Exhibit 99.1

S.Y. Bancorp Reports Record Net Income for the First Quarter of 2012 as Earnings Increase 18% to $6.5 Million or $0.47 Per Diluted Share

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2012--S.Y. Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:SYBT), parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, with offices in the Louisville, Indianapolis and Cincinnati metropolitan markets, today reported record earnings for the first quarter of 2012. The following is a summary of the Company's reported results:

The Company's higher comparative net income for the first quarter reflected a continued increase in net interest income, correlating with growth in the Bank's loan portfolio. For purposes of comparability and to provide additional insight into the strength of the Company's operations, it should be noted that first quarter 2012 earnings included a gain on an investment in a domestic private investment fund, which contributed approximately $0.03 per diluted share after tax to the Company's first quarter earnings (the fund's contribution to earnings in the year-earlier quarter was less than $0.01 per diluted share). Primarily because of earnings-related volatility associated with this fund, management elected in the fourth quarter of 2011 to liquidate the investment effective March 31, 2012. Excluding this gain, net income for the first quarter of 2012 on an adjusted basis, which is a non-GAAP measure, was $6.101 million or $0.44 per diluted share, reflecting an increase of 10% from the first quarter of 2011. See reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP measures later in this release.

Commenting on the results, David Heintzman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are pleased to announce another solid quarter for S.Y. Bancorp, reflecting higher earnings, improving returns on equity and assets, and continued growth on our balance sheet. These achievements underscore the strength and diversity of our banking operations that result from a solid presence in our home market of Louisville together with our growing presence in the newer markets of Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Our results also reflect the contributions of other non-banking services and departments, such as our investment management and trust department, which accounted for almost 38% of our non-interest income for the first quarter of 2012. With $1.8 billion in assets under management, this department is consistently ranked among the top 100 bank-owned trust departments in the nation, providing service capabilities and a competitive differentiation that few community banks possess. Additionally, our mortgage division had an outstanding first quarter, with a 93% increase in gains on the sales of mortgage loans compared with the first quarter of 2011. This, in turn, reflected a 44% increase in mortgage loans processed relating to home purchase activity – a welcome sign that the housing market may be strengthening."

Heintzman said that he considered the Company's results for the first quarter of 2012 especially noteworthy due to the ongoing economic challenges that the Company and its customers face in the form of uncertain business conditions, troubling unemployment levels and a weak housing market. Reflecting these pressures, S.Y. Bancorp experienced deterioration in some of its credit quality metrics during the first quarter. However, the primary cause of this deterioration was a single loan that was restructured in bankruptcy during the first quarter of 2012. Aside from that change, credit quality metrics remained largely stable during the first quarter. Management still recognizes the potential risk that remains so long as the economy is weak. As a result, the Company continues to be cautious toward risk in its portfolio and expects that the higher levels of allowance and provision for bad debts experienced recently will continue until such time that more concrete indications of a sustained economic recovery are apparent.

Concluding, Heintzman said, "With higher earnings and continued growth on our balance sheet, we consider the first quarter to be an encouraging start to the new year. In view of our diverse markets, products and service lines, together with our strong capital base, I believe S.Y. Bancorp remains well positioned to extend its record of success in 2012."

S.Y. Bancorp's total assets increased $121.3 million or 6% during the first quarter of 2012, reaching $2.040 billion at March 31, 2012, compared with $1.919 billion at March 31, 2011. The Company's loan portfolio increased $14.0 million or 1% to $1.532 billion at March 31, 2012, compared with $1.518 billion at March 31, 2011, despite the prepayment of several significant loans in the first quarter of 2012. Total deposits increased $110.9 million or 7% to $1.627 billion at March 31, 2012, from $1.516 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2011.

The Company's capital levels continued to strengthen during the first quarter of 2012, remaining well above those required to be considered "well-capitalized" under regulatory standards – the highest capital rating for financial institutions. The Company's Tier 1 leverage ratio, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and Total risk-based capital ratio at March 31, 2012, were 10.71%, 13.13% and 14.39%, respectively, all exceeding required minimums of 5%, 6% and 10%, respectively, necessary to be deemed a well-capitalized institution. The ratio of tangible common equity to total tangible assets was 9.37% at March 31, 2012, 9.11% at December 31, 2011, and 9.00% as of March 31, 2011. See reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP measures later in this release. The Company intends to maintain capital ratios at historically high levels at least until such time as the economy demonstrates sustained improvement.

Because of the Company's capital strength, it repaid $10 million of subordinated debt during the first quarter of 2012. In connection with the prepayment, the Company wrote off approximately $97,000 in previously capitalized debt issuance costs.

Net interest income – the Company's largest source of revenue – increased $1.2 million or 7% in the first quarter of 2012 to $18.5 million from $17.3 million in the year-earlier period. This increase reflected primarily the year-over-year growth in interest-earning assets. In the first quarter of 2012, net interest margin was 4.07%, up 16 basis points from 3.91% in the fourth quarter of 2011, but down one basis point from 4.08% in the first quarter of 2011. The sequential quarterly increase in net interest margin included the impact of penalties paid by customers due to the early repayment of several large loans; these prepayment penalties added an estimated seven basis points to the first quarter margin. Excluding this impact, a normalized margin of 4.00% reflected an ongoing low interest rate environment, a competitive loan market, and the Company's excess liquidity, all of which are likely to continue in the foreseeable future.

Non-performing loans (NPLs) totaled $29.1 million or 1.90% of total loans outstanding at March 31, 2012, up from $23.3 million or 1.51% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2011, and $15.1 million or 0.99% of period-end loans at March 31, 2011. The sequential quarterly increase reflected primarily a single commercial credit that was restructured in bankruptcy during the first quarter of 2012. Non-performing assets (NPAs), which include NPLs, other real estate owned and repossessed assets, also increased to $37.6 million or 1.84% of total assets at March 31, 2012, from $31.1 million or 1.51% of total assets at December 31, 2011, and $24.2 million or 1.26% of total assets at March 31, 2011, reflecting the increase in non-performing loans.

Net charge-offs in the first quarter of 2012 totaled $2.6 million or 0.17% of average loans. This compared with net charge-offs of $2.4 million or 0.16% of average loans in the fourth quarter of 2011 and $1.4 million or 0.09% of average loans in the year-earlier period.

The Company's loan loss provision for the first quarter of 2012 was $4.1 million, bringing the Company's allowance for loan losses to 2.04% of total loans as of March 31, 2012. This compared with $3.1 million and 1.93%, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2011 and $2.8 million and 1.78%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2011. The higher provision in the first quarter of 2012 reflected both the increase in the quarter's net charge-offs and the possibility of further deterioration in several significant loans currently on the Bank's credit watch list.

Despite some recent signs of an improving business conditions, the Company remains uncertain as to when the economic climate will begin to strengthen on a consistent basis. The business downturn continues to create credit fatigue among traditionally solid and stable borrowers, and presents a risk of spreading to additional customers until the real estate market and overall business conditions show sustained improvements. Additionally, should market conditions not improve and foreclosed assets increase significantly, the Company's flexibility to minimize losses by approaching collateral sales in an orderly fashion may be reduced and management may be forced to liquidate problem assets more rapidly, thus increasing the potential for loss on these assets. Accordingly, S.Y. Bancorp intends to remain cautious in assessing the potential risk in its loan portfolio. The Company expects the allowance for loan losses and other credit costs to remain at high levels compared with historic amounts until there are clearer signs of continued economic recovery and, thus, a more reliable indication of reduced overall credit risk. Still, while NPLs and NPAs are well above the Company's historic range for these metrics, they have continued to trend significantly better than those of $1-to-$2.5 billion publicly traded banks, which as of December 31, 2011, (first quarter peer data is not yet available) posted average NPLs and NPAs of 3.80% and 4.35%, respectively, according to a leading source for industry data.

Non-interest income increased $1.2 million or 15% to $9.2 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared with $8.0 million in the same quarter last year. The increase primarily reflected the aforementioned gain on the sale of an investment in a domestic private investment fund as well as increased gains on sales of mortgage loans. These increases were partially offset by a slight decline in investment management and trust services fees related to one-time executor fees in the first quarter of 2011.

Non-interest expense declined $91,000 or less than 1% to $14.7 million in the first quarter of 2012 from $14.8 million in the same period last year. The decline in non-interest expense was due largely to higher write-downs on OREO in the year-earlier quarter and office renovation costs recorded in the 2011 quarter, along with reduced FDIC insurance expense and lower state taxes versus the prior-year period. These cost reductions were partially offset by higher personnel costs due largely to increased staffing across the Company's operations and normal salary increases, higher occupancy expenses related to the Company's operations center and a new branch in the Indianapolis market, which opened in February 2012, as well as higher data processing costs. The Company's first quarter efficiency ratio was 52.32% compared with 57.66% in the first quarter of 2011, with the improvement largely resulting from the aforementioned gain on an investment in a domestic private investment fund.

In February 2012, S.Y. Bancorp's Board of Directors increased its regular quarterly cash dividend 5.6% to $0.19 per common share from the previous rate of $0.18 per common share. The latest dividend was distributed on April 2, 2012, to stockholders of record as of March 12, 2012.

Louisville, Kentucky-based S.Y. Bancorp, Inc., with $2.0 billion in assets, was incorporated in 1988 as a bank holding company. It is the parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, which was established in 1904. The Company's common shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol SYBT. The trust preferred securities of S.Y. Bancorp Capital Trust II also trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol SYBTP.

This report contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the Company's management believes the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of these assumptions could be inaccurate. Therefore, there can be no assurance the forward-looking statements included herein will prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: economic conditions both generally and more specifically in the markets in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate; competition for the Company's customers from other providers of financial services; government legislation and regulation, which change from time to time and over which the Company has no control; changes in interest rates; material unforeseen changes in liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of the Company's customers; and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income and earnings per diluted share, along with total stockholders' equity, in accordance with GAAP to adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share, both non-GAAP measures, along with tangible common equity in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. The Company provides non-GAAP earnings information to improve the comparability of its results and provide additional insight into the strength of the Company's operations. In addition, the Company provides the tangible common equity ratio because of its widespread use by investors as a means to evaluate capital adequacy.

CONTACT:
S.Y. Bancorp, Inc.
Nancy B. Davis, 502-625-9176
Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer