LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bank of America has named John L. Gardner president of Bank of America Kentucky. As president, Gardner will connect banking and investment resources offered through the bank’s eight lines of business to people and companies across the region. He will also lead the effort to deploy Bank of America’s resources to help advance economic mobility and build strong communities, as well as support the health, safety and engagement of local employees.
Gardner will support Bank of America’s expansion across Kentucky, including opening ten new financial centers in Louisville, with five expected to open beginning in 2024. The expansion into Louisville brings retail banking, lending and small business services to local clients, building on existing investing and personalized financial guidance from Merrill and the support it offers businesses through Business and Commercial Banking services. Bank of America currently serves 155,000 clients across Kentucky, who will now have more access to the company’s full array of financial services.
Bank of America opened its first Kentucky financial centers in Lexington in 2021. As part of its most recent expansion, Bank of America has opened three Lexington centers and has plans for more locations.
Gardner joined the company in 2019, most recently serving as a managing director with Merrill Wealth Management and brings over 30 years experience in the financial services industry. In this role, he draws on his prior experience as a financial advisor and several market leadership roles over his tenure.
Gardner demonstrates a strong commitment to his community, completing two terms on the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s Local Business Advisory Council and currently serving as a Lexington Philharmonic Foundation Board member. In his role as president, Gardner will lead the 260 employees throughout Louisville and Lexington who actively support their local community.
By expanding its retail footprint in the area, Bank of America is building on the $33 million in loans to small businesses and $884 million to commercial business clients.
Since 2018, Bank of America has invested nearly $355,000 in Louisville and Lexington through grants to local nonprofits, employee matching gifts and scholarship programs.
With the new financial centers opening over the next two years, Bank of America will create new jobs in Kentucky ranging from entry level to specialty roles. Bank of America announced that it would raise its minimum wage to $25 an hour by 2025, up from $22 an hour today.
Click here for more Big Moves.
