Republic Bank & Trust Company (“Republic” or “the Bank”) has been named to the Forbes list of the World’s Best Banks, the only Kentucky-based bank to receive this recognition in 2026. This prestigious award is presented annually by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.
“Being named to Forbes’ World’s Best Banks list is a powerful affirmation of our commitment to trust, transparency, and long‑term relationships,” said Steve Trager, Executive Chair of Republic Bank. “It reflects the hard work of our associates and our ongoing focus on meeting the needs of our clients and communities.”
This year marks the first time Republic has appeared on the Forbes’ World’s Best Banks list. The ranking recognizes the best banks across 34 countries based on an independent survey of more than 54,000 consumers. Among thousands of financial institutions evaluated worldwide, only 72 banks in the United States were selected, including Republic Bank.
“Louisville is known worldwide for bourbon, the Kentucky Derby, and now, for having one of the World’s Best Banks,” said Logan Pichel, President and CEO of Republic Bank. “Republic Bank is proud to be one of only 72 banks in the United States to receive this prestigious honor, and the only Kentucky-based bank on the list. We are grateful to our clients for their support and to our associates for their dedication to providing outstanding client service every day.”
The ranking aims to highlight banks that demonstrate guidance and transparency in the banking market while meeting the evolving needs of customers. All financial institutions offering a checking and/or savings account, including brick‑and‑mortar and online‑only banks, were considered in the study.
Survey participants were asked to name all banks where they have or previously had a checking and/or savings account. The participants evaluated the bank on several criteria, including trust, terms and conditions, customer service, digital services, and financial advice. Based on the customer evaluations, a score was calculated for each bank. In every country, the banks with the highest score in their respective countries were awarded.
