<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-29</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000835324</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>S Y BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SYI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193295</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GALL STANLEY A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6 ARDEN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GLENVIEW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>40025-8962</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-29</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>28.541</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>20.82</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>465.859</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares held in Trust in the directors deferred comp plan.</footnote></footnotes><remarks>1,800 shares held in Trust Indirectly. 437.318 shares held in Trust in the directors deferred comp plan Indirectly.   Derivative Securities:  8,000 Nonqualified Stock Options @ 4.1875, 1,000 non qualified stock options @ 21.18 held Directly.  4,489.7048 shares held Directly.</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>//Stanley A. Gall</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

