In a process for preparing an alumina bound, zeolite catalyst, a zeolite of low silanol content is used as the source of zeolite used to prepare the catalyst. A particular zeolite used in this catalyst is zeolite Y. This catalyst may be combined with at least one hydrogenation component and used to hydrocrack hydrocarbons, such as gas oils. In particular, an NiW/USY/alumina catalyst may be used in a hydrocracking reaction to produce distillate boiling range hydrocarbons from higher boiling hydrocarbons.