Stock Yards Bancorp Announces Promotion of William Otten to Chief Credit Officer of the Company as William Dishman Sets Retirement Date
Rhea-AI Summary
Stock Yards Bancorp (NASDAQ: SYBT) announced internal executive promotions and a planned retirement affecting its credit leadership. William J. Otten will be promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer effective April 1, 2026. Current Chief Credit Officer William M. Dishman will transition to Senior Credit Advisor on April 1, 2026 and retire on October 15, 2026. The company also promoted John Hanks to Director of Commercial Lending. Stock Yards Bancorp reported $9.31 billion in assets and trades under the symbol SYBT.
Positive
- Chief Credit Officer promotion effective April 1, 2026
- Planned senior advisor phase supports orderly transition until Oct 15, 2026
- William Otten brings >35 years of banking experience
- John Hanks promoted to Director of Commercial Lending
- Company size: $9.31 billion in assets
Negative
- Leadership change creates credit oversight transition through Oct 15, 2026
News Market Reaction – SYBT
On the day this news was published, SYBT gained 0.45%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Before this news, SYBT was up 3.36%, while close peers like FRME, FFBC, PPBI, and TRMK were modestly higher (around 0.56–0.96%) and BOH was slightly lower (-0.14%). This points to a more stock-specific move rather than a broad sector swing.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 08 | Management change | Positive | +0.5% | Announced planned transition and promotions in chief credit and lending roles. |
| Dec 05 | Recognition news | Positive | -0.3% | Named to Piper Sandler Sm-All Stars list for top-performing small-cap banks. |
| Dec 01 | Regional leadership | Positive | +0.7% | Appointed Bowling Green Market President with extensive local banking experience. |
| Nov 19 | Dividend declaration | Positive | +1.1% | Declared quarterly cash dividend of <b>$0.32</b> per common share with set record date. |
| Oct 29 | Earnings report | Positive | -1.0% | Reported record 3Q25 earnings with higher NIM, loans, deposits, and raised dividend. |
Recent positive corporate and financial updates have produced mixed price follow-through, with 3 aligned and 2 divergent reactions over the last five news events.
Over the last several months, Stock Yards Bancorp reported record 3Q25 earnings of $36.2 million and diluted EPS of $1.23, alongside higher net interest income of $77.0 million, loan growth to $6.93 billion, and deposits at $7.64 billion. The board raised the quarterly dividend to $0.32, and the bank was again named to Piper Sandler’s Sm-All Stars list. Management and market leadership appointments, including today’s credit leadership succession, fit into a pattern of steady organizational evolution supporting this growth profile.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement details a planned transition in credit leadership, with William J. Otten assuming the Chief Credit Officer role in April 2026 and longtime CCO William M. Dishman retiring in October 2026. The move follows a period of record earnings, balance-sheet growth, and a higher dividend. Investors may watch how credit quality, loan growth, and executive continuity evolve against this backdrop of regional expansion and prior recognition for performance.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBT), parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, with offices in the Louisville, central, eastern and northern Kentucky markets, as well as the Indianapolis, Indiana and Cincinnati, Ohio metropolitan markets, today announced that William J. Otten will be promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Stock Yards Bancorp and Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, effective April 1, 2026. This promotion follows William M. Dishman’s decision to transition from his current role as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer to Senior Credit Advisor on April 1, 2026, before retiring completely on October 15, 2026.
“On behalf of our entire organization, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Bill Dishman as he embarks on a well-deserved retirement after 16 remarkable years as our Chief Credit Officer,” commented James A. (Ja) Hillebrand, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Bill’s unwavering commitment to excellence, sound judgment, and principled leadership have been instrumental in building the strong foundation we stand on today.”
“I'm thrilled to recognize Bill Otten’s well-earned advancement to succeed Bill Dishman as he takes on this expanded role within our executive management team,” continued Hillebrand. “This promotion reflects Bill Otten’s years of dedicated service to Stock Yards and his proven ability to enhance asset quality and administration across our loan portfolio. He's a strategic leader who consistently drives our daily operations forward. As we execute our succession plan, we're energized to elevate proven talent from within our organization.”
Otten brings over 35 years of banking experience to his new role as Chief Credit Officer. He joined Stock Yards Bank in 2007 and has served as Director of Commercial Banking since 2014, driving commercial growth across the Company’s regional footprint. Previously, he held leadership positions at Fifth Third Bank (1987 to 2004) and Old National Bank (2004-2007), including roles as Commercial Team Lead and Vice President and Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking.
The Company also announced that John Hanks has been promoted to Director of Commercial Lending at Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, bringing more than 35 years of banking experience to the role. He began his career in the management training program at Liberty National Bank and continued with its successor, Chase Bank, for nearly 15 years before joining Stock Yards Bank in 2004 as a Commercial Loan Officer. In 2017, Hanks was promoted to Division Manager in the Commercial Lending Department. A graduate of the University of Louisville, Hanks earned both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (1989) and an MBA (1994).
Louisville, Kentucky-based Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc., with
Contact:
T. Clay Stinnett
Executive Vice President, Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer
(502) 625-0890
FAQ
When does William Otten become Chief Credit Officer of Stock Yards Bancorp (SYBT)?
When will William Dishman retire from Stock Yards Bancorp (SYBT)?
What experience does William Otten have for the Chief Credit Officer role at SYBT?
Who was promoted to Director of Commercial Lending at Stock Yards Bank (SYBT)?
How large is Stock Yards Bancorp (SYBT) by assets?
Will Stock Yards Bancorp (SYBT) use an internal succession plan for credit leadership?
