The Easy Advance program, offered through February 29, is typical of the new generation of tax loan products which have replaced Refund Anticipation Loans. Customers are limited to an advance of $750 and no fees are charged to the taxpayer. All fees are paid by the tax preparer, who is prohibited from passing them along to the customer. Customers also cannot be required to buy other bank products, such as refund transfers.

Republic said the $5.2 million in interest income came $123 million advances it originated.

Increased volume drove the 11-percent rise in refund transfer revenue, the bank said. Net income from those fees dropped to $1,261,000 for the most recently reported quarter, down 6.8 percent from $1,353,000 a year earlier.