James A. (Ja) Hillebrand leads one of Kentucky’s premier financial institutions, Stock Yards Bank & Trust. Based in Louisville, this impactful community bank continues to grow and adapt to serve its customers holding true to its core values and relationship-based banking philosophies. With the recent acquisitions of Kentucky Bank and Commonwealth Bank & Trust, it’s clear that Stock Yards Bank is dedicated to keeping Kentucky banks owned by Kentuckians.

Ja became Chairman and CEO of Stock Yards Bank in 2021 after 25 years with the bank. His work as Chairman and CEO includes leading hundreds of employees and offices in the Louisville, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati metropolitan markets that offer commercial banking, private banking, commercial real estate lending, treasury management, and securities services. Following the completion of its mergers with Kentucky Bank and Commonwealth Bank, the combined banks will service customers through 79 branches with total assets of approx. $7.4 billion, $4.9 billion in gross loans, $6.4 billion in deposits, and $7 billion in trust assets under management.

Hillebrand is a 1991 graduate of Bellarmine University. He is an active member of the Louisville and surrounding communities, serving on the boards of the Cave Hill Cemetery Company, Inc, Kentucky Derby Museum, the Kentucky Bankers Association, Boy Scouts of America – Lincoln Heritage Council, the Fund for the Arts as well as having served on the boards of St. Joseph Children’s Home, the Kentucky Derby Festival and many more.

For more about his and the work of Stock Yard Bank and Trust, visit syb.com.