NASDAQ: RBCAA

Website Access to Reports

The Company makes its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, available free of charge through its website, www.republicbank.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC. The information provided on the Company’s website is not part of this report, and is therefore not incorporated by reference, unless that information is otherwise specifically referenced elsewhere in this report. The SEC maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy, information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

General Business Overview

As of December 31, 2024, the Company was divided into five reportable segments: Traditional Banking, Warehouse Lending, TRS, RPS, and RCS. Prior to the first quarter of 2024, Republic had reported mortgage banking as a separate reportable segment. Due to the quantitative and qualitative immateriality of this division, Management concluded its mortgage banking operations no longer constituted a separate reportable segment for SEC reporting purposes and now includes these results in the Traditional Banking segment. All prior period mortgage banking results of operations have been reclassified into the Traditional Banking segment.

(I) Traditional Banking segment

As of December 31, 2024 and through the date of this filing, generally all Traditional Banking products and services were offered through the Company’s traditional RB&T brand.

Lending Activities

The Bank’s principal lending activities consist of the following:

Retail Mortgage Lending — Through the Bank’s mortgage division, which consists of a Retail Channel and Consumer Direct Channel, as well as the Bank’s Private Banking division and banking center network, the Bank originates single-family, residential real estate loans, and HELOCs. Such loans are generally collateralized by owner-occupied, residential real estate properties. The collateral for these loans is predominately located in the Bank’s market footprint, except for a small percentage of loans originated through its Consumer Direct Channel, which are secured by owner-occupied collateral located outside of the Bank’s market footprint. During 2023, the Bank purchased a block of single-family, first-lien mortgage loans for investment through its Correspondent Lending Channel, with these loans secured by owner-occupied collateral generally located outside of the Bank’s market footprint, as well. During the last half of March 2024, Management made the decision to sell $69 million of correspondent loans that were previously classified as held for investment. The sale of these loans was completed during the second quarter of 2024 with the final dollar amount of loans sold being $67 million.

The Bank offers single-family, first-lien residential real estate ARMs with interest rate adjustments tied to various market indices with specified minimum and maximum adjustments. The Bank generally charges a premium interest rate for its ARMs if the property is not owner-occupied. The interest rates on the majority of ARMs are adjusted after their fixed rate periods on an annual or semi-annual basis, with most having annual and lifetime limitations on upward rate adjustments to the loan. These loans typically feature amortization periods of up to 30 years and have fixed interest-rate periods generally ranging from five to ten years, with demand dependent upon market conditions. While there is no requirement for clients to refinance their loans at the end of the fixed-rate period, clients have historically done so the majority of the time, as most clients are interest-rate-risk averse on their first mortgage loans.

Depending on the term and amount of the ARM, loans collateralized by single-family, owner-occupied first-lien residential real estate may be originated with a LTV up to 90%. The Bank also offers a 100% LTV product for medical doctors within its primary markets. The Bank does not require the borrower to obtain private mortgage insurance for ARM loans. Except for its HEAL product with loan amounts under $250,000, the Bank requires mortgagee’s title insurance on single-family, first-lien residential real estate loans to protect the Bank against defects in its liens on the properties that collateralize the loans. The Bank normally requires title, fire, and extended casualty insurance to be obtained by the borrower and, when required by applicable regulations,

flood insurance. The Bank maintains an errors and omissions insurance policy to protect the Bank against loss in the event a borrower fails to maintain proper fire and other hazard insurance policies.

Single-family, first-lien residential real estate loans with fixed-rate periods of 15, 20, and 30 years are primarily originated and sold into the secondary market. MSRs attached to the sold portfolio are either sold along with the loan or retained. Loans sold into the secondary market, along with their corresponding MSRs, are included as a component of the Company’s Traditional Banking segment, as discussed elsewhere in this filing. The Bank, as it has in the past, may retain such longer-term, fixed-rate loans from time to time in the future to help combat net interest margin compression. Any such loans retained on the Company’s balance sheet would be reported as a component of the Traditional Banking segment.

The Bank does, on occasion, purchase single-family, first-lien residential real estate loans made to low-to-moderate income borrowers and/or secured by property located in low-to-moderate income areas, which assists the Bank in meeting its obligations under the CRA. In connection with loan purchases, the Bank receives various representations and warranties from the sellers regarding the quality and characteristics of the loans.

Commercial Lending — The Bank conducts commercial lending activities primarily through Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking, CRE Banking, Business Banking, Private Banking, and Retail Banking Channels.

Commercial clients are primarily located within the Bank’s market footprint or in an adjoining market.

Credit opportunities are generally driven by the following: companies expanding their businesses; companies acquiring new businesses; and/or companies refinancing existing debt from other institutions. The Bank has a primary focus on C&I lending and CRE lending. The targeted C&I credit size for client relationships is typically between $1 million and $10 million, with higher targets between $10 million and $35 million for large Corporate Banking. The credit size for the Bank’s CRE Division borrowers is typically $5 million and higher and exhibit higher credit quality.

C&I loans typically include those secured by general business assets, which consist of equipment, accounts receivable, inventory, and other business assets owned by the borrower/guarantor. Credit facilities include annually renewable lines of credit and term loans with maturities typically from three to five years and may also involve financial covenant requirements. These requirements are monitored by the Bank’s CCAD. Underwriting for C&I loans is based on the borrower’s capacity to repay these loans from operating cash flows, typically measured by EBITDA, with capital strength, collateral, and management experience also important underwriting considerations.

Corporate Banking focuses on larger C&I opportunities. Borrowers are generally single-asset entities and loan sizes typically range from $5 million to $35 million. Primary underwriting considerations are project cash flows (current and historical), financial capacity of sponsors, and collateral value financed. The majority of interest rates offered are based on a floating rate index like term-SOFR and U.S. Treasuries. Fixed-rate terms of up to 10 years are available to borrowers by utilizing standard Bank products or interest rate swaps. In many cases the Bank seeks full or limited guarantees, or in certain instances, non-recourse (of owners) loans will be issued, with such cases based upon the equity/capital position, cash flow projections, and stabilization of the borrowing entity.

The Bank’s CRE Division, which launched in 2022, focuses on large CRE projects, typically in amounts from $5 million to $25 million. Borrowers are generally single-asset entities, mostly nonowner-occupied CRE. Primary underwriting considerations are cash flow projections (current and historical), financial capacity of sponsors, and collateral value financed. Fixed rate financing and reciprocal interest rate swaps are used as well. Given the size of these credits, the Bank generally seeks established, well-known borrowers and projects with low credit risk.

Commercial Banking focuses on small and medium sized C&I and owner-occupied CRE opportunities. Borrowers are generally single-asset entities and loan sizes typically range from $1 million to $5 million. As with Corporate Banking, the primary underwriting considerations are cash flow projections (current and historical), quality of leases, financial capacity of sponsors, and collateral value of property financed. Interest rates offered are based on both fixed and variable interest-rate formulas.

The Bank’s CRE and multi-family loans are typically secured by improved property such as office buildings, medical facilities, retail centers, warehouses, apartment buildings, condominiums, schools, religious institutions, and other types of commercial use property.

The Business Banking group, reporting under Retail Banking in most markets, focuses on locally based small businesses in the Bank’s market footprint with primary annual revenues up to $10 million and borrowings between $350,000 and $1 million. The needs of these clients range from expansion or acquisition financing, equipment financing, owner-occupied real estate financing, and smaller operating lines of credit.

The Bank is an SBA Preferred Lending Partner, which allows the Bank to underwrite and approve its own SBA loans in an expedited manner. An experienced veteran lender oversees the Bank’s SBA Department. The Bank makes loans to borrowers generally up to $3 million under the SBA “7A Program,” as well as utilize the “504 Program” for owner-occupied CRE opportunities. The Bank’s lenders utilize programs of the SBA to reduce credit risk exposure.

Construction and Land Development Lending — The Bank originates business loans for the construction of both single-family, residential properties, and commercial properties (e.g., apartment complexes, shopping centers, office buildings). While not a focus for the Bank, the Bank may originate loans for the acquisition and development of residential or commercial land into buildable lots.

Single-family, residential-construction loans are made in the Bank’s market area to established homebuilders with solid financial records. The majority of these loans are made for “contract” homes that the builder has already pre-sold to a homebuyer.

Commercial-construction loans are made in the Bank’s market to established commercial builders/developers with solid financial records. Typically, these loans are made for investment properties and have tenants pre-committed for some or all of the space. Generally, commercial-construction loans are made for the duration of the construction period and slightly beyond and will either convert to permanent financing with the Bank or with another lender at or before maturity.

Construction-to-permanent loans are another type of construction-related financing that the Bank offers. These loans are made to borrowers who are going to build a property and retain it for ownership after construction completion. These loans are offered on both owner-occupied and nonowner-occupied CRE.

Consumer Lending — Traditional Banking consumer loans made by the Bank include secured and unsecured personal loans. In 2024, the Traditional Bank stopped the origination of new consumer credit cards and anticipates selling or winding down during 2025 the existing $6 million Traditional Bank consumer credit card portfolio.

Aircraft Lending — Aircraft loans are typically made to purchase or refinance personal aircraft, along with engine overhauls and avionic upgrades. Loans typically range between $100,000 and $2,000,000 in size and have terms up to 20 years. While the term of the actual loan can be 20 years, the expected life of an aircraft loan is typically 4-6 years. The aircraft loan program is open to all fifty states.

The credit characteristics of an aircraft borrower are higher than a typical consumer in that they must demonstrate and indicate a higher degree of credit worthiness for approval.

See additional discussion regarding Lending Activities under the sections titled:

● Part I Item 1A “Risk Factors”

● Part II Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”

● Part II Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” Footnote 4 “Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses”

The Bank’s other Traditional Banking activities generally consist of the following:

Private Banking — The Bank provides financial products and services to high-net-worth individuals through its Private Banking division. The Bank’s Private Banking officers have extensive banking experience and are trained to meet the unique financial needs of this clientele.

Treasury Management Department — The Bank provides various deposit products designed for commercial business clients located throughout its market footprint. Lockbox processing, remote deposit capture, business on-line banking, account reconciliation, and ACH processing are additional services offered to commercial businesses through the Bank’s Treasury Management department. Treasury Management officers work closely with commercial and retail officers to support their clients’ cash management needs.

Correspondent Lending — During 2023, the Bank purchased a block of single family, first-lien mortgage loans for investment through its Correspondent Lending channel. The Bank had previously purchased Correspondent loans during 2014 and 2015. Correspondent Lending generally involves the Bank purchasing, primarily from its Warehouse Lending clients, closed loans that meet the Bank’s specifications. Substantially all loans purchased through the Correspondent Lending channel are purchased at a premium. Premiums on loans held for investment acquired though the Correspondent Lending channel will be amortized into interest income over the expected life of the loan utilizing the level-yield. Loans acquired through the Correspondent Lending channel are generally made to borrowers outside of the Bank’s historical market footprint. During the last half of March 2024, Management made the decision to sell $69 million of correspondent loans that were previously classified as held for investment. The sale of these loans was completed during the second quarter of 2024 with the final dollar amount of loans sold being $67 million.

Internet Banking — The Bank expands its market penetration and service delivery of its RB&T brand by offering clients Internet Banking services and products through its website, www.republicbank.com.

RBMAX — RBMAX is a separately branded, national branchless banking platform offered by the Bank. RBMAX focuses on technologically savvy clients that prefer to bank virtually as well as those that prefer to carry larger balances in high yield savings accounts.

Mobile Banking — The Bank allows clients to easily and securely access and manage their accounts through its mobile banking application.

Other Banking Services — The Bank also provides title insurance and other financial institution related products and services.

Bank Acquisitions — The Bank maintains an acquisition strategy to selectively grow its franchise as a complement to its organic growth strategies.

See additional discussion regarding the Traditional Banking segment under Footnote 24 “Segment Information” of Part II Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

(II) Warehouse Lending segment

The Core Bank provides short-term, revolving credit facilities to mortgage bankers across the United States through mortgage warehouse lines of credit. These credit facilities are primarily secured by single-family, first-lien residential real estate loans. The credit facility enables the mortgage banking clients to close single-family, first-lien residential real estate loans in their own name and temporarily fund their inventory of these closed loans until the loans are sold to investors approved by the Bank. Individual advances for loans are expected to remain on the warehouse line for an average of 15 to 30 days. Advances for reverse mortgage loans and construction loans typically remain on the line longer than conventional mortgage loans. Interest income and loan fees are accrued for each individual advance during the time the advance remains on the warehouse line and collected when the loan is sold. The Core Bank receives the sale proceeds of each loan directly from the investor and applies the funds to pay off the warehouse advance and related accrued interest and fees. The remaining proceeds are credited to the mortgage-banking client.

See additional discussion regarding the Warehouse Lending segment under Footnote 24 “Segment Information” of Part II Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

(III) Tax Refund Solutions segment

Through the TRS segment, the Bank facilitates the receipt and payment of federal and state tax refund products and offers a credit product through third-party tax preparers located throughout the U.S., as well as tax-preparation software providers that offer Republic Bank ERAs, RAs, and RTs (collectively, the “Tax Providers”). The majority of all the business generated by the TRS business occurs during the first half of each year. During the second half of each year, TRS generates limited revenue and incurs costs preparing for the next year’s tax season. During December 2024, TRS originated $139 million of ERAs related to tax returns that were anticipated to be filed during the first quarter 2025 tax filing season. During December 2023, TRS originated $103 million of ERAs related to tax returns that were anticipated to be filed during the first quarter 2024 tax filing season.

RTs are fee-based products whereby a tax refund is issued to the taxpayer after the Bank has received the refund from the federal or state government. There is no credit risk or borrowing cost associated with these products because they are only delivered to the taxpayer upon receipt of the tax refund directly from the governmental paying authority. Fees earned by the Company on RTs, net of revenue share, are reported as noninterest income under the line item “Net refund transfer fees.”

The RA product is a loan made in conjunction with the filing of a taxpayer’s federal tax return, which allows the taxpayer to borrow funds as an advance of a portion of their tax refund. The RA product had the following features during the 2024 and 2025 Tax Seasons:

● Offered only during the first two months of each year;

● The taxpayer was given the option to choose from multiple loan-amount tiers, subject to underwriting, up to a maximum advance amount of $6,500;

● No requirement that the taxpayer pays for another bank product, such as an RT;

● Multiple disbursement methods were available through most Tax Providers, including direct deposit, prepaid card, or check, based on the taxpayer-customer’s election;

● Repayment of the RA to the Bank is deducted from the taxpayer’s tax refund proceeds; and

● If an insufficient refund to repay the RA occurs:

o there is no recourse to the taxpayer,

o no negative credit reporting on the taxpayer, and

o no collection efforts against the taxpayer.

Since its introduction in December of 2022, the ERA loan product has been structured similarly to the RA with the primary differences being the timing of when the ERAs are originated and the documentation available to underwrite the ERAs. The ERA is originated prior to the taxpayer receiving their fiscal year taxable income documentation, e.g., W-2, and the filing of the taxpayer’s final federal tax return. As such, the Company generally uses paystub information to underwrite the ERA. The repayment of the ERA is incumbent upon the taxpayer client returning to the Bank’s Tax Provider for the filing of their final federal tax return in order for the tax refund to potentially be received by the Bank from the federal government to pay off the advance. The ERA product had the following features during the 2024 and 2025 Tax Seasons:

● Only offered during December and the up-coming January in connection with the upcoming first quarter tax business for each period;

● The taxpayer had the option to choose from multiple loan tiers, subject to underwriting, up to a maximum advance amount of $1,000;

● No requirement that the taxpayer pays for another bank product, such as an RT;

● Multiple disbursement methods available through most Tax Providers, including direct deposit or prepaid card, based on the taxpayer-customer’s election;

● Repayment of the ERA to the Bank deducted from the taxpayer’s tax refund proceeds; and

● If an insufficient refund to repay the ERA, including the failure to file a final federal tax return through a Republic Tax Provider:

o no recourse to the taxpayer,

o no negative credit reporting on the taxpayer, and

o no collection efforts against the taxpayer.

The Company reports fees paid for the RAs, including ERAs, as interest income on loans. The number of days for delinquency eligibility is based on management’s annual analysis of tax return processing times. RAs, including ERAs that were originated related to the first quarter 2023 tax filing season were repaid, on average, within 32 days after the taxpayer’s tax return was submitted to the applicable taxing authority. RAs do not have a contractual due date, but as it did during 2023, the Company considered an RA delinquent during 2024 if it remained unpaid 35 days after the taxpayer’s tax return was submitted to the applicable taxing authority.

Provisions on RAs are estimated when advances are made. Unpaid RAs, including ERAs, related to the first quarter tax filing season of a given year are considered delinquent as of June 30th of that year and charged-off. In addition, as of June 30, 2024, RAs that were subject to Tax Provider loan loss guarantees were charged off and immediately recorded as recoveries of previously charged-off loans with corresponding receivables recorded in other assets for the Tax Provider guarantees. Those corresponding receivables were settled during the third quarter of 2024. RAs collected during the second half of that year, not subject to loan loss guarantee arrangements, are recorded as recoveries of previously charged-off loans.

Related to the overall credit losses on RAs, including ERAs, the Bank’s ability to control losses is highly dependent upon its ability to predict the taxpayer’s likelihood to receive the tax refund as claimed on the taxpayer’s tax return. Each year, the Bank’s RA approval model is based primarily on the prior-year’s tax refund payment patterns. Because the substantial majority of the RA volume occurs each year before that year’s tax refund payment patterns can be analyzed and subsequent underwriting changes made, credit losses during a current year could be higher than management’s predictions if tax refund payment patterns change materially between years.

In response to changes in the legal, regulatory, and competitive environment, management annually reviews and revises the RA, including the ERA, product parameters. Further changes in the RA product parameters do not ensure positive results and could have an overall material negative impact on the performance of all RA product offerings and therefore on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

See additional discussion regarding the RA product under the sections titled:

● Part I Item 1A “Risk Factors”

● Part II Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”

● Part II Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” Footnote 4 “Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses”

(IV) Republic Payment Solutions segment

The RPS Division offers a range of payments-related products and services to consumers through third party service providers. The Bank offers both issuing solutions and money movement capabilities.

Issuing Solutions:

The RPS division offers prepaid and debit solutions primarily marketed to the consumer industry.

Prepaid solutions include the issuing of payroll and general purpose reloadable (“GPR”) cards. Characteristics of these cards include the following:

● Similar to a traditional debit card with features including traditional point of sale purchasing, ATM withdrawals and direct deposit;

● Funds associated with these products typically held in pooled accounts at the Bank with the Bank maintaining records of individual balances within these pooled accounts; and

● Payroll cards facilitate the loading of an employer’s payroll onto a card via direct deposit with GPR cards generally distributed through retail locations and reloadable through participating retail load networks.

Debit solutions include the issuing of demand deposit accounts, savings accounts and/or debit cards. In addition to offering traditional point of sale purchasing, ATM withdrawals, and direct deposit options, these accounts may include overdraft protection.

Money Movement:

The Bank participates in traditional money movement solutions including ACH transactions, wire transfer, check processing, and the Mastercard RPPS. These capabilities are complementary to issuing within RPS, as well as, generally facilitating the movement of money for the TRS and RCS Divisions.

The Company reports its share of client-related charges and fees for RPS programs under RPS program fees, while the Company’s portion of interchange revenue generated by prepaid card transactions is reported as noninterest income under “Interchange fee income.” In addition, the Company began sharing interest income revenue with its largest prepaid marketer-servicer during 2024. The interest shared under this arrangement is reported as interest expense on deposits.

See additional discussion regarding the RPS segment under the sections titled:

● Part I Item 1A “Risk Factors”

● Part II Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”

● Part II Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” Footnote 24 “Segment Information”

(V) Republic Credit Solutions segment

Through the RCS segment, the Bank offers consumer credit products. In general, the credit products are unsecured, small dollar consumer loans that are dependent on various factors. RCS loans typically earn a higher yield but also have higher credit risk compared to loans originated through the Traditional Banking segment, with a significant portion of RCS clients considered subprime or near-prime borrowers. The Bank uses third-party service providers for certain services such as marketing and loan servicing of RCS loans. Additional information regarding consumer loan products offered through RCS follows:

1) RCS line-of-credit products – Using separate third-party service providers, the Bank originates two line-of-credit products to generally subprime borrowers in multiple states. Elastic Marketing, LLC and Elevate Decision Sciences, LLC are third-party service providers for the LOC I product and are subject to the Bank’s oversight and supervision. Together, these companies provide the Bank with certain marketing, servicing, technology, and support services, while a separate third party provides customer support, servicing, and other services on the Bank’s behalf. The Bank is the lender for this product and is marketed as such. Furthermore, the Bank controls the loan terms and underwriting guidelines, and the Bank exercises consumer compliance oversight of the product.

The Bank sells participation interests in this product. These participation interests are a 90% interest in advances made to borrowers under the borrower’s line-of-credit account, and the participation interests are generally sold three business days following the Bank’s funding of the associated advances. Although the Bank retains a 10% participation interest in each advance, it maintains 100% ownership of the underlying LOC I account with each borrower. Loan balances held for sale through this program are carried at the lower of cost or fair value.

2) Similar to its LOC I product, the Bank provides oversight and supervision to a third party for its LOC II product. In return, this third party provides the Bank with marketing services and loan servicing for the LOC II product. The Bank is the lender for this product and is marketed as such. Furthermore, the Bank controls the loan terms and underwriting guidelines, and the Bank exercises consumer compliance oversight of this product.

The Bank sells 95% participation interests in the LOC II product. These participation interests are generally sold three business days following the Bank’s funding of the associated advances. Although the Bank retains a 5% participation interest in each advance, it maintains 100% ownership of the underlying LOC II account with each borrower. Loan balances held for sale through this program are carried at the lower of cost or fair value.

● RCS installment loan product – Through RCS, the Bank offers installment loans with terms ranging from 12 to 60 months to borrowers in multiple states. The same third-party service provider for RCS’s LOC II is the third-party provider for the installment loans. This third-party provider is subject to the Bank’s oversight and supervision and provides the Bank with marketing services and loan servicing for these RCS installment loans. The Bank is the lender for these RCS installment loans and is marketed as such. Furthermore, the Bank controls the loan terms and underwriting guidelines, and the Bank exercises consumer compliance oversight of this RCS installment loan product. Currently, all loan balances originated under this RCS installment loan program are carried as “held for sale” on the Bank’s balance sheet, with the intention to sell these loans to a third-party, who is an affiliate of the Bank’s third-party service provider, generally within sixteen days following the Bank’s origination of the loans. Loans originated under this RCS installment loan program are carried at fair value under a fair-value option, with the portfolio marked to market monthly.

● RCS healthcare receivables products – The Bank originates healthcare-receivables products across the U.S. through three different third-party service providers.

o For two of the programs, the Bank retains 100% of the receivables, with recourse in the event of default.

o For the remaining program, in some instances the Bank retains 100% of the receivables originated, with recourse in the event of default, and in other instances, the Bank sells 100% of the receivables generally within one month of origination. Loan balances held for sale through this program are carried at the lower of cost or fair value.

For the RCS line of credit and healthcare receivable products, the Company reports interest income and loan origination fees earned on RCS loans under “Loans, including fees,” while any net gains or losses on sale and mark-to-market adjustments of RCS loans are reported as noninterest income under “RCS Program fees.” The Company has elected fair value accounting for its RCS installment loan product that it sells after an initial holding period. As a result, interest income on loans, loan origination fees, net gains or losses on sale, and mark-to-market adjustments for the RCS installment product are reported as noninterest income under “RCS Program fees.”

See additional discussion regarding the RCS segment under the sections titled:

● Part I Item 1A “Risk Factors”

● Part II Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”

● Part II Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” Footnote 24 “Segment Information”

Employees and Human Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2024, Republic had 989 FTE employees. Altogether, Republic had 978 full-time and 21 part-time employees. None of the Company’s employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement, and Republic has never experienced a work stoppage. The Company believes that it has had and continues to have good employee relations.

Employee retention helps the Company operate efficiently and effectively. Management promotes its core values through prioritizing concern for employees’ well-being, supporting employees’ career goals, offering competitive wages, offering flexible schedules, and providing valuable fringe benefits. In addition, Bank employees may become stockholders of the Company through participation in its Employee Stock Purchase Plan and its 401(k) retirement plan, which offers a Company stock investment option.

The Company actively encourages and supports the growth and development of its employees. Management generally seeks to fill positions by promotion and transfer from within the organization, whenever practical. Career development is advanced through ongoing mentoring and development programs, as well as internally developed training programs, customized corporate training engagements, and educational reimbursement programs. Reimbursement is available to employees enrolled in pre-approved degree or certification programs at accredited institutions that teach skills or knowledge relevant to the financial services industry and in compliance with the Internal Revenue Code.

The safety, health, and wellness of Republic’s employees is considered a top priority. The Company promotes the health and wellness of its employees by encouraging work-life balance, offering flexible work schedules, and striving to keep the employee portion of health care premiums competitive with local competition. Additionally, Republic strives to clearly and frequently communicate

expectations that all employee conduct must adhere to the highest ethical standards encompassed by its corporate values, including through town hall meetings and senior leadership messages.

Information about our Executive Officers

See Part III, Item 10. “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.” for information about the Company’s executive officers.

Competition

Traditional Banking

The Traditional Bank encounters intense competition in its market footprint in originating loans, attracting deposits, and selling other banking-related financial services. The deregulation of the banking industry, the ability to create financial services holding companies to engage in a wide range of financial services other than banking, and the widespread enactment of state laws that permit multi-bank holding companies, as well as the availability of nationwide interstate banking, has created a highly competitive environment for financial institutions. In one or more aspects of the Bank’s business, the Bank competes with local and regional retail and commercial banks, other savings banks, credit unions, finance companies, mortgage companies, fintech companies, and other financial intermediaries operating in Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, and in other states where the Bank offers its products. The Bank also competes with insurance companies, consumer finance companies, investment banking firms, and mutual fund managers. Some of the Company’s competitors are not subject to the same degree of regulatory review and restrictions that apply to the Company and the Bank. Many of the Bank’s primary competitors, some of which are affiliated with large bank holding companies or other larger financial based institutions, have substantially greater resources, larger established client bases, higher lending limits, more extensive banking center networks, numerous ATMs or ITMs, and greater advertising and marketing budgets. They may also offer services that the Bank does not currently provide. These competitors attempt to gain market share through their financial product mix, pricing strategies, and banking center locations. Legislative developments related to interstate branching and banking in general, by providing large banking institutions easier access to a broader marketplace, can act to create more pressure on smaller financial institutions to consolidate. It is anticipated that competition from both bank and non-bank entities will continue to remain strong in the foreseeable future.

The primary factors in competing for bank products are convenient locations, ATMs, ITMs, flexible hours, deposit interest rates, services, internet banking, mobile banking, range of lending services offered, and lending fees. The Bank believes that an emphasis on highly personalized service tailored to individual client needs, together with the local character of the Bank’s business and its “community bank” management philosophy will continue to enhance the Bank’s ability to compete successfully in its market footprint.

Warehouse Lending

The Bank faces strong competition from financial institutions across the United States for mortgage banking clients in need of warehouse lines of credit. Competitors may have substantially greater resources, larger established client bases, higher lending limits, as well as underwriting standards and on-going oversight requirements that could be viewed more favorably by some clients. A few or all of these factors can lead to a competitive disadvantage to the Company when attempting to retain or grow its Warehouse client base.

Tax Refund Solutions

The TRS segment encounters direct competition for RT and RA market share from a limited number of banks in the industry. The Bank promotes these products to Tax Providers using various revenue-share and pricing incentives, as well as product features and overall service levels.

Republic Payment Solutions

The prepaid card industry is subject to intense and increasing competition. The Bank competes with a number of companies that market different types of prepaid card products, such as general-purpose-reloadable, gift, incentive, and corporate disbursement cards.

There is also competition from large retailers who are seeking to integrate more financial services into their product offerings. Increased competition is also expected from alternative financial services providers who are often well-positioned to service the “underbanked” and who may wish to develop their own prepaid card programs.

Republic Credit Solutions

The small-dollar consumer loan industry is highly competitive. Competitors for the Company’s small-dollar loan programs include, but are not limited to, billers who accept late payments for a fee, overdraft privilege programs of other banks and credit unions, payday lenders, and fintech companies.

New entrants to the small-dollar consumer loan market must successfully implement underwriting and fraud prevention processes, overcome consumer brand loyalty, and have sufficient capital to withstand early losses associated with unseasoned loan portfolios. In addition, there are substantial regulatory and compliance costs, including the need for expertise to customize products associated with licenses to lend in various states across the United States.

Supervision and Regulation

The Company and the Bank are separate and distinct entities and are subject to extensive federal and state banking laws and regulations, which establish a comprehensive framework of activities in which the Company and the Bank may engage. These laws and regulations are primarily intended to provide protection to clients and depositors, not stockholders. The Company, as a public reporting company, is also subject to various federal securities laws and regulations. Because the Company’s Class A Common Stock is listed on NASDAQ, the Company is subject to NASDAQ’s rules for listed companies.

As an umbrella supervisor, the FRB requires that FHCs operate in a safe and sound manner so that their financial condition does not threaten the viability of affiliated depository institutions. The FRB conducts periodic examinations to review the Company’s compliance with various legal and safety and soundness requirements, which directly impact the Bank.

The Bank is a Kentucky-chartered commercial banking and trust corporation that is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, and as such it is subject to supervision and regulation by the FDIC and the KDFI. The Bank operates physical locations in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee and originates and purchases loans on a national basis. All deposits, subject to regulatory prescribed limitations, held by the Bank are insured by the FDIC. The Bank is subject to the restrictions and requirements of, and potential enforcement actions, and examinations by the FDIC and KDFI. The Bank is a member of the FHLB system. As a member of the FHLB system, the Bank must also comply with applicable regulations of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Regulation and supervision by each of these agencies is intended primarily for the protection of the Bank’s clients and the DIF and not for the benefit of the Company’s stockholders. The Bank’s activities are also regulated under federal and state consumer protection laws applicable to the Bank’s lending, deposit, and other activities. An adverse ruling or finding against the Company or the Bank under these laws could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

The Company and the Bank are also subject to the regulations of the CFPB. The CFPB has consolidated rules and orders with respect to consumer financial products and services and has substantial power to define the rights of consumers and responsibilities of lending institutions, such as the Bank. The CFPB does not, however, examine or supervise the Bank for compliance with such regulations; rather, based on the Bank’s size (less than $10 billion in assets), enforcement authority remains with the FDIC and the KDFI although the Bank may be required to submit reports or other materials to the CFPB upon its request. Notwithstanding jurisdictional limitations set forth in the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFPB and federal banking regulators may endeavor to work jointly on supervision matters.

Regulators have extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement authority and examination policies, including, but not limited to, policies that can materially impact the classification of assets and the establishment of adequate loan loss reserves. Any change in regulatory requirements and policies, whether by the FRB, the FDIC, the KDFI, the CFPB, or state or federal legislation, could have a material adverse impact on Company operations.

Regulators also have broad enforcement powers over banks and their holding companies, including, but not limited to: the power to mandate or restrict particular actions, activities, or divestitures; impose monetary fines and other penalties for violations of laws and regulations; issue cease and desist or removal orders; seek injunctions; publicly disclose such actions; and prohibit unsafe or unsound

practices. This authority includes both informal and formal actions to effect corrective actions and/or sanctions. In addition, the Bank is subject to regulation and potential enforcement actions by other state and federal agencies.

Certain regulatory requirements applicable to the Company and the Bank are referred to below or elsewhere in this filing. The description of statutory provisions and regulations applicable to banks and their holding companies set forth in this filing does not purport to be a complete description of such statutes and regulations. Their effect on the Company and the Bank is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual laws and regulations.

The Dodd-Frank Act

The Dodd-Frank Act, among other things, implemented changes that affected the oversight and supervision of financial institutions, provided for a new resolution procedure for large financial companies, created the CFPB, introduced more stringent regulatory capital requirements and significant changes in the regulation of over-the-counter derivatives, reformed the regulation of credit rating agencies, increased controls and transparency in corporate governance and executive compensation practices, incorporated the Volcker Rule, required registration of advisers to certain private funds, and influenced significant changes in the securitization market. The EGRRCPA and its implementing regulations pulled back some of the more stringent requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act for community banks with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion, such as the Bank. Due to exemptions in the Dodd-Frank Act, the EGRRCPA, and each act’s implementing regulations, the Company and Bank are not subject to several provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, including but not limited to (1) the Durbin Amendment, which would otherwise limit the interchange fees the Bank can charge on debit card transactions, (2) the Volcker Rule, which would otherwise affect the Company’s ability to invest in or engage in certain trading activities, and (3) stricter regulatory capital requirements.

I.The Company

Source of Strength Doctrine — The Dodd-Frank Act codified the FRB’s longstanding “source of strength” doctrine, a policy that holding companies act as a source of strength to their insured depository institution subsidiaries by providing capital, liquidity, and other support in times of distress. FRB policies and regulations also prohibit bank holding companies from engaging in unsafe and unsound banking practices. The FDIC and the KDFI have similar restrictions with respect to the Bank. Under the Dodd-Frank Act and in line with prior FRB policy, a BHC is expected to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to its banking subsidiaries and to commit resources for their support. Providing financial support of this nature could restrict the Company’s ability to pay dividends and may be required at times when the Company may not be inclined to provide it. A BHC may also be required to guarantee the capital restoration plan of an undercapitalized banking subsidiary and any applicable cross-guarantee provisions that may apply to the BHC. In addition, any capital loans by the Company to its bank subsidiary are subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to certain other indebtedness of the bank subsidiary. In the event of a BHC’s bankruptcy, any commitment by the BHC to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a subsidiary bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to a priority of payment.

Acquisitions and Strategic Planning — The Company generally is required to obtain the prior approval of the FRB under the BHCA before it may, among other things, merge or consolidate with another BHC, acquire all or substantially all of the assets of any bank, or acquire ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank, if after such acquisition it would own or control, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of any class of the voting shares of such bank. In addition, the Bank must obtain regulatory approval before completing certain transactions, such as adding new banking offices and mergers with, or acquisitions of, other financial institutions. This may affect the Company’s or the Bank’s acquisition, or timely acquisition, of interests in other banks, other merger and acquisition activity and banking office expansion.

The Change in Bank Control Act generally requires the approval of the appropriate federal banking regulatory agency before any person can acquire control of a bank or BHC. An acquisition of control occurs if, immediately after a transaction, the acquiring person directly or indirectly owns, controls, or holds with the power to vote 25% or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities of the bank or BHC. Additionally, control is refutably presumed to exist if, immediately after a transaction, the acquiring person owns, controls, or holds with the power to vote 10% or more of any class of voting securities of an institution and (i) the institution has registered securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or (ii) no other person will own, control, or hold the power to vote a greater percentage of that class of voting securities immediately after the transaction.

Financial Activities — The Company is an FHC. A BHC may elect to become an FHC if it and each of its banking subsidiaries is well capitalized, is well managed and has at least a “Satisfactory” rating under the CRA. As an FHC, the Company is permitted to engage directly or indirectly in a broader range of activities than those permitted for a BHC under the BHCA. Permitted activities for an FHC include securities underwriting and dealing, insurance underwriting and brokerage, merchant banking, and other activities that are declared by the FRB, in cooperation with the Treasury Department, to be “financial in nature or incidental thereto” or are declared by the FRB unilaterally to be “complementary” to financial activities. Permitted activities also include those determined to be “closely related to banking” activities by the FRB under the BHCA and permissible for any BHC. An FHC is allowed to conduct permissible new financial activities or acquire permissible non-bank financial companies with after-the-fact notice to the FRB.

To maintain FHC status, the Company and the Bank must continue to meet the well capitalized and well managed requirements and maintain at least a “Satisfactory” rating under the CRA. The failure to meet such requirements could result in material restrictions on the activities of the Company and may also adversely affect the Company’s ability to enter into certain transactions (including mergers and acquisitions) or obtain necessary approvals in connection therewith, as well as the loss of FHC status. If restrictions are imposed on the activities of an FHC, such information may not necessarily be available to the public.

II.The Bank

The Kentucky and federal banking statutes prescribe the permissible activities in which a Kentucky-chartered bank may engage and where those activities may be conducted. Kentucky’s statutes contain a super parity provision that permits a well-rated Kentucky bank to engage in any banking activity in which a national bank in Kentucky, a state bank, state thrift, or state savings association operating in any other state, a federal savings bank, or a federal thrift meeting the qualified thrift lender test engages, provided it first obtains a legal opinion from counsel specifying the statutory or regulatory provisions that permit the activity.

Safety and Soundness — The federal banking regulatory agencies have prescribed, by regulation, guidelines for all insured depository institutions relating to: (i) internal controls, information systems, and internal audit systems; (ii) loan documentation; (iii) credit underwriting; (iv) interest rate risk exposure; (v) asset growth; (vi) asset quality; (vii) earnings; and (viii) compensation and benefits. These guidelines set forth safety and soundness standards that the federal banking regulatory agencies use to identify and address problems at FDIC insured institutions before capital becomes impaired. If the FDIC determines that the Bank fails to meet any standard prescribed by these guidelines, the FDIC may require the Bank to submit to it an acceptable plan to achieve compliance with the standard. FDIC regulations establish deadlines for the submission and review of such safety and soundness compliance plans in response to any such determination.

Branching — Kentucky law generally permits a Kentucky chartered bank to establish a branch office in any county in Kentucky. A Kentucky bank may also, subject to regulatory approval and certain restrictions, establish a branch office outside of Kentucky. Well-capitalized Kentucky state-chartered banks that have been in operation at least three years and that satisfy certain criteria relating to, among other things, their composite and management regulatory exam ratings, may establish a branch in Kentucky without the approval of the Commissioner of the KDFI, upon notice to the KDFI and any other state bank with its main office located in the county where the new branch will be located. Branching by banks not meeting these criteria requires the approval of the Commissioner of the KDFI, who must ascertain and determine that the public convenience and advantage will be served and promoted and that there is a reasonable probability of the successful operation of the branch. In any case, the proposed branch must also be approved by the FDIC, which considers a number of factors, including financial condition, capital adequacy, earnings prospects, character of management, needs of the community, and consistency with corporate powers. As a result of several legislative acts including the Dodd-Frank Act, the Bank, along with any other national or state-chartered bank, generally may branch across state lines. Such unlimited branching authority has the potential to increase competition within the markets in which the Company and the Bank operate.

Restrictions on Affiliate Transactions and Loans to Insiders — Transactions between the Bank or its subsidiaries and affiliates (including the Company), and in some cases the Bank’s correspondent banks, are subject to FDIC regulations, the FRB’s Regulations O and W, and Sections 23A, 23B, 22(g), and 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act (“FRA”). In general, these transactions must be on terms and conditions that are consistent with safe and sound banking practices and substantially the same, or at least as favorable to the bank or its subsidiaries, as those for comparable transactions with non-affiliated parties. In addition, certain types of these transactions referred to as “covered transactions” are subject to quantitative limits based on a percentage of the Bank’s capital, thereby restricting the total dollar amount of transactions the Bank or its subsidiaries may engage in with each individual affiliate and with all affiliates in the aggregate. Limitations are also imposed on loans and extensions of credit by a bank to its executive officers, directors,

and principal stockholders and each of their related interests. The Dodd-Frank Act expanded the scope of these regulations, including by applying them to the credit exposure arising under derivative transactions, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and lending transactions.

The FRB promulgated Regulation W to implement Sections 23A and 23B of the FRA. This regulation contains many of the foregoing restrictions and addresses derivative transactions, overdraft facilities, and other transactions between a bank and its non-bank affiliates.

Restrictions on Distribution of Subsidiary Bank Dividends and Assets — Bank regulators may declare a dividend payment to be unsafe and unsound even if the Bank continues to meet its capital requirements after the dividend. Dividends paid by the Bank provide substantially all of the Company’s operating funds. Regulatory requirements limit the amount of dividends that may be paid by the Bank. Under applicable federal regulations, the Bank generally cannot pay a dividend if the Bank is not adequately capitalized or if, after paying the dividend, the Bank would be undercapitalized. Under applicable federal capital adequacy guidelines, banks are also subject to dividend limitations and restrictions if they fail to maintain an appropriate capital conservation buffer.

Under Kentucky law and applicable federal banking regulations, the dividends the Bank can pay during any calendar year are generally limited to its profits for that year, plus its retained net profits for the two preceding years, less any required transfers to surplus or to fund the retirement of preferred stock or debt, absent approval of the respective state or federal banking regulators. FDIC regulations also require all insured depository institutions to remain in a safe and sound condition, as defined in applicable regulations, as a condition of having FDIC deposit insurance.

FDIC Deposit Insurance Assessments — All Bank deposits are insured to the maximum extent permitted by the DIF. Insured Bank deposits are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. As insurer, the FDIC is authorized to conduct examinations of, and to require reporting by, insured institutions. The FDIC also may prohibit any insured institution from engaging in any activity determined by regulation or order to pose a serious threat to the DIF.

The FDIC assesses all banks quarterly. A bank’s assessment base and assessment rates are determined quarterly and are risk-based. For small banks (such as the Bank) post-Dodd-Frank Act, individual assessment rates are individually assigned based on the FDIC’s financial ratios method that estimates the probability of a bank’s failure over three years using financial data and a weighted average of the bank’s CAMELS component ratings, subject to adjustment. CAMELS composite ratings are used to set minimum and maximum assessment rates. The assessment base, post-Dodd-Frank Act, is the average consolidated total assets minus average tangible equity. Management cannot predict what insurance assessment rates will be in the future.

The FDIC may terminate the deposit insurance of any insured depository institution, including the Bank, if it determines that the institution has engaged or is engaging in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, order or condition imposed by an agreement with the FDIC. It may also suspend deposit insurance temporarily if an institution has no tangible capital. If insurance is terminated, the accounts at the institution at the time of termination, less subsequent withdrawals, continue to be insured for a period of six months to two years, as determined by the FDIC. Management is aware of no existing circumstances that would result in termination of the Bank’s FDIC deposit insurance.

Anti-Money Laundering and Related Laws — The Company and the Bank are subject to federal laws that are designed to counter money laundering and terrorist financing and transactions with persons, companies, or foreign governments sanctioned by the United States. These laws include the BSA, the Money Laundering Control Act, the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, the Corporate Transparency Act, and the Patriot Act, as administered by the United States Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. These laws obligate depository institutions and broker-dealers to verify their customers’ identity, conduct customer due diligence, report on suspicious activity, file reports of certain transactions in currency, and conduct enhanced due diligence on certain accounts. The United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control prohibits persons from engaging in transactions with certain designated restricted countries and persons. Depository institutions and broker-dealers are required by their federal regulators to maintain robust policies and procedures in order to ensure compliance with these anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing obligations.

Failure to comply with these laws or maintain an adequate compliance program can lead to significant monetary penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, federal banking regulatory agencies evaluate the effectiveness of an applicant in combating money laundering when, determining whether to approve, among other things, a proposed bank merger, acquisition, restructuring, or other expansionary activity.

Consumer Laws and Regulations — The Bank is subject to a number of federal and state consumer protection laws, including, but not limited to, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Military Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and these laws’ respective state-law counterparts, among many others. As discussed in more detail below, the Bank must also comply with fair lending and privacy laws. Banks as well as nonbank consumer financial services providers are subject to any rule, regulation, or guideline created by the CFPB. The CFPB is an independent “watchdog” within the Federal Reserve System that regulates any person or service provider who offers or provides personal, family, or household financial products or services by overseeing the application and implementation of federal “consumer financial laws.”

The CFPB is authorized to prescribe rules applicable to any covered person or service provider identifying and prohibiting acts or practices that are unfair, deceptive, or abusive in connection with any consumer financial product or service transaction. The CFPB has engaged in rulemaking and taken enforcement actions that directly impact the business operations of financial institutions offering consumer financial products or services, including the Bank and its divisions. The FDIC also regulates unfair and deceptive or abusive acts or practices under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

Such laws and regulations and the other consumer protection laws and regulations to which the Bank has been subject have historically mandated certain disclosure requirements and regulated the manner in which financial institutions must deal with clients when taking deposits from, making loans to, or engaging in other types of transactions with such clients. The continued effect of the CFPB on the development and promulgation of consumer protection rules and guidelines and the enforcement of federal “consumer financial laws” on the Bank, if any, cannot be determined with certainty at this time.

Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Laws — Banks have a responsibility under the CRA and related regulations to help meet the credit needs of their entire communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. In addition, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act prohibit lenders from discriminating in their lending practices on the basis of characteristics specified in those statutes. An institution’s failure to comply with the provisions of the CRA could, at a minimum, result in regulatory restrictions on its activities and the denial of applications. In addition, an institution’s failure to comply with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act could result in federal regulatory agencies or the Department of Justice taking enforcement actions against the institution. Failure by the Bank to fully comply with these laws could result in material penalties being assessed against the Bank. The Bank received an “Outstanding” CRA Performance Evaluation in March 2024, the most recent evaluation for which it has received final ratings. A copy of the public section of this CRA Performance Evaluation is available to the public upon request.

Privacy and Data Security — The FRB, FDIC, other bank regulatory agencies, and states have adopted guidelines for safeguarding confidential, personal customer information. These guidelines require each financial institution, under the supervision and ongoing oversight of its board of directors or an appropriate committee thereof, to create, implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program designed to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information, protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information and protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer. If the Bank fails to properly safeguard customer information or is the subject of a successful cyber-attack, it could result in material fines and/or liabilities that could materially affect the Company’s results of operations. Additionally, in November 2021, the FRB, FDIC, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued a joint final rule establishing computer-security incident notification requirements for banking organizations and their bank service providers. Effective April 2022, with full compliance no later than May 2022, banking organizations are required to satisfy specified consumer notice requirements if certain computer-security incidents occur, including incidents that have materially disrupted or degraded, or are reasonably likely to materially disrupt or degrade, the organization’s (i) ability to carry out banking operations, activities, or processes, or deliver banking products and services to a material portion of its customer base, in the ordinary course of business, (ii) business lines, including associated operations, services, functions, and support, that upon failure would result in a material loss of revenue, profit, or franchise value, or (iii) operations the failure or discontinuance of which would pose a threat to the financial stability of the United States.

In addition, various U.S. regulators, including the FRB and the SEC, have increased their focus on cyber-security through guidance, examinations, and regulations. The Company’s Board has approved and adopted a written information security program.

The GLBA requires financial institutions to implement policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of nonpublic personal information about consumers to non-affiliated third parties. In general, the statute requires explanations to consumers on policies and

procedures regarding the disclosure of such nonpublic personal information, and, except as otherwise required by law, prohibits disclosing such information except as provided in the financial institution’s policies and procedures. In addition to the GLBA, the Company and the Bank are also subject to applicable state privacy laws.

Prohibitions Against Tying Arrangements — The Bank is subject to prohibitions on certain tying arrangements. A depository institution generally is prohibited, subject to certain exceptions, from extending credit or offering any other service, or fixing or varying the consideration for an extension of credit or service, on the condition that the client obtain some additional product or service from the institution or its affiliates or not obtain products or services of a competitor of the institution.

Depositor Preference — The FDIA provides that, in the event of the liquidation or other resolution of an insured depository institution, the claims of depositors of the institution, including the claims of the FDIC as subrogee of insured depositors, and certain claims for administrative expenses of the FDIC as receiver, will have priority over other general unsecured claims against the institution. If an insured depository institution fails, insured and uninsured depositors, along with the FDIC, will have priority in payment ahead of unsecured, non-deposit creditors (including depositors whose deposits are payable only outside of the U.S.), and the parent BHC, with respect to any extensions of credit they have made to such insured depository institution.

Federal Home Loan Bank System — The FHLB offers credit to its members, which include savings banks, commercial banks, insurance companies, credit unions, and other entities. The FHLB system is currently divided into eleven federally chartered regional FHLBs that are regulated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The Bank is a member and owns capital stock in the FHLB Cincinnati. The amount of capital stock the Bank must own to maintain its membership depends on its balance of outstanding advances. It is required to acquire and hold shares in an amount at least equal to 1% of the aggregate principal amount of its unpaid single-family, residential real estate loans and similar obligations at the beginning of each year, or 1/20th of its outstanding advances from the FHLB, whichever is greater. Advances are secured by pledges of loans, mortgage backed securities, and capital stock of the FHLB. FHLBs also purchase mortgages in the secondary market through their Mortgage Purchase Program. The Bank began selling loans to the Mortgage Purchase Program during 2024.

In the event of a default on an advance, the Federal Home Loan Bank Act establishes priority of the FHLB’s claim over various other claims. If an FHLB falls below its minimum capital requirements, the FHLB may seek to require its members to purchase additional capital stock of the FHLB. If problems within the FHLB system were to occur, it could adversely affect the pricing or availability of advances, the amount and timing of dividends on capital stock issued by FHLB Cincinnati to its members, or the ability of members to have their FHLB capital stock redeemed on a timely basis. Congress continues to consider various proposals that could establish a new regulatory structure for the FHLB system, as well as for other government-sponsored entities. The Bank cannot predict at this time, which, if any, of these proposals may be adopted or what effect they would have on the Bank’s business.

Federal Reserve System — Under regulations of the FRB, the Bank is required to maintain noninterest-earning reserves against its transaction accounts (primarily NOW and regular checking accounts). The Bank is in compliance with the foregoing reserve requirements. Required reserves must be maintained in the form of vault cash, a depository account at the FRB, or a pass-through account as defined by the FRB. The balances maintained to meet the reserve requirements imposed by the FRB may be used to satisfy liquidity requirements imposed by the FDIC. The Bank is also authorized to borrow from the FRB discount window.

Loans to One Borrower — Under current limits, loans and extensions of credit outstanding at one time to a single borrower and not fully secured generally may not exceed 15% of the institution’s unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus. Loans and extensions of credit fully secured by certain readily marketable collateral may represent an additional 10% of unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus.

Capital Adequacy Requirements

Capital Guidelines — The Company and the Bank are subject to capital regulations in accordance with Basel III, as administered by banking regulators. Regulatory agencies measure capital adequacy within a framework that makes capital requirements, in part, dependent on the individual risk profiles of financial institutions. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators, including prompt corrective action as described below, that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on Republic’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items, as calculated under regulatory

accounting practices. The capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators regarding components, risk weightings, and other factors.

Banking regulators have categorized the Bank as well-capitalized. For purposes of determining if prompt corrective action is called for, the regulations in accordance with Basel III define “well capitalized” as a 10.0% Total Risk-Based Capital ratio, a 6.5% Common Equity Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital ratio, an 8.0% Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital ratio, and a 5.0% Tier 1 Leverage ratio. Additionally, in order to avoid limitations on capital distributions, including dividend payments and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers, the Company and Bank must hold a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% composed of Common Equity Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital above their minimum risk-based capital requirements.

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s capital ratios* were as follows:

December 31, (dollars in thousands)

Amount

Ratio

Amount

Ratio

Total capital to risk-weighted assets

Republic Bancorp, Inc.

$

1,042,149

16.98

%

$

968,844

16.10

%

Republic Bank & Trust Company

989,800

16.14

931,923

15.50

Common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets

Republic Bancorp, Inc.

$

965,243

15.73

%

$

893,658

14.85

%

Republic Bank & Trust Company

912,968

14.89

856,744

14.25

Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets

Republic Bancorp, Inc.

$

965,243

15.73

%

$

893,658

14.85

%

Republic Bank & Trust Company

912,968

14.89

856,744

14.25

Tier 1 leverage capital to average assets

Republic Bancorp, Inc.

$

965,243

14.07

%

$

893,658

13.89

%

Republic Bank & Trust Company

912,968

13.29

856,744

13.25

* The Company and the Bank elected to defer the impact of CECL on regulatory capital. The deferral period is five years, with the total estimated CECL impact 100% deferred for 2020 and 2021, then phased in over the next three years of 2022 through 2024. If not for this election, the Company’s and Bank’s regulatory capital ratios would have been approximately 3 basis points and 6 basis points lower than those presented in the table above as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.

The EGRRCPA provided for the simplification of the regulatory capital rules for certain financial institutions and their holding companies with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion. The EGRRCPA required the federal banking agencies to develop a CBLR for qualifying banks and holding companies with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion and an appropriate risk profile. The EGRRCPA mandated a minimum CBLR of not less than 8% and not more than 10%. In October 2019, the federal banking agencies issued a final rule implementing the CBLR framework and setting the CBLR at 9%. Under the final rule, the CBLR is calculated, generally, as Tier 1 capital divided by average total consolidated assets (minus amounts deducted from Tier 1 capital). Under this final rule, which was effective January 1, 2020, a qualifying community banking organization that has opted to use the CBLR framework is considered to have met the generally applicable risk-based and leverage capital requirements, the capital ratio requirements to be considered “well capitalized” under the prompt corrective action framework, and any other capital or leverage requirements to which the qualifying community banking organization is subject, if it maintains a CBLR greater than 9%. A qualifying community banking organization is a non-advanced approaches banking organization that has a leverage ratio of greater than 9%, total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion, total off-balance sheet exposures (excluding derivatives other than sold credit derivatives and unconditionally cancelable commitments) of 25% or less of total consolidated assets, and total trading assets and trading liabilities of 5% or less of total consolidated assets. While we believe we qualify as a qualifying community banking organization, we have not opted into the CBLR framework.

Corrective Measures for Capital Deficiencies — Banking regulators are required to take “prompt corrective action” with respect to capital deficient institutions. Applicable regulations define, for each capital category, the levels at which institutions are well

capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized. A bank is undercapitalized if it fails to meet any one of the ratios required to be adequately capitalized.

Undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized institutions are required to submit a capital restoration plan, which must be guaranteed by the institution’s holding company. In addition, applicable regulations contain broad restrictions on certain activities of undercapitalized institutions, including asset growth, acquisitions, branch establishment, and expansion into new lines of business. With certain exceptions, an insured depository institution is prohibited from making capital distributions, including dividends, and is prohibited from paying management fees to control persons if the institution would be undercapitalized after any such distribution or payment. A bank’s capital classification will also affect its ability to accept brokered deposits. Under applicable regulations, a bank may not lawfully accept, roll over, or renew brokered deposits unless it is either well capitalized or it is adequately capitalized and receives a waiver from its applicable regulator.

If a banking institution’s capital decreases below acceptable levels, bank regulatory enforcement powers become more enhanced. A significantly undercapitalized institution is subject to mandated capital raising activities, restrictions on interest rates paid and transactions with affiliates, removal of management, and other restrictions. Banking regulators have limited discretion in dealing with a critically undercapitalized institution and are normally required to appoint a receiver or conservator. Banks with risk-based capital and leverage ratios below the required minimums may also be subject to certain administrative actions, including the termination of deposit insurance upon notice and hearing, or a temporary suspension of insurance without a hearing if the institution has no tangible capital.

In addition, an FHC may face significant consequences if its bank subsidiary fails to maintain the required capital and management ratings, including the imposition of an agreement with the FRB that imposes limitations on its operations and may require divestitures. Until such deficiencies are corrected, the FRB generally may impose any limitations or conditions on the conduct or activities of the FHC and its affiliates that the FRB determines are appropriate, and the FHC may not commence any additional activity or acquire control of any company under Section 4(k) of the BHCA without prior FRB approval. Unless the period for compliance is extended by the FRB, if an FHC fails to correct deficiencies in maintaining its qualification for FHC status within 180 days of notice of such deficiencies from the FRB, the FRB may order divestiture of any depository institution controlled by the company. A company may comply with a divestiture order by ceasing to engage in any financial or other activity that would not be permissible for a BHC that has not elected to be treated as an FHC. The Company is currently classified as an FHC.

Under FDICIA, each federal banking agency has prescribed, by regulation, non-capital safety and soundness standards for institutions under its authority. These standards cover internal controls, information systems and internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, compensation and benefits, standards for asset quality, earnings, and stock valuation, and other operational and managerial standards the agency determines to be appropriate. An institution that fails to meet these standards must develop a plan acceptable to the applicable agency specifying the steps that the institution will take to meet the standards. Failure to submit or implement such a plan may subject the institution to regulatory sanctions.

Incentive and Executive Compensation

In 2010, the federal banking regulatory agencies published final interagency guidance for structuring incentive compensation arrangements at banking organizations. The guidance does not set forth any formulas or pay caps but contains certain principles that organizations are required to follow with respect to employees and groups of employees that may expose the organizations to material amounts of risk. The three primary principles on which this guidance was based are (i) balancing risk and financial results so as to not encourage imprudent risk-taking, (ii) compatibility with effective controls and risk management, and (iii) strong corporate governance. The FRB and the FDIC monitor compliance with this guidance as part of safety and soundness oversight. The Company has adopted a Responsible Compensation and Sales Practices Program to comply with the interagency guidance on incentive and executive compensation.

Governmental Policies

The Bank’s earnings are significantly affected by the difference between the interest earned by the Bank on its loans and investments and the interest paid by the Bank on its deposits or other borrowings. The yields on its assets and the rates paid on its liabilities are sensitive to changes in prevailing market rates of interest. Thus, the earnings and growth of the Bank are influenced by general

economic conditions, fiscal policies of the federal government, and the policies of regulatory agencies, particularly the FRB, which establishes national monetary policy. The nature and impact of any future changes in fiscal or monetary policies cannot be predicted.

Commercial banks such as the Bank are affected by the credit policies of various regulatory authorities, including the FRB. An important function of the FRB is to regulate the national supply of bank credit. Among the instruments of monetary policy used by the FRB to implement its objectives are open market operations in U.S. Government securities, changes in reserve requirements for bank deposits, changes in the discount rate on bank borrowings and limitations on interest rates that banks may pay on deposits. The FRB uses these instruments in varying combinations to influence the overall growth of bank loans, investments and deposits, and also to affect interest rates charged on loans, received on investments, or paid for deposits.

The monetary and fiscal policies of regulatory authorities, including the FRB, also affect the banking industry. Through changes in the reserve requirements against bank deposits, open market operations in U.S. Government securities and changes in the discount rate on bank borrowings, the FRB influences the cost and availability of funds obtained for lending and investing. No prediction can be made with respect to possible future changes in interest rates, deposit levels, or loan demand or with respect to the impact of such changes on the business, results of operations, or earnings of the Company or the Bank.

Future Regulatory and Legislative Initiatives

Future changes in the laws and regulations affecting the Company’s or the Bank’s operations are not predictable and could affect the Company’s and the Bank’s operations and profitability. The U.S. Congress and state legislative bodies continually consider proposals for altering the structure, regulation, and competitive relationships of financial institutions. It cannot be predicted whether, or in what form, any of these potential proposals or other regulatory initiatives will be adopted, the impact any such proposals or initiatives would have on the financial institutions industry or the extent to which the business or financial condition and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries may be affected by any such proposals or initiatives.

Other Regulation and Legislative Initiatives

Any change in the laws and regulations affecting the Bank’s operations is not predictable and could affect the Bank’s operations and profitability. The U.S. Congress and state legislative bodies also continually consider proposals for altering the structure, regulation, and competitive relationships of financial institutions. It cannot be predicted whether, or in what form, any of these potential proposals or regulatory initiatives will be adopted, the impact the proposals will have on the financial institutions industry or the extent to which the business or financial condition and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries may be affected.

Statistical Disclosures

The statistical disclosures required by Part I Item 1 “Business” are located under Part II Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Available Information

Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports are available without charge on our website, https://republicbank.q4ir.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed electronically with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

We also use our Investor Relations website as a means of disclosing material non-public information. We may also use our Investor Relations website for the purpose of complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Therefore, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in the Company to review the information we post on our Investor Relations website.

We are providing the address to our website solely for the information of investors. We do not intend our website address to be an active link or to otherwise incorporate the contents of the website into this report.