Community Trust Bank established an Equipment Finance Team comprised of commercial finance experts who will launch a middle market equipment-lending platform to invest in secured loans and leases nationwide. The team will handle high-quality commercial and industrial investment opportunities that offer portfolio diversification with respect to loan type, collateral, geography, industry and interest types.

Jim Lyons joined the CTB Equipment Finance Team as director of Equipment Finance. Prior to joining Community Trust Bank, Lyons was recruited to help lead an equipment finance initiative at a start-up bank co-op. He also held prior capital market leadership roles at AIG Commercial Equipment Finance, Associates Commercial Corporation, GE Capital and TCF Equipment Finance.

Drew Hayes joined the CTB Equipment Finance Team as SVP. Hayes has 19 years of financial industry experience. Prior to joining Community Trust Bank, he helped develop key capital market relationships with a focus on underwriting equipment finance transactions at Alliance Partners LLC.

The new division will expand the bank’s commercial loan and lease products for middle market customers, focusing on investment opportunities of $5 million to $50 million. The group intends to be active in direct originations and in purchasing transactions in the capital markets arena with an initial focus on loans and finance leases in hard asset industry sectors including construction, food processing, healthcare, manufacturing, mining and transportation, to mention a few.

“We are excited to add this new focus on equipment lending and proud to partner with an experienced equipment finance lending team,” said Ronnie Myrick, Chairman of the Board of Community Trust Bank. “The addition of both Jim and Drew will afford us the opportunity to better support the needs of our existing customers and build new relationships both inside and outside our current bank footprint. They both bring a wealth of experience and relationships that aligns well with our growth strategy for expanding our C&I lending platform.”