as those  objectives  pertain to the prevention or detection of
errors or  irregularities  in amounts  that would be material in relation to the
their  financial  statements  and the  financial  information  disclosed  in the
Registration  Statement  and  Prospectus;  and,  neither  the  Company  nor  the
Subsidiary  nor any of their  employees,  or  agents  have made any  payment  or
received or retained any funds from the accounts of Republic and no funds of the
Company  or the  Subsidiary  have been set aside to be used for any  payment  in
violation of any law, rule or regulation.

         (u) The Company  and the  Subsidiary  have filed on a timely  basis all
federal,  state,  local and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to
be filed  through the date hereof and have paid all taxes shown as due  thereon;
and no tax deficiency, has been asserted against the Company and the Subsidiary,
nor does the Company know of any tax  deficiency  which is likely to be asserted
against any of Republic,  which if  determined  adversely  to any such  company,
could materially adversely affect the assets, properties,  results of operation,
financial  condition or business prospects of Republic taken as a whole. All tax
liabilities  are  adequately  provided  for on the books of the  Company and the
Subsidiary.

         (v)  Except  as  disclosed  in the  Prospectus,  the  Company  and  the
Subsidiary  maintain  insurance  (issued by  insurers  of  recognized  financial
responsibility)  of the types and in the amounts  generally  deemed adequate for
their  businesses and, to the best of the Company's  knowledge,  consistent with
insurance  coverage  maintained  by similar  companies  in  similar  businesses,
including,  but not limited to,  insurance  covering real and personal  property
owned  or  leased  by  Republic  against  theft,  damage,  destruction,  acts of
vandalism  and all other risks  customarily  insured  against,  and casualty and
liability insurance covering the Company's and the Subsidiary's operations,  all
of which insurance is in full force and effect.

<PAGE>

         (w) Except as  disclosed in the  Prospectus,  no labor  problem  exists
among the Company,  the Subsidiary and their  respective  employees,  or, to the
best of the Company's knowledge, is threatened or imminent that could materially
adversely affect  Republic.  The Company and the Subsidiary are not aware of any
existing,  threatened or imminent  labor  disturbance by the employees of any of
its  principal  suppliers,  contractors  or customers  that could be expected to
materially adversely affect the business, prospects, properties, assets, results
of operation or condition (financial or other) of Republic taken as a whole.

         (x) Neither the Company,  its officers,  directors,  stockholders,  its
affiliates  (as  defined in Rule  144(a)(1)  under the 1933 Act) nor the Selling
Stockholder have taken, and such parties will not take,  directly or indirectly,
any action designed to, or that might be reasonably expected to, cause or result
in or constitute,  the  stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares
to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

         (y) Upon  effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement,  the  Class A
Common Stock has been  registered  pursuant to Section 12(g) of the 1934 Act and
the Shares have been approved for listing on The NASDAQ Stock Market's  National
Market (the "NSM"), subject to official notice of issuance.

         (z) The Company and the Subsidiary have participated in the preparation
of the  Registration  Statement  and  Prospectus  and no facts  have come to the
attention  of the Company or the  Subsidiary  which leads any of them to believe
that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,  or any amendment thereto, as
of their respective effective or filing dates, contained any untrue statement of
a  material  fact or  omitted to state a  material  fact  required  to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

         (aa) Neither the Company nor the  Subsidiary has incurred any liability
for a fee,  commission or other  compensation  on account of the employment of a
broker  or finder  in  connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement other than as contemplated hereby.

         (bb) Any  certificate  signed  by any duly  authorized  officer  of the
Company or the Subsidiary,  respectively, and delivered to you or to counsel for
the Underwriters,  shall be deemed a representation  and warranty by the Company
to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

         (cc)  The  Company  is not,  and will not  become,  as a result  of the
transactions contemplated hereby, and does not intend to conduct its business in
a manner  that would  cause it to become an  "investment  company"  or a company
controlled  by an  "investment  company"  within the  meaning of the  Investment
Company Act of 1940.

         (dd) To the best knowledge of Republic, neither the Bank nor any of the
employees  of the Bank has made any  payment  of funds of the Bank as a loan for
the purchase of the Securities or made any other payment of funds  prohibited by
law, except for such other  prohibited  payments of funds which would not result
in a material adverse effect in the consolidated financial condition, results of
operations  or business of the Company and the Bank,  and no funds have been set
aside to be used for any payment prohibited by law.

         (ee)  The  Bank is in  compliance  in all  material  respects  with the
applicable  financial record keeping and reporting  requirements of the Currency
and Foreign  Transaction  Reporting Act of 1970,  as amended,  and the rules and
regulations thereunder.

         (ff) The Bank has been duly  organized  and is  validly  existing  as a
Kentucky  chartered bank with full  corporate  power and authority to own, lease
and  operate its  properties  and to conduct its  business as  described  in the
Prospectus;  the Bank has obtained all licenses,  permits and other governmental
authorizations currently required for the conduct of its business,  except where
the   failure  to  obtain   such   licenses,   permits  or  other   governmental
authorizations  would  not  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  assets,

<PAGE>

properties, results of operations, financial condition, or business prospects of
Republic  taken as a whole;  all such licenses,  permits and other  governmental
authorizations  are in full  force and  effect  and the Bank is in all  material
respects  in  compliance  therewith;  the Bank has not  received  notice  of any
proceeding  or action  relating to the  revocation or  modification  of any such
license,  permit or other  governmental  authorization  which,  singly or in the
aggregate,  if the subject of an unfavorable decision,  ruling or finding, might
have a material adverse effect on the assets, properties, results of operations,
financial condition, or business prospects of Republic taken as a whole; and the
Bank is in  good  standing  under  the  laws of the  State  of  Kentucky  and is
qualified to do business in any  jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify
would have a  material  adverse  effect on the  assets,  properties,  results of
operations, financial condition, or business of Republic taken as a whole.

         (gg) The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by the Bank Insurance
Fund ("BIF") and the Savings Association  Insurance Fund ("SAIF") of the FDIC up
to the applicable limits.

         (hh) The Bank is not in violation of any directive from the FDIC or the
Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions  ("Department") to make any change
in the  method  of  conducting  its  business;  the  Bank has  conducted  and is
conducting  its  business  so  as  to  comply  with  all  applicable   statutes,
regulations and administrative and court decrees (including, without limitation,
all  regulations,   decisions,  directives  and  orders  of  the  FDIC  and  the
Department)  except in such respects as would not have a material adverse effect
upon the Bank.

     Section 2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLING  STOCKHOLDER.  The
Selling Stockholder represents and warrants to each Underwriter and agrees that:

         (a)  The  Selling  Stockholder  has  all  right,  power  and  authority
necessary to execute and deliver this Agreement,  to sell and deliver the Shares
to be sold by him  hereunder  and to perform  all other  obligations  under this
Agreement;  the  execution,  delivery and  performance  of this Agreement by the
Selling Stockholder will not conflict with, result in the creation or imposition
of any lien,  charge  or  encumbrance  upon any of the  Shares to be sold by the
Selling Stockholder pursuant to the terms of, or constitute a default under, any
agreement or other instrument,  or any order, rule or regulation of any court or
governmental  agency having  jurisdiction  over the Selling  Stockholder  or the
Selling  Stockholder's  properties;  and except as  required by the 1933 Act and
applicable  state  securities  laws, no consent,  authorization  or order of, or
filing or registration  with, any court or governmental  agency is required (or,
if required,  has been obtained) for the execution,  delivery and performance of
this  Agreement  by the  Selling  Stockholder.  This  Agreement  has  been  duly
authorized,  executed and delivered by the Selling  Stockholder  and constitutes
the valid and binding agreement of the Selling Stockholder,  enforceable against
him in accordance with its terms,  except to the extent that the indemnification
provisions  set forth in Section 9 of this Agreement may be limited by equitable
principles,   and  except  as  enforceability  may  be  limited  by  bankruptcy,
reorganization,  moratorium  or similar laws  affecting  the  enforceability  of
creditors'  rights  generally and rules of law governing  specific  performance,
injunctive relief and other equitable remedies.

         (b) At the Closing Time, the Selling  Stockholder  will have good title
to the Shares being sold by him  hereunder;  such Shares are, and at the Closing
Time will be, validly  authorized,  duly issued and outstanding,  fully paid and
nonassessable  Class A Common  Stock of the Company  with no personal  liability
attaching  to the  ownership  thereof;  and upon the delivery of and payment for
such Shares as contemplated  herein, the Underwriters will receive good title to
the Shares purchased by them, respectively,  from such Selling Stockholder, free
and clear of any and all liens,  encumbrances,  security  interests  and adverse
claims.

         (c) Without the prior written consent of the Underwriters,  the Selling
Stockholder  and any  affiliate  controlled by him (other than the Company) will
not sell or offer or contract to sell,  except to the  Underwriters  pursuant to
this Agreement,  any securities of the Company which he beneficially owns within
180 days after the effective  date of the  Registration  Statement.  The Selling
Stockholder  has not (i) taken,  and agrees  that he will not take,  directly or

<PAGE>

indirectly,  any action which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in
stabilization  or  manipulation  of the price of any  security of the Company to
facilitate  the sale or resale of the  Shares  or (ii)  since the  filing of the
Registration  Statement  (A)  sold,  bid  for,  purchased,  or paid  anyone  any
compensation for soliciting  purchases of, the Shares,  or (b) paid or agreed to
pay to any person any compensation for soliciting  another to purchase any other
securities of the Company.

         (d) Except as set forth in the Prospectus,  the Selling  Stockholder is
disposing  of his Shares  hereunder  for his own account and is not selling such
Shares,  directly  or  indirectly,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Company  or  the
Underwriters.

         (e) When any Preliminary Prospectus was filed with the Commission:  (i)
it contained all statements  required to be stated therein regarding the Selling
Stockholder in accordance with, and complied in all material respects  regarding
the Selling Stockholder with the requirements of, the 1933 Act and the rules and
regulations  thereunder;  and (ii) such statements in the Preliminary Prospectus
as are  made  in  reliance  upon  and in  conformity  with  written  information
furnished  to the  Company by the  Selling  Stockholder  for use therein did not
include any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to state any material
fact  necessary  in  order  to make  the  statements  therein,  in  light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  When the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto or any 462(b)  Registration  Statement or any
amendment  thereto was or is declared  effective  and at the Closing Time or any
Date of  Delivery,  as the case may be: (i) it  contained  or will  contain  all
statements  required to be stated therein  regarding the Selling  Stockholder in
accordance with, and complied or will comply in all material respects  regarding
the Selling  Stockholder with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and
regulations  of the  Commission  thereunder;  and (ii)  such  statements  in the
Registration  Statement,  any 462(b)  Registration  Statement  or any  amendment
thereto as are made in reliance upon and in conformity with written  information
furnished to the Company by the Selling Stockholder specifically for use therein
did not or will not include any untrue  statement of a material  fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
When the Prospectus,  any Term Sheet, or any amendment or supplement  thereto is
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (or, if any Prospectus or such
amendment or  supplement is not required to be so filed,  when the  Registration
Statement or the amendment  thereto  containing  such amendment or supplement to
the  Prospectus  was or is declared  effective),  and at the Closing Time or any
Date of  Delivery,  as the  case  may be:  (i) the  Prospectus,  as  amended  or
supplemented at any such time (including by means of any Term Sheet),  contained
or will  contain all  statements  required  to be  contained  or stated  therein
regarding  the Selling  Stockholder  in  accordance  with,  and complied or will
comply in all  material  respects  regarding  the Selling  Stockholder  with the
requirements  of, the 1933 Act and the rules and  regulations  of the Commission
thereunder;  and (ii)  such  statements  in the  Prospectus,  as so  amended  or
supplemented  at any such time,  as are made in reliance  upon and in conformity
with written  information  furnished  to the Company by the Selling  Stockholder
specifically for use therein did not or will not include any untrue statement of
a material  fact or omit to state any material  fact  necessary in order to make
the  statements  therein,  in light of the  circumstances  under which they were
made, not misleading.

         (f) The sale of the Shares by the Selling Stockholder  pursuant to this
Agreement  is not prompted by any material  information  concerning  the Company
which is not set forth in the Prospectus.

   Section 3. SALE AND DELIVERY OF SHARES TO THE UNDERWRITERS; CLOSING.

         (a)  On  the  basis  of  the   representations  and  warranties  herein
contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company
and the Selling  Stockholder agree to sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule
I hereto,  and each such  Underwriter  agrees,  severally  and not  jointly,  to
purchase from the Company and the Selling  Stockholder,  at a purchase  price of
$12.09 per share,  the  aggregate  number of Firm Shares set forth  opposite the
name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.

         (b)  On  the  basis  of  the   representations  and  warranties  herein
contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company

<PAGE>

hereby  grants an option to the  Underwriters,  severally  and not  jointly,  to
purchase  up to an  additional  260,000  Option  Shares  on the same  terms  and
conditions  as the Firm  Shares.  The option  hereby  granted will expire if not
exercised within the 30 day period after the first date on which the Firm Shares
are publicly  traded on a when issued  basis,  by giving  written  notice to the
Company.  The option granted  hereby may be exercised,  in whole or in part (but
not more than once), only for the purpose of covering the  over-allotments  that
may be made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Firm Shares.
The notice of exercise  shall set forth the number of Option  Shares as to which
the several  Underwriters  are exercising  the option,  and the time and date of
payment  and  delivery  thereof.  Such time and date of  delivery  (the "Date of
Delivery")  shall be  determined by you but shall not be earlier than the second
business  day after the date on which the notice of the  exercise  of the option
shall have been given nor later than seven full business days after the exercise
of such  option,  nor in any event prior to the Closing  Time.  If the option is
exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Shares, the Option Shares as to
which the option is exercised shall be purchased by the Underwriters,  severally
and not jointly, in their respective underwriting obligation proportions.

         (c) Payment of the  purchase  price for and delivery of the Firm Shares
shall be made at the offices of the Representative at 50 No. Front Street,  20th
Floor,  Memphis,  TN 38103 or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the
Company,  the Selling  Stockholder  and you, at 10:00 A.M.,  either:  (i) on the
third full business day after the effective date of the Registration  Statement;
or (ii) at such other time not more than ten full  business  days  thereafter as
you, the Selling  Stockholder and the Company shall determine (unless, in either
case,  postponed  pursuant  to Section  12) (such  date and time of payment  and
delivery being herein called the "Closing Time"). In addition, in the event that
any or all of the Option  Shares are purchased by the  Underwriters,  payment of
the purchase  price for and  delivery of the Option  Shares shall be made at the
offices of Morgan  Keegan & Company,  Inc. in the manner set forth above,  or at
such  other  place  as the  Company,  the  Selling  Stockholder  and  you  shall
determine,  on the Date of Delivery as  specified  in the notice from you to the
Company and the Selling Stockholder.  Payment for the Firm Shares and the Option
Shares  shall be made to the  Company by  certified  or  official  bank check or
checks in New York  Clearing  House  next day funds  payable to the order of the
Company and the Selling Stockholder,  respectively,  against delivery to you for
the  respective  accounts of the  Underwriters  of the Shares to be purchased by
them.

         (d) The Shares to be  purchased  by the  Underwriters  shall be in such
denominations  and  registered  in such  names as you may  request in writing at
least two full business days before the Closing Time or the Date of Delivery, as
the case  may be.  The  Shares  will be made  available  at the  offices  of the
Representative at 50 No. Front Street, 20th Floor,  Memphis, TN 38103 or at such
other place as Morgan Keegan & Company,  Inc. may designate for  examination and
packaging not later than 10:00 A.M. at least two full business days prior to the
Closing Time or the Date of Delivery, as the case may be.

         (e) After the Registration  Statement becomes effective,  you intend to
offer the  Shares to the  public as set forth in the  Prospectus,  but after the
initial  public  offering of such Shares,  you may from time to time increase or
decrease  your bid price for the Company's  Class A Common  Stock,  in your sole
discretion, by reason of changes in general market conditions or otherwise.

     Section 4.  CERTAIN  COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.  The Company  covenants  and
agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

         (a) The  Company  will use its best  efforts to cause the  Registration
Statement to become  effective  (if not yet  effective at the date and time that
this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto).  If the Company
elects to rely upon Rule 430A of the 1933 Act  Regulations  or the filing of the
Prospectus is otherwise  required under Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations,
and subject to the  provisions  of Section 4(b) of this  Agreement,  the Company
will comply  with the  requirements  of Rule 430A and will file the  Prospectus,
properly completed,  pursuant to the applicable provisions of Rule 424(b) , or a
Term Sheet pursuant to and in accordance  with Rule 434,  within the time period
prescribed.  If the Company  elects to rely upon Rule 462(b) , the Company shall
file a 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule
462(b) by 10:00 p.m., Washington,  D.C. time on the date of this Agreement,  and

<PAGE>

the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the  Commission the filing
fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable  instructions
for the payment of such fee. The Company will notify you immediately and confirm
the notice in writing: (i) when the Registration Statement,  462(b) Registration
Statement or any post-effective  amendment to the Registration Statement,  shall
have  become  effective,  or any  supplement  to the  Prospectus  or any amended
Prospectus  shall have been filed;  (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the
Commission;  (iii) of any request by the  Commission  to amend the  Registration
Statement or 462(b) Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus
or for additional information; and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any
stop order suspending the  effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement or any
462(b)  Registration  Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use
of any Preliminary Prospectus,  or of the suspension of the qualification of the
Shares  for  offering  or sale in any  jurisdiction,  or of the  institution  or
threatening of any  proceedings  for any of such purposes.  The Company will use
every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or of any
order  preventing  or suspending  such use and, if any such order is issued,  to
obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

         (b) The Company will not at any time file or make any  amendment to the
Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement (i) to the Prospectus,  if
the  Company  has not  elected to rely upon Rule 430A;  (ii) if the  Company has
elected  to rely upon  Rule  430A,  to either  the  Prospectus  included  in the
Registration  Statement at the time it becomes  effective  or to the  Prospectus
filed in accordance  with Rule 424(b) or any Term Sheet filed in accordance with
Rule 434;  or (iii) if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) , to any
462(b) Registration  Statement,  in either case if you shall not have previously
been  advised  and  furnished  a copy  thereof a  reasonable  time  prior to the
proposed filing, or if you or counsel for the Underwriters  shall object to such
amendment or supplement.

         (c) The Company has  furnished  or will furnish to you, at its expense,
as soon as  available,  as many signed copies of the  Registration  Statement as
originally  filed and of all amendments  thereto,  whether filed before or after
the  Registration  Statement  becomes  effective,  copies  of all  exhibits  and
documents filed therewith and signed copies of all consents and  certificates of
experts,  as you may  reasonably  request,  and has furnished or will furnish to
each Underwriter, one conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto (but without exhibits).

         (d) The Company will deliver to each Underwriter,  at its expense, from
time to time, as many copies of each Preliminary  Prospectus as such Underwriter
may  reasonably  request,  and the  Company  hereby  consents to the use of such
copies for purposes  permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will deliver to each
Underwriter,  at its expense,  as soon as the Registration  Statement shall have
become  effective,  and  thereafter  from time to time as  requested  during the
period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered  under the 1933 Act, such
number  of  copies  of the  Prospectus  (as  supplemented  or  amended)  as each
Underwriter may reasonably  request.  The Company will comply to the best of its
ability  with the 1933 Act and the 1933  Act  Regulations  so as to  permit  the
completion of the  distribution  of the Shares as contemplated in this Agreement
and in the Prospectus.  In case you are required to deliver a prospectus  within
nine  months  after  the time of issue of the  Prospectus  or any Term  Sheet in
connection with the offering or sale of the Shares and if at such time any event
shall have  occurred  as a result of which the  Prospectus  or any Term Sheet as
then amended or  supplemented  would  include an untrue  statement of a material
fact  or omit to  state  any  material  fact  necessary  in  order  to make  the
statements  therein,  in light of the  circumstances  under which they were made
when such Prospectus or any Term Sheet is delivered, not misleading,  or, if for
any reason it shall be necessary  during such period to amend or supplement  the
Prospectus  or any Term  Sheet in order to comply  with the 1933 Act or the 1933
Act  Regulations,  the  Company  will notify you and upon your  request  prepare
promptly and furnish  without  charge to each  Underwriter  and to any dealer in
securities as many copies as you may from time to time reasonably  request of an
amended  Prospectus or any Term Sheet or a supplement  to the  Prospectus or any
Term Sheet  which  will  correct  such  statement  or  omission  or effect  such
compliance.  In case any  Underwriter  is  required to deliver a  prospectus  in
connection with sales of any of the Shares at any time nine months or more after
the time of issue of the Prospectus or any Term Sheet,  upon your request but at
the expense of such  Underwriter,  the Company  will prepare and deliver to such
Underwriter  as many  copies as you may  request of an  amended or  supplemented
Prospectus or any Term Sheet  complying with the  requirements  of Section 10(a)
(3) of the 1933 Act.

<PAGE>

         (e) The Company will use its best efforts,  in cooperation with you, to
qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of
such states and other  jurisdictions  as you may  designate and to maintain such
qualifications  in  effect  for as  long as may be  necessary  to  complete  the
distribution  of the Shares;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the Company shall not be
obligated  to file any general  consent to service of process or to qualify as a
foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
The Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws
of each jurisdiction in which the Shares have been qualified as above provided.

         (f) The Company will use the net proceeds  received by it from the sale
of the Shares in the manner  specified in the Prospectus  under the caption "Use
of Proceeds."
         (g) The Company will make generally  available to its security  holders
as soon as  practicable,  but in any event not later  than the end of the fiscal
quarter first  occurring  after the first  anniversary of the "effective date of
the  Registration  Statement"  (as  defined  in  Rule  158(c)  of the  1933  Act
Regulations),  an earnings statement (in reasonable detail but which need not be
audited) complying with the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and Rule
158 thereunder and covering a period of at least 12 months  beginning  after the
effective date of the Registration Statement.

         (h)  During a period of five years from the date  hereof,  the  Company
will furnish to its  stockholders,  as soon as practicable after the end of each
respective  period,  annual reports (including  financial  statements audited by
independent  public  accountants) and will furnish to you: (i) concurrently with
furnishing to its stockholders,  a balance sheet of the Company as of the end of
such fiscal year,  together with statements of operations,  of cash flows and of
stockholders' equity of the Company for such fiscal year,  accompanied by a copy
of the certificate or report thereon of independent public accountants;  (ii) as
soon as they are  available,  copies of all  reports  (financial  or  otherwise)
mailed  to  stockholders;  (iii) as soon as they are  available,  copies  of all
reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission,  any
securities  exchange or the NASD;  (iv)  concurrently  with its  release,  every
material  press  release  in  respect of the  Company  or its  affairs  which is
released or prepared by the Company;  and (v) any  additional  information  of a
public nature  concerning  the Company or its business  that you may  reasonably
request.  During such five-year period, the foregoing financial statements shall
be on a  consolidated  basis to the extent that the  accounts of the Company are
consolidated  with  any  subsidiaries,  and  shall  be  accompanied  by  similar
financial statements for any significant Subsidiary that is not so consolidated.

         (i) For a period of 180 days from the date  hereof,  the  Company  will
not, without your prior written consent, directly or indirectly,  sell, offer to
sell,  grant any option for the sale of, or  otherwise  dispose  of, any Class A
Common Stock or securities  convertible into Class A Common Stock, other than to
the  Underwriters  pursuant to this Agreement  except for: (i)  contributions to
employee  benefit  plans  in  existence  on the  date of the  execution  of this
Agreement  or as  contemplated  by the  Prospectus;  (ii) the  grant of  options
pursuant to the  Company's  Stock Option Plan in effect at the time of execution
of this Agreement;  or (iii) pursuant to an exercise of stock options or sale of
Common  Stock  pursuant  to a "cashless  exercise"  of stock  options  which are
outstanding  on the date of the  Prospectus or upon  conversion  of  convertible
securities.

         (j) For  three  years  after  the  effective  date of the  Registration
Statement,  the Company will maintain a transfer  agent and, if necessary  under
the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company,  a registrar (which may be the
same entity as the transfer agent) for its Class A Common Stock.

         (k) For  three  years  after  the  effective  date of the  Registration
Statement,  the Company will use its best efforts to maintain the listing of its
shares of Class A Common Stock on NSM.

         (l) The Company is familiar with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and has in the past conducted
its affairs,  and will in the future conduct its affairs, in such a manner so as
to  ensure  that the  Company  was not and will not be an  "investment  company"
within  the  meaning  of the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940 and the rules and
regulations thereunder.

<PAGE>

         (m) The Company  will not,  and will use its best  efforts to cause its
officers,  directors  and  affiliates  not to: (i) take,  directly or indirectly
prior to the  termination of the  underwriting  syndicate  contemplated  by this
Agreement,  any action  designed to  stabilize  or  manipulate  the price of any
security of the Company,  or which may cause or result in, or which might in the
future  reasonably  be  expected  to cause or result  in, the  stabilization  or
manipulation of the price of any security of the Company, to facilitate the sale
or resale of any of the Shares;  (ii) sell, bid for,  purchase or pay anyone any
compensation  for soliciting  purchases of the Shares;  or (iii) pay or agree to
pay to any person any  compensation  for  soliciting  any order to purchase  any
other securities of the Company.

         (n) If at any time  during the  30-day  period  after the  Registration
Statement  becomes  effective,  any rumor,  publication  or event relating to or
affecting  the  Company  shall  occur  as a result  of which in your  reasonable
opinion  the  market  price of the  Common  Stock  has been or is  likely  to be
materially  affected  (regardless  of whether such rumor,  publication  or event
necessitates  a supplement  or amendment of the  Prospectus)  and after  written
notice from you advising the Company to the effect set forth above,  the Company
agrees to forthwith  prepare,  consult with you concerning the substance of, and
disseminate a press release or other public statement,  reasonably  satisfactory
to you,  responding to or commenting on such rumor,  publication or event to the
extent it can do so consistent with its legal obligations.

         (o)      The Company will file timely and accurate  information  with
the  Commission in accordance  with Rule 463 of the 1933 Act Regulations or any
successor provision.

         (p) The  Company  will  supply  the  Underwriters  with  copies  of all
correspondence  to and from and all documents issued to and by the Commission or
the Commission staff in connection with the registration of the Shares under the
1933 Act.

     Section 5. COVENANTS OF THE SELLING  STOCKHOLDER.  The Selling  Stockholder
covenants:

         (a) To pay all taxes,  if any, on the transfer and sale of the Shares 
to be sold by him hereunder.

         (b) To use reasonable  efforts to cause the  Registration  Statement to
become  effective,  to do and perform all things to be done and performed by the
Selling  Stockholder  hereunder  prior to the  Closing  Time and to satisfy  all
conditions  precedent  to the  delivery  of the Shares to be sold by the Selling
Stockholder.

         (c) To not: (i) take, directly or directly, prior to the termination of
the underwriting syndicate  contemplated by this Agreement,  any action designed
to stabilize or  manipulate  the price of any security of the Company,  or which
may cause or result in, or which might in the future  reasonably  be expected to
cause or  result  in,  the  stabilization  or  manipulation  of the price of any
security of the Company,  to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares;
(ii) sell,  bid for,  purchase  or pay anyone any  compensation  for  soliciting
purchases  of the  Shares;  or  (iii)  pay or  agree  to pay to any  person  any
compensation  for soliciting  any order to purchase any other  securities of the
Company.

         Section 6. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.

         (a) The Company will pay and bear all costs, fees and expenses incident
to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement,  including:  (i) the
preparation,  printing  and  filing  of the  Registration  Statement  (including

<PAGE>

financial  statements and  exhibits),  as originally  filed and as amended,  the
Preliminary  Prospectuses  and the  Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto, and the cost of furnishing copies thereof to the Underwriters; (ii) the
preparation,  printing and  distribution of this Agreement,  the Selected Dealer
Agreement,  and any  instruments  relating  to any of the  foregoing;  (iii) the
issuance and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters,  including any transfer
taxes  payable  upon the sale of the  Shares  to the  Underwriters  (other  than
transfer taxes on resales by the Underwriters);  (iv) the fees and disbursements
of the Company's  counsel and accountants;  (v) the  qualification of the Shares
under the applicable  securities laws in accordance with Section 1(f) hereof and
any filing for review of the offering with the NASD,  including  filing fees and
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection  therewith;
(vi) the transfer  agent's and registrar's fees and all  miscellaneous  expenses
referred to in Item 14 of the  Registration  Statement;  (vii) costs  related to
travel and lodging incurred by the Company and its  representatives  relating to
meetings  with  and  presentations  to  prospective  purchasers  of  the  Shares
reasonably determined by the Underwriters to be necessary or desirable to effect
the sale of the Shares to the public;  and (viii) all other  costs and  expenses
incident to the performance of the Company's  obligations  hereunder  (including
costs  incurred in closing the purchase of the Option  Shares,  if any) that are
not otherwise  specifically provided for in this section. The Company, upon your
request,  will provide funds in advance for filing fees in connection with "blue
sky" qualifications and the NASD.
         (b) The Selling  Stockholder shall pay his  proportionate  share of all
Underwriters' commissions relating to Shares of the Company sold by such Selling
Stockholder.

         (c) If the  sale of  Shares  provided  for  herein  is not  consummated
because  any  condition  to the  obligations  of the  Underwriters  set forth in
Section  7 hereof is not  satisfied,  because  of any  termination  pursuant  to
Section 11 hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of
the Company or the Selling Stockholder to perform any agreement herein or comply
with any  provision  hereof  other  than by reason  of a  default  by any of the
Underwriters,  the Company and the Selling  Stockholder  will,  based upon their
respective percentage of the Firm Shares,  reimburse the Underwriters  severally
on  demand  for  all  reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses,  including  fees  and
disbursements of Underwriters' counsel,  reasonably incurred by the Underwriters
in reviewing the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and in investigating
and making preparations for the marketing of the Shares.

         Section 7. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS.  The obligations of
the  Underwriters  to purchase  and pay for the Shares that they have  severally
agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement (including any Option Shares as to
which  the  option  granted  in  Section  3 has been  exercised  and the Date of
Delivery  determined  by you is the same as the Closing Time) are subject to the
accuracy in all material respects of the  representations  and warranties of the
Company and the Selling  Stockholder  contained herein or in certificates of any
officer of the Company  delivered  pursuant  to the  provisions  hereof,  to the
performance by the Company and the Selling  Stockholder in all material respects
of  their  respective  obligations  hereunder,  and  to  the  following  further
conditions:

         (a) The  Registration  Statement shall have become  effective not later
than 5:30  P.M.,  eastern  time,  on the date of this  Agreement  or,  with your
consent,  at a later time and date not later,  however,  than 5:30 P.M., eastern
time, on the first business day following the date hereof, or at such later time
or on such later date as you may agree to in writing; and at the Closing Time no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have
been issued under the 1933 Act and no  proceedings  for that purpose  shall have
been  instituted  or shall be pending or, to your  knowledge or the knowledge of
the Company shall be contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part
of the Commission for  additional  information  shall have been complied with to
the satisfaction of counsel for the Underwriters.  If the Company has elected to
rely upon Rule 430A, a prospectus  containing  the Rule 430A  Information  shall
have been  filed  with the  Commission  in  accordance  with Rule  424(b)  (or a
post-effective  amendment  providing such information  shall have been filed and
declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A).

         (b) At the Closing  Time you shall have  received the opinion of Wyatt,
Tarrant & Combs  counsel for the Company and the Selling  Stockholder,  together

<PAGE>

with  signed  or  reproduced  copies  of such  opinion  for  each  of the  other
Underwriters,  in form and substance satisfactory to Baker, Donelson,  Bearman &
Caldwell, counsel for the Underwriters, to the effect that:

                   (i) the Company is validly  existing as a corporation in good
         standing  under the laws of the State of Kentucky and has the requisite
         corporate  power and  authority to conduct its business as described in
         the  Registration  Statement  and the  Prospectus.  The Company is duly
         qualified and in good standing as a foreign  corporation  in each other
         jurisdiction in which the ownership or leasing of its properties or the
         nature or conduct of its business makes such  qualification  necessary,
         except where the failure to be so qualified or in good  standing  would
         not have a material  adverse  effect on the financial  condition or the
         business of Republic taken as a whole. To the knowledge of such counsel
         the Company does not own a majority interest in or control, directly or
         indirectly,  any corporation,  association or other entity,  other than
         the Subsidiary,  Republic  Insurance  Agency,  Inc.,  Republic Mortgage
         Company,  Republic Financial Services  Corporation and Republic Capital
         Trust;

                  (ii) the  Subsidiary is validly  existing as a corporation  in
         good  standing  under  the laws of the  State of  Kentucky  and has the
         requisite  corporate  power and  authority  to conduct its  business as
         described  in  the  Registration  Statement  and  the  Prospectus.  The
         Subsidiary  is  duly  qualified  and  in  good  standing  as a  foreign
         corporation in each  jurisdiction  in which the ownership or leasing of
         its  properties  or the nature or conduct  of its  business  makes such
         qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or
         in good  standing  would  not have a  material  adverse  effect  on the
         financial condition or the business of Republic taken as a whole;

                  (iii) each of the Company and the Subsidiary has the corporate
         power and  authority  to own or lease its  properties  and  conduct its
         business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;

                   (iv) the Common Stock conforms in all material respects as to
         legal matters to the description  thereof contained in the Registration
         Statement and the Prospectus under the caption  "Description of Capital
         Stock;"

                   (v) the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and
         delivered to the Underwriters  pursuant to the  Underwriting  Agreement
         against payment of the consideration therefor as provided therein, will
         be validly  issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable.  To such  counsel's
         knowledge,  no preemptive rights of stockholders  exist with respect to
         any of the Shares  which  have not been  satisfied  or waived.  To such
         counsel's  knowledge,  no person or entity  holds a right to require or
         participate  in the  registration  under  the  1933  Act of the  Shares
         pursuant to the Registration  Statement which has not been satisfied or
         waived,  and, except as set forth in the Prospectus,  no person holds a
         right to  require  registration  under  the 1933 Act of any  shares  of
         Common  Stock of the  Company  at any  other  time  which  has not been
         satisfied or waived.  The form of  certificates  evidencing  the Shares
         complies  with all  applicable  requirements  of Kentucky  law. To such
         counsel's knowledge, the Selling Stockholder has, and immediately prior
         to the Closing Date will have, good and valid title to the Shares to be
         sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder, free and clear of all liens,
         security   interests,   pledges,   charges,   encumbrances,    defects,
         stockholders'  agreements,  voting  trusts,  equities  or claims of any
         nature  whatsoever;  and, upon delivery of such Shares against  payment
         therefor as provided herein,  good and valid title to such Shares, free
         and  clear  of  all  liens,  security  interests,   pledges,   charges,
         encumbrances,   defects,   stockholders'  agreements,   voting  trusts,
         equities or claims of any nature  whatsoever,  will pass to the several
         Underwriters;

                  (vi) the Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth
         in the Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization." All of the issued
         shares of capital  stock of the Company have been duly  authorized  and
         validly  issued,  are fully paid and  nonassessable.  To such counsel's
         knowledge,  none of the issued  shares of capital  stock of the Company
         has been  issued  or is owned or held in  violation  of any  preemptive
         rights of  stockholders.  To such counsel's  knowledge,  all offers and
         sales  of the  Company's  capital  stock  described  in  Part II of the
         registration Statement were at all relevant times duly registered under
         the 1933 Act or were exempt from the  registration  requirements of the
         1933 Act by reason of Sections 3(a), 3(b), 4(2) or 4(6) thereof;

                  (vii) except as disclosed in the Prospectus,  to the knowledge
         of such counsel, there are no outstanding (i) securities or obligations
         of the Company or its Subsidiary  convertible  into or exchangeable for
         any capital  stock of the Company or such  Subsidiary,  (ii)  warrants,
         rights or options to subscribe for or purchase from the Company or such
         Subsidiary any such capital stock or such  convertible or  exchangeable
         securities or obligations,  or (iii)  obligations of the Company or any
         such  Subsidiary  to  issue  any  shares  of  capital  stock,  any such
         convertible  or  exchangeable  securities or  obligations,  or any such
         warrants, rights or options;

<PAGE>

                  (viii)  to  the  knowledge  of  such  counsel,   there  is  no
         litigation,   arbitration,  claim,  governmental  or  other  proceeding
         (formal or informal), or investigation pending or overtly threatened by
         written  communication to the Company in which any of the Company,  the
         Subsidiary,  or Selling Stockholder is a party or of which any property
         of the Company,  the Subsidiary,  or Selling Stockholder is the subject
         except  as  described  in  the  Prospectus  or  which,   if  determined
         adversely,  would not have a material  adverse  effect on the financial
         condition or business of Republic taken as a whole;

                  (ix) no  authorization,  approval  or  consent of any court or
         governmental  authority  or agency is  required  to be  obtained by the
         Company, the Subsidiary,  or Selling Stockholder in connection with the
         offering, issuance or sale of the Shares by the Company, except such as
         may be required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act  Regulations,  state
         securities  laws or by the NASD.  Neither the execution nor delivery by
         the Company of this  Agreement,  nor the  performance by the Company or
         the Selling Stockholder of their obligations hereunder will, (a) result
         in the violation of any  applicable law or  administrative  regulation,
         or,  to the  knowledge  of such  counsel,  any  decree,  applicable  to
         Republic,  of any court or  administrative  agency having  jurisdiction
         over such companies or any of their properties, or (b) conflict with or
         result in a breach or default or result in the  creation or  imposition
         of a lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property of Republic under or
         pursuant  to any of the  provisions  of their  respective  Articles  of
         Incorporation,  Bylaws  or,  to the  knowledge  of  such  counsel,  any
         material contract, indenture,  mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or
         other  material  instrument to which the Company,  the  Subsidiary,  or
         Selling  Stockholder is a party or by which they are bound, or to which
         any  material  amount of the  property  or assets of the  Company,  the
         Subsidiary, or the Selling Stockholder is subject;

                  (x) to the knowledge of such counsel,  there are no pending or
         threatened condemnation proceedings,  zoning change or other proceeding
         or  action  that  will  in any  manner  affect  the  size  of,  use of,
         improvements  on,  construction  on or access to such real property and
         improvements  except such  proceedings or actions that would not have a
         material  adverse  effect on the  financial  condition  or  business of
         Republic taken as a whole;

                  (xi) except as described in the Prospectus,  such counsel does
         not know of any past, pending or threatened action,  suit,  proceeding,
         inquiry or  investigation  before any court or before or by any public,
         regulatory  or  governmental  body or board  against or  involving  the
         properties or business of the Company, the Selling Stockholder,  or the
         Subsidiary  of a character  required to be disclosed in the  Prospectus
         or, as to threatened litigation, of a character which would be required
         to be disclosed if filed, or in either case which, if successful, would
         have a material  adverse effect on the financial  condition or business
         of Republic taken as a whole;

                  (xii) the Registration  Statement and any 462(b)  Registration
         Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act and, to the knowledge
         of such counsel,  no stop order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of the
         Registration  Statement or any 462(b)  Registration  Statement has been
         issued and no  proceeding  for that purpose has been  instituted  or is
         pending or contemplated by the Commission;

<PAGE>

                  (xiii) the descriptions in the Registration  Statement and the
         Prospectus of the contracts,  leases and other legal documents  therein
         described present fairly the information required to be shown and there
         are no contracts,  leases or other documents known to such counsel of a
         character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus  or to be filed as  exhibits to the  Registration  Statement
         which are not described or filed as required.  There are no statutes or
         regulations   applicable   to  the   Company  or  the   Subsidiary   or
         certificates,   permits  or  other   authorizations  from  governmental
         regulatory officials or bodies required to be obtained or maintained by
         the Company of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration
         Statement  or the  Prospectus  which  have  not been so  disclosed  and
         described therein.

                  (xiv)  the  Company  and  the  Selling  Stockholder  have  all
         requisite  power and  authority  to execute,  deliver and perform  this
         Agreement  and to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,
         including  the  issuance,  sale  and  delivery  by them  of the  Shares
         hereunder.  The  opinions  called for by this clause  (xiv) may exclude
         from  their  scope  any  authorization,   approval,   order,   license,
         certificate  or permit as may be required  under the "blue sky" laws of
         any  jurisdiction  in connection  with the  distribution  of the Shares
         contemplated by the Registration Statement;

                  (xv) this  Agreement  has been duly  authorized,  executed and
         delivered by the Company and the Selling Stockholder, and, assuming the
         due authorization,  execution and delivery by the Underwriters, will be
         valid  and  binding   obligations   of  the  Company  and  the  Selling
         Stockholder  enforceable  in accordance  with its terms,  except to the
         extent  enforceability  may  be  limited  by  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
         reorganization  or other laws of general  applicability  relating to or
         affecting  creditor's rights, to general equity principles,  and except
         to the extent that the  indemnification  provisions in Section 9 of the
         Agreement  may be limited by  federal or state  securities  laws or the
         public policy underlying such laws;

                  (xvi)  neither the Company nor the  Subsidiary is presently in
         breach of or default under its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, and
         no material  default exists and, to the best knowledge of such counsel,
         no event has  occurred  which with notice or after the lapse of time to
         cure  or  both,  would  constitute  a  material  default,  in  the  due
         performance  and  observance of any term,  covenant or condition of any
         indenture,  mortgage,  deed of trust,  loan agreement,  note,  lease or
         other  agreement  or  instrument  known to such  counsel  to which  the
         Company and the Subsidiary is a party or to which any of its properties
         is subject,  in any such case where the  consequences of such violation
         or default is likely to have a material adverse effect on the financial
         condition or business of Republic taken as a whole;

                  (xvii)   neither  the  Company  nor  the   Subsidiary   is  an
         "investment  company" within the meaning of the Investment  Company Act
         of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder;

                  (xviii) to the knowledge of such counsel, all distributions by
         the Company and the Subsidiary to their  respective  stockholders  over
         the past three years have been made in accordance  with the laws of the
         state of their  incorporation  and with all other laws and  regulations
         affecting such distributions; and

                  (xix)  we  have   participated  in  conferences  with  certain
         officers  of, and with the  accountants  and counsel  for,  the Company
         concerning  the  preparation  of the  Registration  Statement  and  the
         Prospectus.  Although we have made certain inquiries and investigations
         in connection  with the preparation of the  Registration  Statement and
         the Prospectus, the limitations inherent in the role of outside counsel
         are  such  that we  cannot  and do not  assume  responsibility  for the
         accuracy or  completeness  of the statements  made in the  Registration

<PAGE>

         Statement and Prospectus,  except insofar as such statements  relate to
         us.  Subject to the  foregoing,  we hereby  advise you that our work in
         connection with this matter did not disclose any information  that gave
         us reason to  believe  that:  (1) the  Registration  Statement  and the
         Prospectus  (except the  financial  statements  or other  accounting or
         financial  data  included  therein,  as to which we do not  express any
         view)  were  not,  as of their  respective  effective  or issue  dates,
         appropriately  responsive in all material  respects to the requirements
         of the Securities Act and the applicable  rules and  regulations of the
         Securities   and   Exchange   Commission   thereunder,   and  (ii)  the
         Registration  Statement,  at the time the Registration Statement became
         effective,  contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
         to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to
         make the statements therein not misleading;  or that the Prospectus, at
         the date  thereof,  includes  or  included  an  untrue  statement  of a
         material fact or omits or omitted to state a material fact necessary in
         order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
         under which they were made, not misleading (in each case except for the
         financial  statements  and other  accounting or financial data included
         therein, as to which we do not express any view;

         In  rendering  the  foregoing  opinion,  such  counsel  may rely on the
following:

                           (A) as to matters  involving the  application of laws
                  other than the laws of the United States and  jurisdictions in
                  which they are  admitted,  to the  extent  such  counsel  deem
                  proper and to the extent  specified in such  opinion,  upon an
                  opinion  or  opinions  (in  form  and   substance   reasonably
                  satisfactory  to  Underwriters'   counsel)  of  other  counsel
                  familiar with applicable laws; and

                            (B) as to  matters  of fact,  to the  extent
                  they deem proper,  on certificates of responsible  officers of
                  the Company and the Selling  Stockholder  and  certificates or
                  other written statements of officers or departments of various
                  jurisdictions  having  custody  of  documents  respecting  the
                  corporate  existence  or  good  standing  of the  Company  and
                  certificates of the Company's  transfer  agent,  provided that
                  copies of all such opinions,  statements or certificates shall
                  be  delivered  to  Underwriters'   counsel,  and,  if  written
                  confirmation  of the  Commission  is not available at the time
                  such   opinion   is   rendered,    upon   the   current   oral
                  representations  of  members  of the  Commission's  staff with
                  respect to the  Registration  Statement  or any  amendment  or
                  supplement  thereto  having  become  effective and the lack of
                  issuance of a stop order or  institution  of  proceedings  for
                  that  purpose.  The opinion of counsel  for the Company  shall
                  state that the opinion of any other counsel, or certificate or
                  written statement, on which such counsel is relying is in form
                  satisfactory  to  such  counsel  and  that  you and  they  are
                  justified in relying thereon.

         (c) At the Closing Time, you shall have received a favorable opinion
from Baker, Donelson, Bearman & Caldwell, counsel for the Underwriters, dated as
of the Closing Time, with respect to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
and other related matters as the Underwriters may reasonably  require,  and the
Company shall have furnished to such counsel such  documents as they  reasonably
request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

         (d)       At the Closing Time:

                  (i)  the  Registration  Statement,   any  462(b)  Registration
         Statement,  and  the  Prospectus,  as  they  may  then  be  amended  or
         supplemented,  shall  contain all  statements  that are  required to be
         stated therein under the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act  Regulations  and in
         all material respects shall conform to the requirements of the 1933 Act
         and the 1933 Act  Regulations,  the Company  shall have complied in all
         material  respects  with Rule 430A (if it shall  have  elected  to rely
         thereon)   and  neither   the   Registration   Statement,   any  462(b)
         Registration Statement nor the Prospectus,  as they may then be amended
         or  supplemented,  shall contain an untrue statement of a material fact
         or omit to state a  material  fact  required  to be stated  therein  or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

<PAGE>

                  (ii) there shall not have been,  since the respective dates as
         of  which  information  is  given in the  Registration  Statement,  any
         material adverse change in the business, prospects, properties, assets,
         results of operation  or  condition  (financial  or  otherwise)  of the
         Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business;

                  (iii) no action,  suit or proceeding at law or in equity shall
         be  pending  or,  to the best of the  Company's  knowledge,  threatened
         against the Company,  the Subsidiary,  and the Selling Stockholder that
         would be required to be set forth in the  Prospectus  other than as set
         forth therein and no proceedings  shall be pending or, to the knowledge
         of the  Company or the  Selling  Stockholder,  threatened  against  the
         Company before or by any federal,  state or other commission,  board or
         administrative  agency  wherein  an  unfavorable  decision,  ruling  or
         finding could  materially  adversely  affect the  business,  prospects,
         properties,  assets,  results of operations or condition  (financial or
         otherwise) of the Company, other than as set forth in the Prospectus;

                  (iv)  the  Company  and the  Selling  Stockholder  shall  have
         complied with all  agreements  and  satisfied  all  conditions on their
         respective  parts  to be  performed  or  satisfied  at or  prior to the
         Closing Time; and

                  (v) the  representations and warranties of the Company and the
         Selling  Stockholder set forth in Section 1 and the representations and
         warranties of the Selling  Stockholder  set forth in Section 2 shall be
         accurate in all material respects as though expressly made at and as of
         the  Closing  Time.  At the  Closing  Time,  you  shall  have  received
         certificates executed by the Selling Stockholder, the President and the
         Chief Financial  Officer of the Company,  dated as of the Closing Time,
         to such effect and with respect to the following additional matters:

                                    (A) the  Registration  Statement  has become
                  effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order  suspending the
                  effectiveness of the  Registration  Statement or preventing or
                  suspending the use of the  Prospectus has been issued,  and no
                  proceedings  for that  purpose  have  been  instituted  or are
                  pending or, to the best of their  knowledge,  threatened under
                  the 1933 Act;

                                    (B)  they  have   carefully   reviewed   the
                  Registration Statement,  any 462(b) Registration Statement and
                  the  Prospectus  and when the  Registration  Statement and any
                  462(b)  Registration  Statement  became  effective  and at all
                  times   subsequent   thereto  up  to  the   delivery  of  such
                  certificate,    the   Registration   Statement,   any   462(b)
                  Registration  Statement and the  Prospectus and any amendments
                  or   supplements   thereto   contained  all   statements   and
                  information  required to be included  therein or  necessary to
                  make the  statements  therein not  misleading  and neither the
                  Registration Statement,  any 462(b) Registration Statement nor
                  Prospectus  and any amendment or supplement  thereto  included
                  any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omitted to state
                  any material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary
                  in order to make the statements  therein not misleading,  and,
                  since the effective date of the Registration Statement,  there
                  has  occurred no event  required to be set forth in an amended
                  or supplemented Prospectus that has not been so set forth; and

                                    (C)   all    representations,    warranties,
                  covenants  and  statements  made herein by the Company and the
                  Selling Stockholder, respectively, are true and correct in all
                  material  respects at such Closing Time,  with the same effect
                  as if made on and as of such Closing Time,  and all agreements
                  herein  to  be  performed  by  the  Company  and  the  Selling
                  Stockholder,  respectively,  on or prior to such  Closing Time
                  have been duly performed.

<PAGE>

         (e)  On the  business  day  immediately  preceding  the  date  of  this
Agreement you shall have received from Crowe Chizek and Company LLP, a letter or
letters,  dated the date hereof and as of the Closing Time in form and substance
satisfactory  to you,  together with signed or reproduced  copies of such letter
for each of the other Underwriters,  confirming that they are independent public
accountants  with respect to the Company  within the meaning of the 1933 Act and
1933 Act Regulations, stating in effect that:

                  (i)  in  their  opinion,  the  financial  statements  and  any
         supplementary  financial  information  and  schedules  included  in the
         Registration  Statement and covered by their opinion  therein comply as
         to  form  in all  material  respects  with  the  applicable  accounting
         requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations;

                  (ii) on the basis of limited  procedures  (set forth in detail
         in such letter and made in  accordance  with such  procedures as may be
         reasonably  specified by you) not  constituting  an audit in accordance
         with  generally  accepted  auditing  standards,  consisting of (but not
         limited  to) a  reading  of the  latest  available  internal  unaudited
         financial  statements  of  Republic,  a  reading  of  minute  books  of
         Republic,  inquiries  of  officials  of  the  Company  responsible  for
         financial  and  accounting  matters,   and  such  other  inquiries  and
         procedures,  as may be specified  in such  letter,  nothing has come to
         their attention which caused them to believe that:

                                    (A) the unaudited  financial  statements and
                  supporting schedules and other unaudited financial data of the
                  Company included in the  Registration  Statement do not comply
                  as to  form  in all  material  respects  with  the  applicable
                  accounting   requirements   of  the   1933  Act  or  the  1933
                  Regulations or are not presented in conformity  with generally
                  accepted   accounting    principles   applied   on   a   basis
                  substantially  consistent  with that of the audited  financial
                  statements included in the Registration Statement;

                                    (B) the amounts of revenues,  income  before
                  income taxes, net income and net income per share for the five
                  fiscal  years  ended   December  31,  1997   included  in  the
                  Prospectus   under   the   caption   "Consolidated   Financial
                  Statements" do not agree with the corresponding amounts in the
                  audited statements of earnings;

                                    (C) at a  specified  date not more than five
                  business  days prior to the date of delivery  of such  letter,
                  there was any change in the capital stock or long-term debt or
                  obligations  under  capital  leases of the Company  other than
                  scheduled   repayments  or  any  decreases  in  total  assets,
                  stockholders'   equity  or  other  items   specified   by  the
                  Underwriters  from that set forth in the Consolidated  Balance
                  Sheet at December 31, 1997, included in the Prospectus, except
                  as described in such letter; and

                                    (D) for the period from  December  31, 1997,
                  to a specified  date not more than five days prior to the date
                  of  delivery  of such  letter,  there  were any  decreases  in
                  revenues,  gross profit,  or the total or per share amounts of
                  income  before  extraordinary  items  or  net  income,  of the
                  Company,  in each  case as  compared  with  the  corresponding
                  period  of  the  preceding  year,  except  in  each  case  for
                  decreases or increases  which the  Prospectus  discloses  have
                  occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter.

                  (iii) in addition to the procedures referred to in clause (ii)
         above and the examination referred to in their opinions included in the
         Registration   Statement,   they  have  carried  out  certain  specific
         procedures,  not  constituting  an audit in accordance  with  generally
         accepted   auditing   standards,   with  respect  to  certain  amounts,
         percentages  and  financial  information  specified  by you  which  are
         derived  from the  general  accounting  records of the  Company,  which
         appear in the  Registration  Statement  or the  exhibits  or  schedules
         thereto and are  specified  by you,  and have  compared  such  amounts,
         percentages and financial  information  with the accounting  records of
         the Company and with material  derived from such records and have found
         them to be in agreement.

<PAGE>

         (f) At the Closing Time,  you shall have received from Crowe Chizek and
Company LLP a letter, in form and substance  satisfactory to you and dated as of
the Closing Time, to the effect that they  reaffirm the  statements  made in the
letter  furnished  pursuant to subsection  (e) above,  except that the specified
date  referred to shall be a date not more than five  business days prior to the
Closing Time.

         (g) In the event that either of the letters to be delivered pursuant to
subsections  (e) and (f)  above  sets  forth  any  such  changes,  decreases  or
increases,  it shall be a further  condition to your  obligations that you shall
have determined,  after discussions with officers of the Company responsible for
financial  and  accounting  matters and with Crowe Chizek and Company LLP,  that
such  changes,  decreases  or  increases as are set forth in such letters do not
reflect  a  material  adverse  change  in the  capital  stock,  long-term  debt,
obligations under capital leases,  total assets, or stockholders'  equity of the
Company as compared with the amounts shown in the latest condensed  consolidated
balance sheet of the Company,  or a material  adverse  change in revenues or the
total or per share amounts of income before  extraordinary  items or net income,
of the Company,  in each case as compared with the  corresponding  period of the
prior year.

         (h) At the Closing Time,  counsel for the Underwriters  shall have been
furnished with all such documents, certificates and opinions as they may request
for the  purpose  of  enabling  them to pass upon the  issuance  and sale of the
Shares as contemplated in this Agreement and the matters  referred to in Section
7(d)  and in order to  evidence  the  accuracy  and  completeness  of any of the
representations and warranties or statements of the Company,  the performance of
any of the covenants of the Company, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions
herein  contained;  and all proceedings  taken by the Company at or prior to the
Closing  Time in  connection  with the  authorization,  issuance and sale of the
Shares as  contemplated  in this  Agreement  shall be  satisfactory  in form and
substance to you and to counsel for the  Underwriters.  The Company will furnish
you with such number of conformed copies of such opinion, certificates,  letters
and documents as you shall request.

         (i) The NASD,  upon  review of the terms of the public  offering of the
Shares,   shall  not  have  objected  to  such  offering,   such  terms  or  the
Underwriters' participation in the same.

         (j) The Firm  Shares and the  Option  Shares,  if any,  shall have been
approved  for  listing on NSM upon  official  notice of the  issuance,  sale and
evidence of  satisfactory  distribution  thereof  pursuant to this  underwritten
public offering.

         (k) Each  executive  officer,  director and  stockholder of the Company
specified  in Section 1(j) hereof shall have agreed in writing as to the matters
set forth in such section.

         If any of the  conditions  specified  in this  Section 7 shall not have
been  fulfilled  when and as required by this  Agreement to be  fulfilled,  this
Agreement  may be  terminated  by you on notice to the  Company  and the Selling
Stockholder  at any time at or prior to the Closing Time,  and such  termination
shall be without liability of any party to any other party.  Notwithstanding any
such  termination,  the provisions of Section 9 shall remain in effect and shall
survive the term of this Agreement.

         Section 8.  CONDITIONS TO PURCHASE OF OPTION SHARES.  In the event that
the Underwriters exercise the option granted in Section 3 hereof to purchase all
or any part of the Option  Shares  and the Date of  Delivery  determined  by you
pursuant to Section 3 hereof is later than the Closing Time, the  obligations of
the several  Underwriters  to purchase  and pay for the Option  Shares that they
shall have severally  agreed to purchase  pursuant to this Agreement are subject
to the accuracy, in all material respects, of the representations and warranties
of the Company and Selling  Stockholder herein contained,  to the performance by
the Company and the Selling  Stockholder of their  obligations  hereunder and to
the following further conditions:

<PAGE>

         (a) The  Registration  Statement shall remain  effective at the Date of
Delivery,   and,  at  the  Date  of  Delivery,  no  stop  order  suspending  the
effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement  shall have been issued under the
1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall
be pending or, to your  knowledge or the knowledge of the Company or the Selling
Stockholder,  shall be contemplated  by the  Commission,  and any request on the
part of the Commission for additional  information shall have been complied with
to the satisfaction of counsel for the Underwriters.

         (b) At the Date of Delivery, the provisions of Sections 7(d)(i) through
7(d)(v)  shall have been complied with at and as of the Date of Delivery and, at
the Date of  Delivery,  you shall have  received  certificates  executed  by the
Selling  Stockholder,  the  President  and the Chief  Financial  Officer  of the
Company,  dated as of the Date of Delivery, to such effect and to the effect set
forth in clauses (a) , (b) and (c) of Section 7(d)(v).

         (c) At the Date of  Delivery,  you  shall  have  received  a  favorable
opinion of Wyatt,  Tarrant & Combs,  counsel  for the  Company  and the  Selling
Stockholder,  together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinion for each
of the other Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the
Underwriters,  dated as of the Date of Delivery,  relating to the Option  Shares
and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 7(b) .

         (d) At the Date of  Delivery,  you  shall  have  received  a  favorable
opinion of Baker,  Donelson,  Bearman & Caldwell,  counsel for the Underwriters,
dated as of the Date of Delivery  relating to the Option Shares and otherwise to
the same effect as the opinion required by Section 7(c) .
         (e) At the Date of  Delivery,  you shall have  received  a letter  from
Crowe  Chizek and Company  LLP, in form and  substance  satisfactory  to you and
dated  as of the  Date  of  Delivery,  to the  effect  that  they  reaffirm  the
statements made in the letter  furnished  pursuant to Section 7(e),  except that
the specified  date referred to shall be a date nor more than five business days
prior to the Date of Delivery.

         (f) At the Date of Delivery,  counsel for the  Underwriters  shall have
been furnished with all such  documents,  certificates  and opinions as they may
request for the purpose of enabling  them to pass upon the  issuance and sale of
the Option Shares as contemplated in this Agreement and the matters  referred to
in Section 8(a) and in order to evidence the accuracy and completeness of any of
the  representations,  warranties  or  statements of the Company and the Selling
Stockholder,  the  performance  of any of the  covenants  of the Company and the
Selling  Stockholder,  or  the  fulfillment  of any  of  the  conditions  herein
contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company and the Selling Stockholder,
at or  prior to the  Date of  Delivery  in  connection  with the  authorization,
issuance and sale of the Option Shares as  contemplated  in this Agreement shall
be   satisfactory  in  form  and  substance  to  you  and  to  counsel  for  the
Underwriters.

         Section 9. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

         (a) The Company and the Selling  Stockholder jointly and severally will
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities,  joint or several,  to which such Underwriter may become subject
under the 1933 Act,  specifically  including but not limited to losses,  claims,
damages or  liabilities  related to negligence  on the part of any  Underwriter,
insofar as such losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities  (or actions in respect
thereof)  arise out of or are based upon any breach of any  warranty or covenant
of the  Company  herein  contained  or any untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue
statement  of a material  fact  contained  in the  Registration  Statement,  any
Preliminary Prospectus,  the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or in any "blue sky"  application or other  document  executed by the Company or
based upon any  information  furnished in writing by the  Company,  filed in any
jurisdiction  in order to qualify any or all of the Shares under the  securities
laws  thereof  ("Blue Sky  Application"),  or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged  omission to state  therein a material  fact  required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading;  and
will  reimburse  each  Underwriter  for any legal or other  expenses  reasonably
incurred by such  Underwriter in connection with  investigating or defending any
such loss,  claim,  damage,  liability or action;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the

<PAGE>

Company and the Selling  Stockholder shall not be liable in any such case to the
extent that any such loss, claim,  damage or liability arises out of or is based
upon an untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue  statement  or omission or alleged
omission made in the Registration Statement,  such Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus,  or such  amendment or  supplement,  or any Blue Sky  Application in
reliance  upon and in  conformity  with  written  information  furnished  to the
Company by you or by any  Underwriter  through you  expressly  for use  therein;
PROVIDED,  FURTHER,  that the Company and the  Selling  Stockholder  will not be
liable for any such losses,  claims,  damages,  or liabilities  arising from the
sale of the Shares to any  person if a copy of the  Prospectus  (as first  filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b) ) or the  Prospectus as amended or  supplemented  by all
amendments or supplements  thereto which has been furnished to the  Underwriters
shall not have been  sent,  mailed or given to such  person,  at or prior to the
written  confirmation of the sale of such Shares to such person, but only if and
to the extent that such  Prospectus,  if so sent or delivered,  would have cured
the defect  giving  rise to such  losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities.  In
addition to their other obligations under this Section 9(a), the Company and the
Selling Stockholder agree that, as an interim measure during the pendency of any
such claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or
based upon any  statement  or  omission,  or any alleged  statement or omission,
described  in this Section  9(a),  they will  reimburse  the  Underwriters  on a
monthly basis for all reasonable legal and other expenses incurred in connection
with investigating or defending any such claim, action,  investigation,  inquiry
or other proceeding,  notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as
to  the  propriety  and   enforceability   of  the  Company's  and  the  Selling
Stockholder's  obligation to reimburse the Underwriters for such expense and the
possibility  that such  payments  might later be held to have been improper by a
court of competent  jurisdiction.  Any such interim reimbursement  payments that
are not made to an  Underwriter  within 30 days of a request  for  reimbursement
shall bear  interest at the prime rate (or  reference  rate or other  commercial
lending rate for borrowers of the highest credit  standing)  announced from time
to time by First Tennessee Bank National Association (the "Prime Rate") from the
date of such  request.  This  indemnity  agreement  shall be in  addition to any
liabilities that the Company may otherwise have. For purposes of this Section 9,
the information set forth in the last paragraph on the front cover page (insofar
as such information related to the Underwriters) and under "Underwriting" in any
Preliminary  Prospectus and in the Prospectus  constitutes the only  information
furnished by the  Underwriters  to the Company for inclusion in any  Preliminary
Prospectus,  the  Prospectus  or  the  Registration  Statement.  Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, the indemnity by the Selling  Stockholder shall
in no event exceed the net proceeds received by the Selling  Stockholder in this
Offering.

         (b) Each  Underwriter,  severally but not jointly,  will  indemnify and
hold  harmless  the  Company  and the  Selling  Stockholder  against any losses,
claims,  damages or liabilities to which the Company or the Selling  Stockholder
may become subject, under the 1933 Act specifically including but not limited to
losses,  claims, damages or liabilities related to negligence on the part of the
Company and the Selling Stockholder,  insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities  (or actions in respect  thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
breach of any  warranty  or  covenant  by you  herein  contained  or any  untrue
statement or alleged  untrue  statement of any  material  fact  contained in the
Registration  Statement,  any Preliminary  Prospectus,  the  Prospectus,  or any
amendment or supplement  thereto, or any Blue Sky Application or arise out of or
are based upon the omission or the alleged  omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein
not misleading,  in each case to the extent,  but only to the extent,  that such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was
made  in  the  Registration  Statement,   such  Preliminary  Prospectus  or  the
Prospectus,  or such amendment or supplement,  or any Blue Sky  Application,  in
reliance upon and in  conformity  with  information  furnished to the Company by
such Underwriter  expressly for use therein;  and will reimburse the Company and
the Selling  Stockholder for any legal or other expenses  reasonably incurred by
the Company or the Selling  Stockholder  in  connection  with  investigating  or
defending  any such loss,  claim,  damage,  liability or action.  In addition to
their other obligations under this Section 9(b), the Underwriters agree that, as
an interim measure during the pendency of any such claim, action, investigation,
inquiry  or other  proceeding  arising  out of or based  upon any  statement  or
omission, or any alleged statement or omission, described in this Section 9(b) ,
they will  reimburse the Company and the Selling  Stockholder on a monthly basis
for all  reasonable  legal  and  other  expenses  incurred  in  connection  with
investigating  or defending any such claim,  action,  investigation,  inquiry or
other proceeding,  notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as to

<PAGE>

the propriety and enforceability of their obligation to reimburse the Company or
the Selling  Stockholder for such expense and the possibility that such payments
might later be held to have been improper by a court of competent  jurisdiction.
Any such interim reimbursement  payments that are not made to the Company or the
Selling  Stockholder  within 30 days of a request for  reimbursement  shall bear
interest  at the  Prime  Rate  from the  date of such  request.  This  indemnity
agreement shall be in addition to any  liabilities  which the  Underwriters  may
otherwise have.

         The indemnity agreement in this Section 9(b) shall extend upon the same
terms and  conditions  to, and shall inure to the  benefit of, each  officer and
director of the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of the 1933 Act to the same extent as such agreement  applies to the
Company.

         (c) The Selling  Stockholder  shall  indemnify  and hold  harmless  the
Company and the Underwriters against any losses,  claims, damages or liabilities
to which the Company or the Underwriters may become subject,  under the 1933 Act
specifically including but not limited to losses, claims, damages or liabilities
related to negligence on the part of the Company or the Underwriters, insofar as
such losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  (or actions in respect  thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any breach of any  warranty  or  covenant  by the
Selling  Stockholder  herein contained or any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material  fact  contained in the  Registration  Statement,  any
Preliminary Prospectus,  the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or any Blue Sky  Application  or arise out of or are based upon the  omission or
the alleged  omission  to state  therein a material  fact  required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case
to the extent,  but only to the extent,  that such untrue  statement  or alleged
untrue  statement or omission or alleged  omission was made in the  Registration
Statement,  such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus,  or such amendment or
supplement, or any Blue Sky Application, in reliance upon and in conformity with
written  information  furnished  to the  Company  by  such  Selling  Stockholder
expressly for use therein;  and will reimburse the Company and the  Underwriters
for any  legal or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by the  Company  or the
Underwriters in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage,  liability or action.  In addition to his other  obligations  under this
Section 9(c) , the Selling  Stockholder agree that, as an interim measure during
the  pendency  of any  such  claim,  action,  investigation,  inquiry  or  other
proceeding  arising  out of or based  upon any  statement  or  omission,  or any
alleged statement or omission, described in this Section 9(c), he will reimburse
the Company and the Underwriters on a monthly basis for all reasonable legal and
other expenses  incurred in connection with  investigating or defending any such
claim, action, investigation,  inquiry or other proceeding,  notwithstanding the
absence of a judicial  determination as to the propriety and  enforceability  of
his obligation to reimburse the Company or the Underwriters for such expense and
the possibility  that such payments might later be held to have been improper by
a court of competent jurisdiction.  Any such interim reimbursement payments that
are not made to the Company or the Underwriters  within 30 days of a request for
reimbursement  shall  bear  interest  at the  Prime  Rate  from the date of such
request.  This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liabilities which
the Selling Stockholder may otherwise have.

         The indemnity agreement in this Section 9(c) shall extend upon the same
terms and  conditions  to, and shall inure to the  benefit of, each  officer and
director of the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of the 1933 Act to the same extent as such agreement  applies to the
Company.

         (d)  Within  ten days  after  receipt  by an  indemnified  party  under
subsection (a), (b) or (c) above of notice of  commencement of any action,  such
indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying  party  under such  subsection,  notify the  indemnifying  party in
writing of the commencement thereof; no indemnification provided in this Section
9(a), 9(b) or 9(c) shall be available to any party who shall fail to give notice
as provided in this  Section  9(d) if the party to whom notice was not given was
unaware of the  proceeding  to which such  notice  would  have  related  and was
prejudiced by the failure to give such notice, but the omission so to notify the

<PAGE>

indemnifying  party will not relieve the  indemnifying  party from any liability
that it may have to any  indemnified  party otherwise than under this Section 9.
In case any such action shall be brought  against any  indemnified  party and it
shall  notify  the  indemnifying   party  of  the  commencement   thereof,   the
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein,  and, to the extent
that it  shall  wish,  jointly  with any  other  indemnifying  party,  similarly
notified,  to assume the defense  thereof,  with  counsel  satisfactory  to such
indemnified  party,  and  after  notice  from  the  indemnifying  party  to such
indemnified  party  of  its  election  so to  assume  the  defense  thereof  the
indemnifying  party shall not be liable to such indemnified  party for any legal
or other expenses,  other than reasonable costs of  investigation,  subsequently
incurred by such indemnified  party in connection with the defense thereof.  The
indemnified  party  shall have the right to employ  its own  counsel in any such
action,  but the fees and  expenses of such  counsel  shall be at the expense of
such indemnified  party unless (i) the employment of counsel by such indemnified
party has been authorized by the indemnifying  party, (ii) the indemnified party
shall have been advised by such counsel that there may be a conflict of interest
between the indemnifying  party and the indemnified  party in the conduct of the
defense of such action (in which case the indemnifying  party shall not have the
right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the  indemnified  party)
or (iii) the  indemnifying  party  shall not in fact have  employed  counsel  to
assume the defense of such action, in any of which events such fees and expenses
shall be borne by the indemnifying  party.  The indemnifying  party shall not be
liable  for any  settlement  of any  proceeding  effected  without  its  written
consent,  but if settled with such  consent or if there be a final  judgment for
the plaintiff,  the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party
from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

         (e) It is agreed that any  controversy  arising out of the operation of
the interim reimbursement  arrangements set forth in Section 9(a), 9(b) and 9(c)
hereof,  including  the amounts of any  requested  reimbursement  payments,  the
method of determining  such amounts and the basis on which such amounts shall be
apportioned  among the  indemnifying  parties,  shall be settled by  arbitration
conducted  pursuant to the Code of  Arbitration  Procedure of the NASD. Any such
arbitration  must be commenced by service of a written demand for arbitration or
a written  notice of intention to arbitrate,  therein  electing the  arbitration
tribunal.  In the  event  the  party  demanding  arbitration  does not make such
designation of an arbitration  tribunal in such demand or notice, then the party
responding to said demand or notice is authorized to do so. Any such arbitration
will  be  limited  to the  operation  of the  interim  reimbursement  provisions
contained  in  Sections  9(a),  9(b) and 9(c)  hereof and will not  resolve  the
ultimate propriety or enforceability of the obligation to indemnify for expenses
that is created by the provisions of Sections 9(a), 9(b) and 9(c) .

         (f) In  order  to  provide  for  just  and  equitable  contribution  in
circumstances  under which the  indemnity  provided for in this Section 9 is for
any reason judicially  determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by
a court of competent  jurisdiction  and the  expiration of time to appeal or the
denial of the last  right of  appeal)  to be  unenforceable  by the  indemnified
parties  although  applicable in  accordance  with its terms,  the Company,  the
Selling  Stockholder  and the  Underwriters  shall  contribute  to the aggregate
losses, liabilities,  claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by
such indemnity incurred by the Company,  the Selling Stockholder and one or more
of the Underwriters,  as incurred, in such proportions that (i) the Underwriters
are  responsible  pro rata  for that  portion  represented  by the  underwriting
discount  appearing  on the cover  page of the  Prospectus  bears to the  public
offering  price (before  deducting  expenses)  appearing  thereon,  and (ii) the
Company and the Selling  Stockholder are responsible for the balance;  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,  that no person  guilty of  fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within  the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such  fraudulent  misrepresentation;  PROVIDED,
FURTHER,  that if the  allocation  provided above is not permitted by applicable
law, the Company,  the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters shall contribute
to the aggregate losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only
the  relative  benefits  referred  to above but also the  relative  fault of the
Company,  the Selling  Stockholder  and the  Underwriters in connection with the
statements  or  omissions  which  resulted in such  losses,  claims,  damages or
liabilities,  as well as any other relevant equitable  considerations.  Relative
fault shall be  determined  by  reference  to, among other  things,  whether the

<PAGE>

untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission  to state a  material  fact  relates  to  information  supplied  by the
Company,  by the Selling  Stockholder  or by the  Underwriters  and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge,  access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such  statement or omission.  The amount paid or payable by a party as a
result of the losses,  claims, damages or liabilities referred to above shall be
deemed to include  any legal or other fees or  expenses  reasonably  incurred by
such party in  connection  with  investigating  or defending  any such action or
claim.  Notwithstanding  the provisions of this  subsection  (f), no Underwriter
shall be required to contribute  any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were  offered  to the  public  exceeds  the  amount of any  damages  which  such
Underwriter  has  otherwise  been  required  to pay by reason of such  untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged  omission.  For purposes of this
Section  9(f),  each  person,  if any, who  controls an  Underwriter  within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act shall have the same rights to contribution
as such  Underwriter,  and each  director of the  Company,  each  officer of the
Company who signed the  Registration  Statement  and each  person,  if any,  who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act shall have
the same rights to contribution as the Company.

         (g)  The  parties  to  this   Agreement   acknowledge   that  they  are
sophisticated  business  persons  who were  represented  by  counsel  during the
negotiations  regarding the  provisions  of this  Agreement,  including  without
limitation,  the provisions of this Section 9, and are fully informed  regarding
said provisions.  They further acknowledge that the provisions of this Section 9
fairly  allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate
the Company and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure is made
in the  Registration  Statement and  Prospectus as required by the 1933 Act. The
parties are advised that federal or state public  policy,  as interpreted by the
courts in certain jurisdictions, may be contrary to certain of the provisions of
this Section 9, and the parties hereto hereby expressly waive and relinquish any
right or ability to assert such public policy as a defense to a claim under this
Section 9 and further agree not to attempt to assert any such defense.

         Section 10.  REPRESENTATIONS  AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE  DELIVERY.  The
representations, warranties, indemnities, agreements and other statements of the
Selling  Stockholder,  the Company or its officers set forth in or made pursuant
to this Agreement will remain operative and in full force and effect  regardless
of  any  investigation  made  by  or on  behalf  of  the  Company,  the  Selling
Stockholder  or any  Underwriter  or  controlling  person,  with  respect  to an
Underwriter  or the  Company  and will  survive  delivery of and payment for the
Shares or termination of this Agreement.

         Section 11.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF AGREEMENT AND TERMINATION.

         (a) This Agreement shall become effective  immediately as to Sections 6
and 9 and, as to all other  provisions,  (i) if at the time of execution of this
Agreement the  Registration  Statement has not become  effective,  at 10:00 A.M.
eastern time on the first full business day following the  effectiveness  of the
Registration  Statement,  or (ii) if at the time of execution of this Agreement,
the Registration  Statement has been declared  effective,  at 10:00 A.M. eastern
time on the first full  business  day  following  the date of  execution of this
Agreement;  but this  Agreement  shall  nevertheless  become  effective  at such
earlier  time after the  Registration  Statement  becomes  effective  as you may
determine on and by notice to the Company or by release of any of the Shares for
sale to the public.  For the  purposes of this  Section 11, the Shares  shall be
deemed  to have  been so  released  upon  the  release  for  publication  of any
newspaper  advertisement  relating  to the Shares or upon the  release by you of
telegrams or facsimile  messages (i) advising the  Underwriters  that the Shares
are  released  for  public  offering,  or (ii)  offering  the Shares for sale to
securities dealers,  whichever may occur first. By giving notice before the time
this Agreement  becomes  effective,  you, as the  Representative  of the several
Underwriters,   or  the  Company,  may  prevent  this  Agreement  from  becoming
effective,  without  liability of any party to any other party,  except that the
Company shall remain  obligated to pay costs and expenses to the extent provided
in Section 6 hereof.

         (b) You may terminate  this  Agreement by notice to the Company and the
Selling  Stockholder  at any time at or prior to the Closing Time in  accordance
with the last paragraph of Section 7 of this Agreement:

<PAGE>

                  (i) if there has been,  since the respective dates as of which
         information  is  given  in the  Registration  Statement,  any  material
         adverse change,  or any development which might reasonably be viewed as
         resulting  in a material  adverse  change in or  affecting  the assets,
         properties,  results of  operation,  financial  condition  or  business
         prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course
         of business;

                  (ii) if there has  occurred  or  accelerated  any  outbreak of
         hostilities  or other national or  international  calamity or crisis or
         change in economic or political  conditions  the effect of which on the
         financial  markets of the United  States is such as to make it, in your
         judgment,  impracticable to market the Shares or enforce  contracts for
         the sale of the Shares;

                  (iii) if trading in any  securities  of the  Company  has been
         suspended  by the  Commission  or by the  NASD  or NSM,  or if  trading
         generally  on the New York Stock  Exchange  or in the  over-the-counter
         market has been suspended for more than three (3) hours, or limitations
         on prices for trading  (other than  limitations  on hours or numbers of
         days of  trading)  have been  fixed,  or maximum  ranges for prices for
         securities have been required, by such exchange or the NASD or by order
         of the Commission or any other governmental authority;

                  (iv) if a banking  moratorium  has been declared by federal or
New York or Kentucky authorities;

                  (v) any federal or state statute, regulation, rule or order of
         any court or other governmental authority has been enacted,  published,
         decreed  or  otherwise  promulgated  which in your  reasonable  opinion
         materially  adversely  affects or will materially  adversely affect the
         business or operations of the Company; or

                  (vi) any action has been taken by any federal,  state or local
         government or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which
         in  your  reasonable  opinion  has a  material  adverse  effect  on the
         securities markets in the United States.

         (c) If this  Agreement is terminated  pursuant to this Section 11, such
termination shall be without  liability of any party to any other party,  except
to the extent provided in Section 6.  Notwithstanding any such termination,  the
provisions of Section 9 shall remain in effect.

         Section 12.  DEFAULT BY ONE OR MORE OF THE UNDERWRITERS.

         (a) If any Underwriter  shall default in its obligation to purchase the
Firm  Shares  which  it has  agreed  to  purchase  hereunder,  you  may in  your
discretion  arrange for you or another  party or other  parties to purchase such
Firm Shares on the terms contained herein. If within 36 hours after such default
by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Shares, then
the Company or the Selling  Stockholder shall be entitled to a further period of
36 hours within which to procure another party or other parties  satisfactory to
you to purchase  such Firm Shares on such terms.  In the event that,  within the
respective   prescribed  periods,   you  notify  the  Company  and  the  Selling
Stockholder  that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Firm Shares,  or
the Company or the Selling Stockholder  notifies you that it has so arranged for
the purchase of such Firm Shares, you or the Company or the Selling  Stockholder
shall have the right to postpone  the Closing Time for a period of not more than
seven days in order to effect whatever  changes may thereby be made necessary in
the  Registration  Statement  or the  Prospectus,  or in any other  documents or
arrangements,  and the Company  agrees to file  promptly any  amendments  to the
Registration  Statement or the  Prospectus  which in your opinion may thereby be
made necessary.  The term  "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include
any persons substituted under this Section 12 with like effect as if such person
had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Firm Shares.

         (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Firm  Shares of a  defaulting  Underwriter  or  Underwriters  made by you or the
Company or the Selling  Stockholder  as provided in  subsection  (a) above,  the
aggregate  number of Firm  Shares  which  remains  un-purchased  does not exceed
100,000,  then the Company  shall have the right to require each  non-defaulting

<PAGE>

Underwriter  to  purchase  the Firm  Shares  which  such  Underwriter  agreed to
purchase hereunder and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting  Underwriter
to purchase  its pro rata share  (based on the number of Firm Shares  which such
Underwriter agreed to purchase  hereunder) of the Firm Shares of such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters for which such  arrangements have not been made; but
nothing  herein shall relieve a defaulting  Underwriter  from  liability for its
default.

         (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Firm  Shares of a  defaulting  Underwriter  or  Underwriters  made by you or the
Company or the Selling  Stockholder  as provided in  subsection  (a) above,  the
number of Firm Shares which  remains  un-purchased  exceeds  100,000,  or if the
Company  shall not  exercise  the right  described  in  subsection  (b) above to
require  non-defaulting  Underwriters  to purchase  Firm Shares of a  defaulting
Underwriter or  Underwriters,  then this Agreement  shall  thereupon  terminate,
without liability on the part of any  non-defaulting  Underwriter or the Company
or the Selling  Stockholder  except for the expenses to be borne by the Company,
the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and
the  indemnity  and  contribution  agreements  in Section 9 hereof;  but nothing
herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

         Section 13. DEFAULT BY THE COMPANY OR THE SELLING  STOCKHOLDER.  If the
Company or the Selling  Stockholder  shall fail at the Closing  Time to sell and
deliver the respective  aggregate  number of Firm Shares that they are obligated
to sell, then this Agreement  shall terminate  without any liability on the part
of any  non-defaulting  party,  except to the extent  provided  in Section 6 and
except that the provisions of Section 9 shall remain in effect.  No action taken
pursuant to this Section  shall  relieve the Company or the Selling  Stockholder
from liability, if any, in respect of its default.

         Section 14. NOTICES.  All notices and other  communications  under this
Agreement  shall be in  writing  and shall be deemed to have been duly  given if
mailed,  delivered or  transmitted  by any standard  form of  telecommunication.
Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed c/o Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.,
50 No. Front Street, 20th Floor, Memphis, TN 38103 (with a copy sent in the same
manner to Baker,  Donelson,  Bearman & Caldwell,  2000 First Tennessee Building,
165 Madison Avenue,  Memphis,  Tennessee 38103,  Attention Robert Walker, Esq.);
and  notices to the Company  and the  Selling  Stockholder  shall be directed to
Republic  Bancorp,  Inc.,  601 West Market  Street,  Louisville,  KY 40202-2700,
Attention  Steven  E.  Trager  (with a copy  sent in the same  manner  to Wyatt,
Tarrant & Combs, 2800 Citizens Plaza, Louisville,  KY 40202 Attention Stewart E.
Conner,  Esq.).  Each notice  hereunder  shall be effective  upon receipt by the
party to which it is addressed.

         Section 15.  PARTIES.  This Agreement is made solely for the benefit of
the Underwriters, the Selling Stockholder, and the Company and, to the extent so
provided, any person controlling the Company or any of the Underwriters, and the
directors  of the  Company,  its  officers  who  have  signed  the  Registration
Statement,  and  their  respective  executors,  administrators,  successors  and
assigns  and,  subject to the  provisions  of Section 12, no other  person shall
acquire  or have  any  right  under or by  virtue  of this  Agreement.  The term
"successors  and assigns"  shall not include any purchaser,  as such  purchaser,
from any of the several Underwriters of the Shares.

         Section 16.  GOVERNING LAW AND TIME.  This Agreement  shall be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Tennessee.
Specified time of the day refers to United States Central Time.

         Section 17. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts  and when a counterpart  has been executed by each party,  all such
counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

<PAGE>

         If the  foregoing  is in  accordance  with  your  understanding  of our
agreement,  please sign and return to us a counterpart  hereof,  whereupon  this
instrument  will  become a binding  agreement  among the  Company,  the  Selling
Stockholder  and the several  Underwriters  in accordance with its terms on this
21st day of July, 1998.

                                                   Very truly yours,


                                                   REPUBLIC BANCORP, INC.



                                                   By: /s/


                                                   SELLING STOCKHOLDER:


                                                   /s/
                                                   Bernard M. Trager


Confirmed  and  accepted  in  Memphis,  Tennessee,  as of the date  first  above
written, as Representatives of the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto.

                                                   Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.



                                                   By: /s/

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I

         NAME                            NUMBER OF SHARES

Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.                602,500

J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc.            602,500

Advest, Inc.                                  45,000

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated            45,000

J. C. Bradford & Co.                          45,000

Crowell, Weedon & co.                         45,000

Suntrust Equitable Securities Corporation     45,000

Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc.        45,000

Interstate/Johnson Lane Corporation           45,000

Josephthal & Co., Inc.                        45,000

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.                 45,000

McDonald & Company Securities, Inc.           45,000

Natcity Investments, Inx.                     45,000

FIFTH THIRD/THE OHIO COMPANY                  45,000

Piper Jaffray Inc.                            45,000

Raymond James & associates, Inc.              45,000

The Robinson-Humphrey Company, LLC            45,000

Stephens Inx.                                 45,000

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated      45,000

Tucker Anthony Incorporated                   45,000

Wheat First Securities, Inx.                  45,000

Howe Barnes Investments Inc.                  20,000

Brean Murray & Co., Inc.                      20,000

Hoefer & Arnett, Inc.                         20,000

Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc.                    20,000

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TOTAL UNDERWRITERS (25)                    2,140,000
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