July/August 2025 Wisconsin Banker

Wisconsin Banker

Staying Relevant: Paul Northway Begins Term as WBA Chair By

Katie Reiser

For Paul J. Northway, relevance isn’t just the theme of his term — it’s a mindset.

As he takes the helm as 2025–2026 chair of the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) Board of Directors, Northway is encouraging fellow bankers to think about what it means to lead with purpose and stay connected to the people they serve.

“Relevance is not a luxury; it is a necessity,” he said in his remarks during the WBA Board Installation on June 11. “In a world where technologies, expectations, and economies are evolving faster than ever before, we cannot afford to be passive observers.” He added that being relevant means more than just keeping up; it requires paying close attention to what’s happening on the ground, understanding what matters to your teams, and staying attuned to the evolving needs of communities.

Inside the Fight Against Fraud: Highlights from WBA’s First Fraud Summit

By Katie Reiser

As fraud becomes more prevalent and complex, many Wisconsin bankers voiced the need for more practical insights and support. In response, the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) hosted its first Fraud Summit on June 3, 2025. The one-day event brought bankers together to dig into today’s biggest fraud threats and how to fight back — from cyberattacks and scams to regulatory changes and prevention tactics. The summit was created based on direct input from members who said they needed more resources to stay ahead of fraud trends. Strong turnout and engaged discussion underscored how relevant the event was, and based on early and enthusiastic feedback, WBA is exploring hosting another Fraud Summit in the future.

Bankers Reflect on Takeaways and Impact

Two attendees from Wolf River Community Bank shared

Northway serves as president and CEO of American National Bank Fox Cities in Appleton. He brings more than three decades of banking experience to the role, along with a passion for team development, strong culture, and the power of advocacy.

“I have always been drawn to finance and accounting,” said Northway. “But the opportunity to focus on numbers while helping clients achieve their financial goals — that’s what pulled me into this industry.” Northway earned his undergraduate degree from UW–Green Bay in 1990 and later completed his MBA at UW–Oshkosh. He continued his career in Wisconsin, where he built a wide breadth of banking experience in retail, mortgage, commercial lending, insurance, private banking, and wealth services.

Reflecting on his approach to leadership, Northway shared a quote that has stuck with him: “Be the leader you always wanted.”

“That describes me and my approach. I’ve always wanted to be part of an organization that invests in talent development and builds great teams,” he said. “Collaborating with an executive coach on the importance of emotional leadership and receiving

Continued on pg. 9

their feedback from the Summit. Diane Moen-Ross, electronic banking supervisor, said, “I found the Fraud Summit to be both entertaining and insightful. I had a few things make me really think about my day-to-day habits and look at things differently from a security level for the bank after hearing from the speakers. I found the information they shared to be helpful in protecting the bank and looking out for our customers.” She added, “I also enjoyed the humor they put into their presentations.”

Her colleague Kyra Baeten, BSA & risk analyst, offered this take, “The summit was amazing, and I was truly in my element! It exceeded my expectations in every way. The presenters were raw, real, and incredibly insightful, which went beyond just surface level discussions. It pushed me to think beyond my current ‘fraud box’ and how to better protect myself, my institution, and the communities we serve.” She summarized her experience, “I left feeling inspired, energized, and already looking forward to next year’s Summit!”

on pg. 8

Relevance in a Changing World: A Vision for Community Banks and WBA

By Paul Northway

On June 11, I was incredibly honored to be installed as Chair of the WBA Board of Directors. During the ceremony at the WBA office, we welcomed new board members and expressed our gratitude to those who completed their terms.

A special thanks goes to our outgoing chair, Al Araque, SVP and director of consumer, private, and business banking at Johnson Financial Group in Racine. His leadership and passion generated a lot of positive momentum for the Association. Al’s theme during his term was “impact,” and you’ll see in the Year in Review section of this issue just how much WBA and its members have accomplished.

When I thought about the theme I wanted to focus on this year, the word “relevance” really stood out. Community banks are deeply relevant — we champion small businesses, support local farmers, and serve as trusted partners in our communities. Relevance is also about leadership and building companies that focus on the people and not just the numbers.

I met with WBA staff after the installation and spoke about a few of the ways I see relevance showing up in our work.

In Community Banking

• Meeting customers where they are

Community banks stay relevant by keeping up with evolving customer expectations. Whether it’s through mobile banking, digital tools, or continuing to deliver a personal touch, we remain competitive by staying flexible and responsive.

• Supporting local economies

We play a visible role in our communities by providing small business loans, agricultural financing, and financial education. Our presence makes a difference — and that keeps us relevant.

• Growing our teams

When banks invest in leadership development, mentorship, and education, they show their teams that banking isn’t just a job — it’s a long-term career with purpose and meaning.

At the Association Level

• Speaking up for the industry

WBA’s advocacy work is a big part of staying relevant. Whether it’s at the Capitol in Madison or in D.C., we make sure lawmakers understand how their decisions affect banks and the people we serve.

• Delivering tools and professional development opportunities that matter WBA keeps members up to speed with training, compliance support, and leadership programs that reflect what’s happening in the industry right now (and what’s coming down the pike).

• Helping bankers connect Programs like WBA Connect Peer Groups and BOLT give bankers across the state a chance to learn from each other, share ideas, and work through challenges together.

• Balancing innovation with our roots.

Relevance doesn’t mean jumping on every new trend. It means knowing when and how to adopt change in a way that continues to honor what community banking is all about — relationships, service, and trust.

I’m excited for the year ahead and grateful to be working alongside all of you, WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels, and the entire WBA team as we continue to move our industry forward.

Northway is president and CEO of American National Bank Fox Cities and the 2025–2026 WBA Chair.

Acceptable Forms of Customer ID for CIP Purposes

By Scott Birrenkott

While there have been no changes to Customer Identification Program (CIP) requirements, WBA legal is frequently asked: what forms of identification are acceptable for purposes of verifying a customer's identity? The short answer is that it depends on bank policy. Meaning that theoretically, any form of ID could potentially be used to verify a customer’s identity, and meet CIP requirements.

In order to understand why, it helps to start with the basics of CIP. As part of compliance with Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) regulatory requirements, banks must have a written CIP policy. The more specific components are that a CIP policy must include risk-based procedures to verify the identity of each customer at account-opening. At a minimum, each program must obtain the name, date of birth, address, and identification number from each customer. This information must be verified, using documentary, non-documentary, or a combination of both methods, depending on bank’s procedures.

When relying upon documentary methods to verify a customer’s identity, a bank’s policy must specify which documents to obtain. Similarly, if procedures permit non-documentary methods, a bank’s procedures must specify which methods

to use. A bank need not establish the accuracy of every element of identifying information obtained, but it must verify enough information to form a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of the customer. For most customers who are individuals, banks typically review an unexpired government-issued form of identification evidencing a customer’s nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard. Non-documentary methods may include contacting a customer, or otherwise independently verifying the customer’s identity through other sources.

BSA requirements don’t get much more specific than that. Meaning, they don’t specify which forms of identification can or cannot be used. After all, banks can use documentary or non-documentary methods. A non-documentary method, for example, being the fact that a customer might be a neighbor of yours. Whether a bank can verify a customer’s identity based on the fact that they are an employee’s neighbor isn’t addressed by BSA directly – it’s addressed by bank policy. The same applies to documentary methods. Meaning, all forms of verification depend on bank policy, and thus which forms of identification are acceptable for CIP purposes fully depends on each bank’s CIP policy.

As described previously, perhaps the most common form of verification is a driver’s license. However, that’s not the only acceptable form of

identification. Any form of identification which meets the considerations above and, ultimately, bank’s CIP policy is potentially an acceptable form of identification. In consideration of this, banks may encounter unique forms of identification. In addition to a state-issued driver’s license or other state-issued ID card, some examples include a passport or alien ID card. There are also a variety of forms issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. For example, the US Department of Homeland Security may provide certain records to refugees or asylees, who may also possess identification documents through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. These, and other forms of identification may be acceptable for CIP purposes if bank policy permits. Lastly, don’t forget the possibility of non-documentary methods. The types of verification a bank uses will be tailored to its risk considerations and, likely, its customer base. For example, if a bank serves a community with an Amish population, it may encounter customers who don’t have any form of physical identification at all. In these situations, and others, consider what bank policy requires in order to properly identify and verify customers.

Birrenkott is WBA director – legal.

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The Relevance of Political Advocacy to the Banking Industry

By Lorenzo Cruz

Political advocacy is highly relevant to the banking industry in Wisconsin, as legislative and regulatory decisions significantly impact the operational landscape for banks and other financial institutions. The Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) is a key player in this advocacy, working to protect and advance the interests of its members.

Here are some key areas where WBA’s political advocacy is relevant to banking in Wisconsin.

1. Legislative and Regulatory Issues:

• Protecting and advancing the industry’s interests: The WBA actively engages in government relations to influence legislative and regulatory actions, safeguarding and promoting the interests of banks, their customers, and communities.

• Addressing key issues: The WBA advocates on crucial issues like credit card interchange fees, trust code updates, credit union powers, data privacy, and artificial intelligence.

• Navigating budget deliberations: The WBA participates in discussions regarding the state budget that affects areas relevant to banking like the income tax exemption on commercial loans of $5 M or less which is estimated to save the banking industry over $24 M annually.

2. Supporting Pro-Banking Candidates:

• Political action committees (PACs): The WBA utilizes PACs like Wisbankpac to support pro-banking

candidates.

• Facilitating conduit contributions: The WBA offers options like the Alliance of Bankers for Wisconsin (ABW) conduit, allowing individual bankers to support candidates of their choice.

• Building relationships with legislators: WBA’s advocacy efforts aim to build relationships with elected officials who understand and support the banking industry.

3. Managing Political Risk:

• Continuous engagement: The association recognizes the need for consistent engagement at all levels of government to manage political risks that could negatively impact their operations and revenues.

4. Educating the Public:

• Issue advocacy fund: The WBA utilizes an issue advocacy fund, allowing banks to contribute corporate dollars that are pooled with other Wisconsin business coalition partners to educate the public about banking and business issues through advertising and public messaging

5. Grassroots Advocacy:

• Encouraging participation: The WBA encourages bankers to participate in grassroots advocacy activities such as Capitol Day, PAC events, and “Take Your Legislator to Work Day.”

• Advocacy Officers: Banks may designate Advocacy Officers to coordinate their advocacy efforts and function as liaisons with the WBA.

6. Relevant Issues Highlighted:

• Interchange fees: Monitoring and

influencing possible legislation related to credit card interchange fees.

• Tax parity: Seeking legislative solutions to create a more level playing field for banks competing with taxexempt institutions.

• Data privacy: Working to protect the GLBA exemption for banks and their affiliates in the data privacy bills.

• Crypto ATM regulations: Protecting consumers against cryptocurrency fraud by providing stronger enforcement provisions and penalties.

• Elder fraud prevention: Advocating for robust measures to prevent and address elder fraud,

• Trust Code modernization:

Updating the trust code to remain competitive with other states.

In short, political advocacy is a vital component of WBA’s strategy, enabling the association to minimize risks by shaping the legislative and regulatory landscape, addressing critical and relevant issues, and fostering a favorable environment for WBA’s members and customers.

Thank you to the membership for your time and generous support of WBA’s advocacy efforts. Lastly for those bankers still interested in making a personal contribution to the PAC or conduit to help the government relations team meet WBA’s annual fundraising goal of $300,000, please go to wisbank.com/ advocacy/support-the-banking-industryits-easy/. WBA is currently at 35% of the annual goal.

Cruz is WBA vice president – government relations.

Wisconsin Bankers Make Their Voices Heard at Capitol Day

More than 320 bankers from over 70 banks across Wisconsin gathered in Madison for this year’s WBA Capitol Day on May 6, 2025 in a powerful show of unity and advocacy for the industry.

Bankers met with lawmakers to highlight how public policy impacts their ability to fuel local economies. They shared how their banks support communities and discussed top issues like credit card interchange fees, state privacy laws, tax parity, and protecting seniors from financial fraud.

The day also featured a legislative panel led by WisPolitics.com President Jeff Mayers, with insights from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, and Assembly Assistant Minority

Leader Kalan Haywood. Over lunch, attendees heard remarks from DFI Secretary-designate Wendy K. Baumann. WBA Capitol Day once again underscored the vital role Wisconsin banks play in shaping strong, thriving communities.

WBA Women in Banking Conference Hits New Highs in Its 19th Year

WBA’s Women in Banking Conference returned for its 19th year with more energy — and more attendees — than ever before. Nearly 370 women bankers from 71 institutions joined the event, including 19 attendees who tuned in via livestream.

This year's event on April 23, 2025, featured over four hours of presentations, including an opening session with Sarah Noll Wilson, CEO / Chief Edge Officer Sarah Noll Wilson, Inc., focused on the communication complications that can arise when your intent and the impact are not aligned. The general session with Kristina Schaefer, General Counsel, Chief Risk Officer & Chief Administrative Officer First Bank & Trust (Sioux Falls, SD), explored impostor syndrome. The day closed with Kathy Parry, Corporate Energy Expert, who spoke about igniting joy.

A panel discussion, Men as Allies, included Wisconsin bankers Al Araque, Johnson Financial Group, Jessica Brown, Peoples State Bank (Wausau), Shay Horton, Cumberland Federal Bank, and Steve Peotter, One Community Bank who shared their advice and workplace experiences with attendees. The panel was moderated by Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO.

This type of event would not be possible for our membership without the associate members who have committed to sponsoring and supporting the mission of this conference. WBA thanks the following conference sponsors: Bell Bank, Graduate School of Banking at UW-Madison, Ironwood, Lerdahl, Midwestern Securities, and Wipfli LLP.

A highlight of this year’s conference was the inaugural Wisconsin Woman of Impact Awards! WBA received an overwhelming number of nominations for this new award.

2025 Wisconsin Woman of Impact Award Winners

Congratulations

• Susan T. Doyle, senior vice president–retail banking, North

• Rose Petitte, director of business development, Horicon Bank, Horicon

• Theresa Wiese, managing director of risk and compliance, First Business Bank, Madison

to the three bankers named 2025 Wisconsin Woman of Impact Award winners during the conference. Pictured with WBA's Rose Oswald Poels and WBA Past Chair Al Araque:

Shore Bank, Brookfield

Fight Against Fraud

Continued from pg. 1

SHAZAM’s Kern: How Fraud Follows Shifting Payment Trends

In the opening session, “Where Payments Go, Fraud Will Follow,” Diana Kern, AAP, senior financial solutions consultant at SHAZAM, explored how changing consumer payment habits are driving new fraud risks. For the first time, cash is no longer the most common method for purchases under $25, according to the Federal Reserve’s 2024 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice. Card payments now lead the way, and nearly half of person-to-person payments are made through mobile apps.

Kern walked attendees through how debit transactions have evolved — from magnetic stripe to chip and contactless cards, from physical cards to digital wallets, and from card-present to card-not-present (CNP) scenarios. These changes have big implications. In 2024, 98% of debit card fraud reported by SHAZAM clients occurred in CNP environments.

She pointed to BIN attacks, account probing, and fraud targeting specific merchant codes (like digital goods and money transfer services) as key issues. While chip technology has helped reduce counterfeit fraud, fallback transactions using magnetic stripes remain vulnerable.

Kern stressed the value of layered fraud defenses, such as real-time blocking, cardholder alerts, and well-calibrated decline rules. She also noted that data breaches — even those unrelated to payments — can give scammers the fuel they need to launch convincing social engineering attacks. ABA’s Smith: Social Engineering, Check Fraud, and AI Threats

Patrick Smith, senior vice president of fraud operations with the American Bankers Association (ABA), gave an overview of current fraud challenges, including social engineering, check fraud, and emerging risks tied to artificial intelligence.

Smith made it clear that while banks are doing more than any other sector to protect consumers, they can’t do it alone. Responsibility must also be shared by telecom companies, social media platforms, and lawmakers.

He noted that social engineering scams have become harder to detect. Many now mimic trusted environments, build rapport with victims, and create a sense of urgency — making them highly effective. Check fraud, meanwhile, continues to grow despite

a downturn in check use, now accounting for 66% of payment fraud. Mail theft and counterfeit or altered checks are key drivers.

incident response plan.

AI is making an already complex fraud landscape even more challenging. Smith cited examples like deepfakes (providing a chilling example of how easy it is to clone voices), spoofed identity checks, and realistic fake IDs, all of which make scams faster to perpetuate and more convincing. He urged banks to continue building robust defenses by ensuring their teams are familiar with current threats and working closely with trusted vendors.

Smith shared that ABA is calling for a national fraud prevention strategy that includes establishing a White House Office of Fraud and Scam Prevention, increasing FCC enforcement regarding customer reported spam texts, and bringing in state and local law enforcement to improve prosecution rates.

Iannarelli:

Cyber Vigilance in a High-Risk Environment

Former FBI Special Agent John Iannarelli, Esq., CSP (aka FBI John) gave a candid assessment of the cybersecurity landscape. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, last year set records for data breaches, with over 15 billion records compromised.

Top threats include identity theft, phishing, ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), Internet of Things (IoT which are the internet-connected devices embedded in everyday objects which are sending and receiving data), and mobiledevice related fraud. According to an FBI report, BEC alone cost U.S. businesses $2.4 billion last year, with cases up 270%. Iannarelli referenced the 2024 ransomware attack on Patelco Credit Union as a reminder of the financial and reputational damage such events can cause.

He also flagged the role of AI deepfakes in expanding cyber risk, highlighting a $25 million fraudulent wire transfer driven by a deepfake impersonation. Still, he warned that internal threats remain significant. About 75% of breaches are tied to insiders — often well-meaning but untrained employees.

To help reduce exposure, Iannarelli encouraged banks to focus on staff training, establish strong policies, use multifactor authentication, and maintain a tested

Ayotte: Stop Social Engineering Before It Starts

Michael Ayotte, senior cybersecurity consultant with Wipfli LLP and U.S. Special Forces veteran, focused on the human side of fraud — particularly how scammers manipulate people, not just systems. He explained how criminals often start with publicly available data from sources like obituaries, social media, and bank websites to piece together convincing identities.

Ayotte reminded attendees that identity verification processes should never give away clues. “Never disclose account numbers over the phone,” he said. If a caller can’t be verified, staff should direct them to a branch.

His session also highlighted common phishing tactics: urgency, secrecy, unusual grammar, and lookalike email addresses from company executives. Ayotte recommended physical security protocols too — from screening vendors to checking IDs — and stressed the need for ongoing training and internal testing through simulated phishing and security drills. He shared his own experiences conducting physical security audits for clients that were eye-opening and likely prompted many attendees to review their workplace policies.

His message was clear: it is crucial to empower employees to act on suspicious activity even though their focus is typically on customer service. There needs to be a balance between the two. Policies and technology matter, but awareness and a questioning mindset when something seems off are just as critical.

What’s Next?

WBA plans to follow up with a future article sharing practical tips and takeaways from the Summit, with additional insights from WBA’s Director – Legal, Scott Birrenkott. Birrenkott will share how Wisconsin banks can apply these lessons in the face of shifting fraud risks. Birrenkott commented, “A lot of great information was shared at the WBA Fraud Summit. It just goes to show the value of gathering and sharing information. WBA will continue to provide updates and resources to help banks tackle the challenge of staying one step ahead of criminals.”

Reiser is WBA writer/editor

Kern Smith Iannarelli Ayotte

Staying Relevant

Continued from pg. 1

constructive feedback from my team have been key in shaping the leader I am and continue striving to be.”

His people-first philosophy is evident in his bank’s culture. “I’m proud of so many things about our bank, but it all starts with the team,” he said. “We’ve worked hard to build a great culture and tell our story. When I arrived 12 years ago, we were a bit of a wellkept secret; now, we’ve built a much more relevant profile in our community — and that speaks to our team and the passion they show up with every day.”

Northway is focused on keeping the same momentum going across the association as he steps into the role of WBA board chair, particularly when it comes to engagement and advocacy. He’s set an ambitious goal: raising $300,000 for WBA’s annual political fundraising campaign.

“Every dollar contributed counts,” he said. Northway believes that advocacy is one of WBA’s most important causes, adding, “No one can tell the story of Wisconsin bankers better than WBA members themselves. That was demonstrated in May when over 300

bankers attended WBA’s Capitol Day.”

Participation by banks increases the collective impact. “Over 100 banks have already designated Advocacy Officers to help advance pro-banking priorities such as tax parity and fighting against government mandates like credit card routing and interest rate caps,” he said.

Northway is quick to emphasize that advocacy isn’t just about policy — it’s about relevance, too. “In order to stay relevant, we have to be proactive,” he said. “In addition to asking, ‘What can we do better?’ we also need to ask questions like, ‘Who might we be overlooking?’ ‘Where is our influence most needed?’ ‘Are we helping small businesses grow?’ and ‘Are we supporting local housing, economic development, and financial literacy?’”

Looking ahead, Northway sees WBA as a vital force in helping the industry navigate ongoing change and meet new challenges head-on. “Education and advocacy are always going to be important, and I am sure that we will continue to double down on them,” he said. “As we have proven in the past with insurance solutions and consulting services offered through our subsidiaries,

How competitive is

WBA will continue to identify new ways to support our membership by solving key business topics.”

When he’s not at the bank, you can find Northway on the golf course. “My son Andrew has been beating me since he was 12,” he laughs. Northway and his wife Kristin, married 31 years this October, also enjoy visiting their son, Aaron, in Chicago. Each fall, they make an annual trip to their favorite getaway in Florida.

When Northway described his parenting philosophy, it echoed his approach to letting his team at the bank shine, “Empower them, and then get out of the way.”

As board chair, Northway is looking forward to connecting with bankers around the state and encourages others to get involved by attending an event, taking part in training, or signing up for Capitol Day in Madison or a trip to Washington, D.C.

Northway’s term as chair is about more than continuing the legacy of WBA’s 133-year history; it’s about helping banks demonstrate their relevance and very foundational reason for existing: to help customers navigate economic cycles and new financial challenges.

Reiser is WBA writer/editor

bank’s wealth

WBA Welcomes New Board With Installation Ceremony

Meet the 2025–2026 WBA Board of Directors

On June 11, 2025, the Wisconsin Bankers Association carried on a longstanding tradition of formally installing the Board of Directors. The Board, WBA staff, and guests gathered at the WBA headquarters in Madison, and members across the state tuned in to the ceremony via livestream. WBA wishes to thank all who have served on the Board, past and present, for lending their time and expertise in service to Wisconsin’s banking industry.

Paul J. Northway, president and CEO of American National Bank Fox Cities, Appleton, has been elected to serve as the 2025–2026 Board Chair of the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA).

“We are pleased to welcome Paul as chair of the WBA Board,” said Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO. “He will do an excellent job of leading our Board and industry forward through new economic cycles and potential challenges.”

Northway earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and his MBA at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. He also completed the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He serves on the Chancellor’s Council of Trustees of the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay as well as the board of

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directors of The Bellin Health Foundation.

Also serving as officers on the WBA Board are Chair-Elect Joseph (Joe) Peikert, CEO, Wolf River Community Bank, Hortonville; Vice Chair Greg Lundberg, president and CEO, Fortifi Bank, Berlin; and Past Chair Alvaro (Al) Araque, SVP, director of consumer, private, and business banking, Johnson Financial Group, Racine.

Joining the Board for three-year terms are Jim Hartlieb, president and CEO, First Business Bank, Madison; Nathaniel (Nate) Parrish, president, First Citizens State Bank, Whitewater; Lindsay Spitzer, president and CEO, Bluff View Bank, Galesville; and Eric Witczak, executive vice president and COO, Nicolet National Bank, Green Bay.

Those continuing their terms on the Board are Tina DeGustino, regional president, BMO Bank, Milwaukee; Kelly Heroux, president and CEO, Peshtigo National Bank; Shay Horton, president and CEO, Cumberland Federal Bank; Shane Ilstrup, president, Citizens First Bank, Trempealeau; Jimmy Kauffman, president and CEO, Bank of Sun Prairie; Todd Nagel, president and CEO, IncredibleBank, Wausau; Timothy (Tim) Schneider, president and CEO, Bank Five Nine, Oconomowoc; and Bill Sennholz, CEO, Forward Bank, Marshfield.

Board members who completed their terms in 2024–2025 are Donna Hoppenjan, Mound City Bank, Platteville; Paul Hoffmann, Lake Ridge Bank, Middleton; Ryan Kamphuis, Bristol Morgan Bank, Oakfield; and Tom Mews, FNC Bank, New Richmond.

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Debit Network | Processing | Core | Digital Banking

Pictured (left to right) Front Row: WBA Chair Paul Northway, WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels, WBA Vice Chair Greg Lundberg Kelly Heroux Shay Horton, and Lindsay Spitzer. Middle Row: Tina DeGustino, WBA Past Chair Al Araque, WBA Chair-Elect Joe Peikert, and Nate Parrish. Back Row: Tim Schneider, Todd Nagel, Eric Witczak, Jim Hartlieb, and Jimmy Kauffman. Not pictured: Shane Ilstrup and Bill Sennholz

Thank You For Your Leadership

The start of a new fiscal year for WBA brings a rotation of bankers to chair WBA’s committees and sections. These groups of bankers help identify issues affecting the industry, generate ideas for new products and services, and offer input to help ensure WBA offerings remain relevant. Each chair helps to further facilitate such activities. WBA wishes to thank the outgoing committee and section chairs for their leadership and welcome the new bankers fulfilling the roles over the new fiscal year.

2024–2025 Outgoing Chairs:

Agricultural Bankers Section Board: Jeff Wilke

Nicolet National Bank, De Pere

BOLT Section Board:

Ryan Boebel

Community First Bank, Richland Center

Financial Crimes Committee: Theresa Weckwerth Fortifi Bank, Berlin

FIPCO Software Users Committee: Sharon Lloyd

Community First Bank, Rosholt

Human Resources Committee: Tammy Nelson

Community First Bank, Boscobel

Marketing Committee: Lauren Moran

Wolf River Community Bank, Hortonville

Mortgage Lending Committee: John P. Moniak, CRCM, Bank of Deerfield

Retail Banking Committee: Jeffrey Saxton Peoples State Bank, Wausau

Trust Banking Section: Julia Hanlon, JD Lake Ridge Bank, Monona

2025–2026 Incoming Chairs:

The following banker volunteers will lead the Association’s committees and section boards for the 2025–2026 fiscal year:

Agricultural Bankers Section Board:

Nicholas (Nick) Felder MidWestOne Bank, Lancaster

BOLT Section Board: Landon Turner

Oostburg State Bank

Financial Crimes Committee: Ken Schweiger Community First Bank, Boscobel

FIPCO Software Users Committee:

Kari L. Larson

First Community Bank, Milton

Government Relations Committee:

Josh Marron (continuing his term) Park Bank, Madison

Human Resources Committee:

Lindsay Growette Stingle National Bank of Commerce, Superior

Marketing Committee: Kathleen Rolfs

Premier Bank, Fort Atkinson

Retail Banking Committee: Heather Mader

Port Washington State Bank

Technology/Operations Committee:

John White, Jr. (continuing his term) Forward Bank, Marshfield

Trust Banking Section

Blake A. Barnes, JD, CPA

Trust Point, Inc., La Crosse

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And the Annual Scenes of Wisconsin Photo Contest Winners Are…

There’s still time to order your 2026 calendars!

The winning photographs for the WBA 2026 Scenes of Wisconsin calendar have been chosen! A panel of five judges reviewed more than 250 image submissions and selected 12 striking pictures to be featured each month and one photo for the cover of the calendar next year. Each photo submitted for the contest was captured in Wisconsin by a Wisconsin banker, their family member, or a bank customer.

The winning photographers for the 2026 calendar are:

• Cover: Chris Anderson, Grantsburg – Community Bank of Cameron

• January: Lori Shilts, Oshkosh – Citizens Bank

• February: Miae Kil, Augusta – Dairy State Bank

• March: Jasmine Haynes, Hillsboro – Citizens First Bank

• April: Sarah Hudzinski, Green Lake – Fortifi Bank

• May: Mindy Shoemaker, Mayville – Mayville Savings Bank

• June: Patty Vanstone, Montello – Town Bank

• July: Jenelle Thompson, Wausau – AbbyBank

• August: Marilyn Peckham, Richland County – Community First Bank

• September: B.J. Lanich, Amberg – Stephenson National Bank & Trust

• October: Cheryl Davis, Reedsburg – Community Bank of Portage

• November: Tyler Stamper, Ridgeway – Bankers’ Bank

• December: Michelle Friemoth, Neillsville – Unity Bank

2026 SCENES OF WISCONSIN

If you are looking to add some scenic views to your marketing lineup, consider placing an order for the high-quality, costeffective 2026 Scenes of Wisconsin calendar. You can learn more about the calendar and place your order at www.wisbank.com/ scenesofwi. Orders are due August 15, 2025.

Congratulations to the 2024–25 Class of the WBA BOLT Leadership Academy!

The Building Our Leaders of Tomorrow (BOLT) Leadership Academy was designed for highly motivated emerging bank leaders who have a desire to grow their leadership skills and grow a trusted network of community banking peers from across the state. The first cohort of the new academy, including 20 bankers in various roles from all parts of the state, has now completed the program and was recognized during the June 5–6 WBA BOLT Summer Leadership Summit in Wisconsin Dells.

“The mission of the academy is to build a community of future banking leaders who are committed to advancing our industry and their banks while serving the financial needs of their communities,” said Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO. “I am proud of what these bank leaders have accomplished and am excited for the impact they will continue to make.”

Jacob John Bauer, Security Financial Bank, Eau Claire; Alyssa A. Higley, Stephenson National Bank & Trust, Marinette; Michelle L. Rauls, Lake Ridge Bank, Waunakee; Hannah Woller, Shell Lake State Bank, Hayward; Kailey M. Bauer, Horicon Bank; and JamieMarie L. Nystrom, The Peshtigo National Bank. Missing from picture: Landon Turner, Oostburg State Bank.

Front row (left to right): Jessica A. Lehman, Fox Valley Savings Bank, Fond du Lac; Jessica Islas, First Citizens State Bank, Whitewater; Christopher C. Damerell, Forward Bank, Marshfield; Elizabeth K. Abel, Paper City Savings Bank, Wisconsin Rapids, Janessa K. Plank, IncredibleBank, Wausau; Hope Marvin, Independence State Bank; and Shannon M. Grunewald, Waldo State Bank. Back row (left to right): Mike Solt, Bank of Sun Prairie; Travis R. Immel, National Exchange Bank & Trust, Fond du Lac; Michael S. DeLong, Pillar Bank, Baldwin; Steven D. Diehl, Bank First, Manitowoc; Alex Swanson, Northwestern Bank, Chippewa Falls; Jodie Curtis, Union State Bank, West Salem;

Is your community bank bond portfolio performing?

Meet

Meet DFI Secretary-designee Wendy K. Baumann

WBA recently asked Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Secretary-designee Wendy K. Baumann a series of questions as a way of introducing her to members. WBA wishes Secretarydesignee Baumann all the best in her new role.

What put you on the path to your profession in the financial services industry, particularly your leadership role at the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)?

Early on in my post-secondary education and career, I found an interest in advancing what I would say is “the good” –trying to make the world a better place. My first professional position out of undergraduate college was working at Goodwill Industries and assisting underserved and lower wealth individuals obtain competitive employment. I loved it and might still be there today if my personal life had not taken me to France for a year and having a second child there. When I returned to the states, they had filled my position, so I then began work at The Council for the Spanish Speaking and also loved that, and it was there where I was introduced to commerce and the power of individuals starting or growing their own businesses. My father had owned many small businesses, too; thus, the exposure supported what I had experienced at home, but at The Council for the Spanish Speaking, I saw that problems and day-to-day issues could be overcome with not only a job but by individuals having their own money. If individuals can work – start that business and have the opportunity to do so through fair and reasonable capital – then lower income and underserved communities in essence can support themselves. I saw this strategy of economic development as more of a solution in our overall economy, and the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) did just that – provided financial and business training coupled with fair and responsible capital to start or grow a small business.

Continued on pg. 25

The full Q&A with Secretary-designee Baumann is available at wisbank.com.

Jeff Otteson Vice President of Sales

Melissa Noonan Account Manager melissan@mbisllc.com

Bulletin Board

Promotions and New Hires

Brookfield

Spring Bank recently announced that after serving as Chief Financial Officer since the bank’s 2008 formation and being the bank’s first official employee, Greg Mieske (pictured) has shifted to a part-time advisor role until July 1, 2025, at which time he will retire concluding an exceptional career with the company. Nicole Rotier (pictured) assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer, effective April 22, 2025. Rotier has been with the bank for five years in the role of controller, playing a key role in the bank’s financial operations.

Fond du Lac

Sadie Marx (pictured) recently joined National Exchange Bank & Trust as the vice president of deposit operations. National Exchange Bank & Trust also announced the recent promotions of Desirae Jimenez (pictured) to VP/ operations & project management and Julie Stigler (pictured) to VP/eBanking

Horicon

Horicon Bank announced the promotion of Meredith Strieff (pictured) to Senior Vice President –Retail Banking Officer.

Janesville

Kimberly Lantta (pictured) joined the Lake Ridge Bank Treasury Management team as a vice president – business development officer.

Lake Mills

Greenwoods State Bank announced

the promotion of James “Jim” Hegenbarth (pictured) to president. This leadership transition reflects the bank’s continued growth and commitment to strong, experienced guidance. Hegenbarth succeeds Rob Cera, who will now serve as cochief executive officer alongside Bill McDonald.

Madison

First Business Bank welcomed Steve Bishop (pictured) as president –asset-based lending to First Business Specialty Finance, LLC, a subsidiary of First Business Bank.

Capitol Bank announced that Jessica Piatt (pictured) has joined as SVP of commercial lending.

Manitowoc

Bank First announced several recent hires and promotions:

• Traci Argall (pictured) was promoted to vice president – project management.

• Brendan Marston (pictured) joined the bank as chief operations officer.

• Jordan Mueller (pictured) joined the bank as vice president – business banking.

• Katie Rodgers (pictured) joined the bank as vice president – loan product management.

• Katie Steffel (pictured) was promoted to vice president – retail loan operations.

the dual role of vice president of treasury management and private banking officer.

Neenah Legacy Private Trust Company announced the addition of Jason Buol, CFA® (pictured), as vice president, senior trust investment officer.

New London

First State Bank announced the appointments of Josh Breyer (pictured) as vice president, information technology (IT), James Dietzler (pictured) as senior vice president, business banking, and Amy Schmitting (pictured) as vice president, treasury management operations. Additionally, the bank promoted Derek Blanchard (pictured) to the role of vice president, business banker.

Port Washington

Port Washington State Bank announced the expansion of its senior management team with the addition of Joan Woldt (pictured) as chief operating officer.

Waukesha

Waukesha State Bank announced the following promotions:

• Adam Kozicki (pictured) president of Payroll Complete

• Bob Meidenbauer (pictured) senior vice president – commercial banking team lead

• Theresa Schultz (pictured) vice president – investment services administrator within its Wealth Management division

Anniversaries

Renee Breister (pictured) recently celebrated 35 years of service at National Exchange Bank & Trust.

President Scott Rockwell (pictured) celebrated his 30th anniversary with the Bank of Wisconsin Dells in May.

Scott Birrenkott (pictured), WBA director – legal, celebrated 10 years of service with the Association in June.

Retirements

Johnson Financial Group announced a leadership change in southeast Wisconsin when veteran banker and regional president, Karla Krehbiel, shared her plans to retire later this year after more than 40 years in the banking industry and nearly 20 years with Johnson Financial Group. Thomas (Tom) Moore has been named incoming regional president and is set to succeed Krehbiel in September of this year.

First Business Financial Services, Inc. (the “Company”), shared that Corey A. Chambas will retire from his role as CEO on May 2, 2026. President and COO David R. Seiler to succeed him as CEO effective the same date. Chambas will remain on the boards of directors of the Company and First Business Bank.

After 41 years of distinguished service in the banking industry, including 25 years with First Business Bank, Mark Meloy, executive vice president of First Business Financial Services, Inc., parent company of First Business Bank, retired in May, 2025.

Medford

Prevail Bank announced that Holly Hedrington (pictured) has accepted

• Nicole Tindall (pictured) vice president – regional bank manager

Lantta Hegenbarth

Bishop Piatt Argall

Mueller Rodgers

Hedrington

Buol Breyer

Marston

Blanchard

Jimenez

Mieske Marx

Strieff

Stigler

Meidenbauer

Steffel

Woldt

Tindall

Rotier

Kozicki

Schmitting

Breister

Birrenkott

Dietzler

Rockwell

Schultz

Bulletin Board

News from Wisconsin Bankers Association Members

Celebrating a Lifetime of Service

WBA is proud to recognize the individual bankers who dedicate their service to our industry and their community. The 50- and 60Year Clubs recognize bankers who have served in the banking industry for 50 and 60 years, respectively. Additionally, WBA’s Lifetime Service Awards recognize bankers who have served in the industry for between 30 and 49 years. To recognize a banker for the esteemed honor, please visit wisbank.com/ServiceAwards.

Horicon Bank

Congratulations to Horicon Bank’s Nancy Kirst who received a WBA Lifetime Service Award on May 19 in recognition of her 43 years of service to the banking industry. Kirst retired from Horicon Bank in Green Lake on May 21, 2025. Pictured (left to right): WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels, Nancy Kirst, and Horicon Bank President Fred C. Schwertfeger.

Johnson Financial Group

Congratulations to Mark Behrens, CFO with Johnson Financial Group, who was recently honored with a WBA Lifetime Service Award in recognition of his 40 years of service in the banking industry.

Pictured (left to right): Johnson Financial Group President and CEO Jim Popp, Johnson Financial Group CFO Mark Behrens, WBA’s Rose Oswald Poels, SVP Johnson Financial Group and WBA Past Chair Al Araque, and Johnson Bank President Dan Defnet

Community Involvement

Horicon Bank has given $100,000 to support the Moraine Park Manufacturing, Automation and Robotics Lab equipment campaign for the school’s West Bend campus.

Associated Bank

WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels presented Associated Bank's Julie Gebauer, relationship banker at the Burlington branch, with a plaque honoring her induction into WBA’s 50-Year Club on June 6, 2025. This induction recognized her five decades of dedication and service to the banking industry. Pictured (left to right): Jay Sodey, Associated Bank SVP; Regional Executive, Madison Region; John J. Halechko, Associated Bank EVP; Director of Branch Banking; WBA's Rose Oswald Poels; Julie Gebauer, Associated Bank Relationship Banker – Burlington branch; and Irina Kwiatkowska, Associated Bank SVP Regional Manager, Southern WI Region.

Forward Bank announced a $100,000 commitment to the Griese Park Playground Renovation Project, driven by a MACCI Leadership Marshfield class that had a vision to reimagine this beloved space for generations to come.

Lender of the Year at the 42nd annual Racine County Economic Development Corporation Celebration on May 8 at Festival Hall.

Congratulations to Port Washington State Bank and Bank Five Nine for being named Top Workplaces 2025.

Bank Five Nine's Gale Zastrow was named Okauchee Area Business Association Person of the Year.

WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels recently presented a plaque to Farmers & Merchants Union Bank's Gregory J. LeCaptain in recognition of his 33 years of service in banking and in celebration of his retirement. Pictured (left to right): WBA’s Rose Oswald Poels and Greg LeCaptain

Horicon Bank was selected as the recipient of the WASDA Bert Grover Child Advocacy Award–Business for 2025 following a nomination from Superintendent Rich Appel of the School District of Horicon.

Port Washington State Bank announced that all of its mortgage lenders recently received the Five Star Mortgage Professional Award presented by Five Star Professional. Recipients this year include Jay Schreurs (NMLS 759020), Kelly Lambrecht (NMLS 1478460), and Linda Chay (NMLS 1419913).

WBA Welcomes New Staff Member

WBA is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Fenton has joined the team as Communications Coordinator. Fenton’s portfolio includes scientific technical writing, ghostwriting, grant writing, financial copywriting, and editorial work for industries spanning pharmaceutical companies to non-profit organizations. Outside of work, Fenton enjoys exploring nature trails and salsa dancing.

Community State Bank’s Jay Cashmore was named

Good News

REGISTER NOW aba.com/AgConfSA

November 12-14, 2025

St. Louis Union Station Hotel St. Louis, MO

Get actionable insights and strategies to grow your ag banking business despite today’s uncertainty in the ag sector and economy.

You’ll also hear the latest outlooks on commodities, weather and government policies (including the Farm Bill and ACRE) that will affect your productivity.

WBF Excellence in Financial Education Awards

Submission Deadline for Bank and Individual Awards is July 31, 2025

Bankers involved in financial education are encouraged to submit summary forms at wisbankfoundation.org/financialeducation-awards. By sharing your efforts with the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF), you will help WBF to track the collective impact of Wisconsin's banking industry, inspire others to volunteer, and have the opportunity to be recognized with a WBF Excellence in Financial Education Award. Awards will be presented at the WBA FLEX Retail and Marketing Summit on November 20, 2025, in Wisconsin Dells. sAVE the date!

Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Gala Thursday, September 25, 2025, 5:30–8:30 p.m.

Goodman Community Center

Brassworks Building: 214 Waubesa St. Madison, WI 53706

Tickets: $150/individual or $1,000/group of eight wisbankfoundation.org/gala

2024–2025

YEAR IN REVIEW

President's Message

Rose Oswald Poels WBA President and CEO

As we close the 2024–2025 fiscal year, I am proud to reflect on the many ways WBA and its members worked together to support and strengthen Wisconsin’s banking industry. From advancing policy priorities at the Capitol to delivering high-quality education and compliance tools, this past year underscored the value of collaboration and the collective impact we can achieve through active engagement in our association.

Working alongside state agencies and lawmakers, WBA helped implement new tax exemption rules that will save banks an estimated $29 million annually. We also successfully defended against harmful legislative proposals while modernizing statutes and updating the Wisconsin Trust Code. Beyond advocacy, WBA hosted more than 75 educational programs attended by over 6,000 bankers, expanded our compliance and consulting resources, and delivered more than $2.7 million in annual premium savings through our Association Health Plan. Behind these numbers is a team that remains committed to member service and excellence. I’m proud that WBA was named a “Top Workplace” by the Wisconsin State Journal for a second time.

Thank you for your continued membership and involvement. Your support drives our mission and ensures that Wisconsin’s banking community remains strong, resilient, and forward-looking.

Outgoing Chair’s Message

This past year the association has focused on the theme of impact and I’ve been inspired by the dedication of Wisconsin bankers who strengthen our communities through every loan, financial education initiative, and local partnership. From supporting small businesses to promoting financial wellness, the ripple effects of our work are far-reaching and meaningful. It has been rewarding to see the collective strength of our members collaborating to drive positive outcomes across the state. This “Year in Review” makes WBA’s impact clear.

I’m proud of how WBA continues to serve as a strong voice for our industry both locally and nationally, and I’m optimistic about the future. While we face challenges like economic uncertainty and evolving threats, the adaptability and commitment of Wisconsin’s bankers give me confidence. Thank you to WBA for providing me the opportunity and honor of serving as Chair. I wish incoming Chair Paul Northway all the best and look forward to seeing WBA’s continued impact in the years ahead.

Our Mission:

Al Araque

2024-2025

WBA Chair SVP,

director of consumer, private, and business banking Johnson Financial Group, Racine

YEAR IN REVIEW

ADVOCATING

48

banks earned WBA’s Gold Triangle Award, our highest level of recognition for bank fundraising, apportioned by bank asset size.

48

banks earned the Bankers Involved in Grassroots and Government (BIGG) Award, WBA’s highest achievement level for bank involvement and advocacy.

183 $271,347

banks designated Advocacy Officers, who serve as government relations points of contact for their banks.

in contributions were given by WBAmember employees, directors, and others to WBA’s political action funds: Wisbankpac and the ABW political conduit.

17 94 320 81

bankers earned the Leadership Circle Award for contributing at least $3,000 to Wisbankpac, ABW, or issue advocacy funds.

bankers earned the Silver Triangle Award for contributing at least $1,000 to Wisbankpac, ABW, or issue advocacy funds.

members attended WBA Capitol Day in Madison, and 43 attended a Washington, D.C. trip.

28 11 10

bills are currently being tracked or monitored by WBA of the 607 bills introduced in State Legislature during the 2025–26 legislative session. WBA legislative priorities or WBAinfluenced bills were introduced during 2025-26 legislative session.

comment letters were submitted on behalf of the membership.

candidates and four legislative party candidate committees — on both sides of the aisle — at the state level received support from WBA political action funds.

40

press releases were issued.

50 Advocacy Reports emailed to members.

2,170

6,300 75 469

Legal Call Program calls were answered. attendees took part in WBA-hosted training events.

3

and 12 FAQs added to

FAQ resource for a total of 29 FAQs.

educational opportunities were hosted by WBA.

bankers completed a multi-day WBA School or Boot Camp.

6 6 252 92

4 2 & 10

complimentary member webinars were offered in 2024–25 — more than 1,500 members participated live or on demand with these 4 webinars.

30 videos were produced.

Two Legal Live events were hosted, and 10 WBA Compliance Corner videos were produced.

200

students attended Careers in Banking events hosted at five UW campuses.

72

CEOnly/CFOnly questions were moderated.

9

Agri-Banker updates, 12 CBC updates, and 9 Associate Member newsletters delivered

YEAR IN REVIEW

SUPPORTING

banks and savings institutions are members of WBA, representing 96% of banks in the state.

members belong to the Building Our Leaders of Tomorrow (BOLT) Section.

ShareFI provided services to 44 WBA members, representing over 90 engagements. Banks saved over $350,000 with ShareFI’s compliance officer (and other roles) services to reduce their personnel expenses. Ten banks improved and/or maintained CMS ratings with their primary regulator with ShareFI support.

WBA members benefited from FIPCO InfoSecurity and IT Audit engagement services, representing over 70 engagements.

members served on a board, committee, or advisory group.

individuals and 47 organizations supported the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation through donations and participation in auctions and raffles at the WBA Bank Executives Conference ($11,590), WBA Agricultural Bankers Conference ($1,340), and WBA Women in Banking Conference ($4,700).

users follow WBA on LinkedIn, 1,782 on Facebook, and 2,119 on X.

in annual savings were achieved with the WBA Association Health Plan through United Healthcare.

banks completed over 4,000 benefit transactions through the WBA-EBC benefits portal.

community banks were helped by Midwest Bankers Insurance Services (MBIS) with complex insurance renewal negotiations, internal control guidance, best practices, coverage education, and policy placement.

loan applications totaling a requested $259,000,000 were submitted via FIPCO ConnectFI – a customer-facing digital lending SaaS that integrates with Compliance Concierge.

banks participated in one or more FIPCO software training sessions. banks participated in the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation’s Reading Raises Interest program, giving Teach Children to Save Day presentations in elementary school classrooms and donating more than 2,000 copies of Rock, Brock, and the Savings Shock by Sheila Bair. applications were submitted for Wisconsin Bankers Foundation scholarships, and $11,000 was awarded to six recipients. in grants were awarded by the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation to four nonprofit programs, including Asset Builders’ Finance and Investment Challenge Bowl, Economics Wisconsin, Eastbrook Academy, and 6:8, Inc. branches of 56 banks participated in the WBA Power of Community Week, hosting service events across the state.

Strong Turnout for WBA/ICBA Capital Summit Highlights Power of Grassroots Engagement

This spring has been a busy and productive season for advocacy — and Wisconsin bankers showed up in force. During the ICBA Capital Summit in Washington, D.C., 21 bankers from across the state joined WBA staff, ICBA leadership, and an individual from FHLBank Chicago for a full day of Congressional visits on key banking issues.

The timing of the trip aligned well with major policy discussions underway in Congress, including tax reform and cryptocurrency legislation. Bankers shared their support for the inclusion of a modified version of the ACRE Act in the House’s reconciliation package — a significant development made possible by persistent grassroots advocacy. Conversations also focused on the GENIUS and STABLE Acts, with an emphasis on protecting community banks from stablecoin-related risks.

Other federal topics discussed included the Credit Card Competition Act, Section 1071, the Farm Bill, and the need to rein in the use of trigger leads.

In total, 43 Wisconsin bankers have participated in one of WBA’s Washington, D.C. advocacy trips this year — a number not seen since before the pandemic. Their presence and voices were crucial in reinforcing the importance of community banking to elected officials.

WBA thanks all members who have joined us in D.C. so far this year and encourages others to consider participating in future opportunities, including the regulatory-focused fall trip, October 16–17, 2025.

Thank you to the members who attended the WBA/ICBA Capital Summit this year on behalf of Wisconsin’s banking industry:

Justin Adamski, The Pineries Bank, Stevens Point

Robin Christian, Premier Community Bank, Marion

Brooke Frehse, The Stephenson National Bank & Trust, Marinette

Rachael Gadbois, The Pineries Bank, Stevens Point

Mike Gargaro, Citizens First Bank, Trempealeau

Jeff Gruetzmacher, Royal Bank, Lancaster

Dale Hans, Horicon Bank

Donna Hoppenjan, Mound City Bank, Platteville

Shane Ilstrup, Citizens First Bank, Trempealeau

Jimmy Kauffman, Bank of Sun Prairie

Sue Loken, Lake Ridge Bank, Middleton

Hope Markhardt, Lake Ridge Bank, Madison

Josh Marron, Park Bank, Madison

Paul Northway, American National Bank Fox Cities, Appleton

Mike Olson, The Bank of Brodhead

Butch Pomeroy, International Bank of Amherst

Lonnie Przybylski, International Bank of Amherst

Dan Ravenscroft, Royal Bank, Elroy

Julie Redfern, Lake Ridge Bank, Verona

Ron Schaaf, The Bank of New Glarus

Justin Wroblewski, The Stephenson National Bank and Trust, Marinette

Thanks also to these individuals for joining our group: Dave Feldhaus, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago

Julie Hanson, ICBA

Sean Murphy, ICBA

The group in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. during the WBA/ICBA Capital Summit

Wisconsin bankers met with Rep. Bryan Steil (R–District 1).

Summit attendees spoke with Rep. Mark Pocan (D–District 2).

Remembering Randy Molepske

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of Randy Molepske’s passing on June 12.

Randy was a valued member of the Wisconsin Bankers Association team for 26 years. He most recently served as Assistant Director – IT, where he provided support to both colleagues and WBA members through his expertise and patience. For more than two decades, Randy played a key role in helping WBA keep pace with rapidly evolving technology.

Randy will be fondly remembered by WBA staff as a kind, good-natured colleague who loved to make others laugh and was also a thoughtful listener. He was always ready with a joke, a review of the latest standup comedy special, or a recommendation for which series to binge watch next. He often spoke with pride and affection about his wife Shannon and their two children, Anna and Danny.

It’s hard to imagine WBA without Randy. We’re grateful for his many years of service and the countless moments he brightened. Randy had a rare ability to connect with people in a genuine way — not only with his colleagues, but also with many bankers who came to know him well over the years. His contributions to WBA and the relationships he built will not be forgotten.

2025 Agricultural Bankers Conference

Cultivates Knowledge, Connections, and Giving

Nearly 150 agriculture banking professionals from across the state gathered in Wisconsin Dells April 10–11 for the WBA Agricultural Bankers Conference — two days packed with forward-thinking insights, engaging discussions, and valuable networking.

The agenda featured over seven hours of expert-led presentations covering everything from market outlooks to the always-popular Q&A with Dr. Kohl and Friends. Attendees walked away with fresh strategies and practical knowledge to better support Wisconsin’s vital agriculture industry.

Beyond the sessions, the conference provides opportunities for connection — from peer-to-peer

conversations to vendor meetups — fostering a sense of community and collaboration among attendees.

Adding a philanthropic note to the event, a raffle was held to benefit the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation. Thanks to generous contributions, $1,340 was raised to support the Foundation’s mission of advancing financial literacy, education, and research. The Foundation also awards two Agricultural Banking Scholarships annually to help cultivate the next generation of ag banking professionals.

WBA wishes to extend our gratitude to the following conference sponsors: FHLBank Chicago; Agcor; CRS Data; FHN Financial; Farmer Mac; Hansen Auction Group, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, and Steffes Auctioneers.

Pictured (left to right): Lynn Paulson, Sam Miller, and Dr. Kohl during the Q&A with Dr. Kohl and Friends.

A group of agriculture bankers attending a session on current agriculture banking topics.

The Power of Intentional Networking

By Josh Effinger

Networking is a great tool for sales focused teams to acquire new business, but it’s also important to instill that culture into everyone in the organization, especially the marketing department. When you make networking intentional, it connects you to fresh ideas, local partnerships, and peer support. It can also align the marketing and sales teams to work better together.

1.

Network with Your Own Team

Developing powerful relationships with your front-line colleagues will give you valuable insights from those working directly with the customers. They know what drives sales, generates interest, and what questions or pain points are trending.

• Attend internal meetings outside your focus

• Go on a sales or service call with a banker

• Network directly with customers and find ways to provide extra value for them and leverage that time to get testimonials and feedback

Regularly connecting will give you real time feedback on marketing initiatives. It will also help align messaging and strategy across departments throughout the bank.

2. External Networking

Networking outside of the bank is an opportunity for

WBA Bank

Technology & Security Summit

Introducing the WBA Bank Technology & Security Summit: a fresh take on the former Secur-I.T. Conference. Taking place September 23–24, 2025, at the Kalahari Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells, this two-day event is tailored for information security officers, technology leaders, IT managers, and others supporting the operational and security needs of Wisconsin’s banks.

The summit offers practical sessions on evolving cybersecurity threats, tech innovations, and best practices. Attendees can also opt in to the Innovation Showcase, included in the single registration fee, for a closer look at cutting-edge solutions and vendor offerings.

You won't want to miss opening general session from James McQuiggan, security awareness advocate with KnowBe4: “The Hacker’s AI Playbook: Unraveling the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Social Engineering and Cybersecurity.” This timely presentation will dive into how AI is being used by cybercriminals to enhance social engineering attacks—and what banks can do to stay ahead. Attendees will learn how to recognize AI-driven scams, explore the broader societal impacts of AI, and come away with strategies for adapting defenses in this rapidly evolving threat landscape. Stay tuned for more details on sessions and speakers.

marketing professionals to build their network and get more out of their marketing budget.

• Attend events hosted by your local Chamber of Commerce, small business alliances, or other community organizations.

• Get involved by joining a committee or board of directors for a local organization, event or non-profit

• Connect regularly with other marketing peers to collaborate on ideas

• Practice a “sales” mentality on behalf of the bank by asking for business Networking allows you to grow both personally and professionally. The more you network, the more effectively you can position your institution for growth.

For a marketing professional at a community bank, the value of strong relationships cannot be overstated. Building connections within your own team fosters collaboration and alignment, while external networking opens doors to new ideas, partnerships, and opportunities. Intentionally investing in networking can lay the foundation for both personal development and the long-term strength of your bank’s marketing efforts.

Effinger is marketing officer at Ixonia Bank and member of the 2025–2026 WBA Marketing Committee.

DFI Secretary-designee Q&A

continued from pg. 15

How would you describe your vision for the future of DFI?

We all want an economy that is strong and vibrant for all people and families who call Wisconsin home. The strength of Wisconsin’s economy comes from its people, and an individual’s strength comes from their financial wellness. At DFI, we are committed to advancing financial literacy, access, and opportunity. We promote financial literacy, capability, and inclusion efforts for all Wisconsin residents, and provide administrative support to the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy and Capability, which advances financial literacy and education through resources, programs, and partnerships to help Wisconsinites develop money management skills, improve credit, and plan for financial security. We encourage businesses, nonprofits, and financial institutions to promote financial education efforts, helping ensure more Wisconsinites have access to budgeting, investing, and credit-building tools, as well as retirement planning resources, homeownership support, and savings incentives. As we look forward, my goal is to ensure that Wisconsin champions financial well-being for everyone, and especially for historically underserved populations because when underserved populations thrive financially, families, businesses, and entire communities become stronger. Financial empowerment is not just about money – it is about opportunity, security, and freedom. Together, we can build a future where every person in Wisconsin has the financial knowledge, confidence, and resources to achieve their goals and dreams. I look forward to working with all of you to make this vision a reality.

Understanding the Impact of Quantum Computing and AI on Cybersecurity

By Rob Foxx

The topics of quantum computing and AI are often new and confusing—and unfortunately, they haven’t been well explained to many people. However, these technologies are already changing the ways in which attackers gain access to systems and data.

According to a recent report by Mimecast, 95% of breaches are caused by human error. This staggering figure highlights the critical importance of training your staff as a core part of any cybersecurity strategy. These errors typically occur because someone or something appeared legitimate enough to prompt user action. This allows attackers to bypass most traditional security controls, since the malicious action is performed by an authorized user. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect human error to play an even greater role in future breaches.

How Quantum Computing Changes the Game

Before diving into its implications,

it’s important to define what quantum computing actually is. Traditional computers use binary logic, representing data as either a 1 or a 0. In contrast, quantum computers leverage qubits, which can represent 1 and 0 simultaneously through a principle called superposition. This allows quantum computers to evaluate many possibilities at once, significantly accelerating complex computations.

While quantum computing demands more power and specialized hardware, its speed poses a serious threat to current cybersecurity defenses. For example, tasks like reversing a hash (e.g., an encrypted password) — which would take traditional computers days, weeks, or even years — can potentially be performed in a fraction of the time using quantum technology.

Quantum computing can also enable more sophisticated malware, especially under ransomware-as-a-service models, and may dramatically accelerate the discovery of zeroday vulnerabilities — making patching and proactive defense more critical than ever.

IT AUDIT & SECURITY SERVICES

• IT Auditing

• Cyber Security Consulting

• Vulnerability & Penetration Testing

• Board Cyber Security Awareness

• GLBA Compliance & IT Risk Assessment

• Managed Social Engineering with Integrated Learning Management System

• Facilitated DRP/BCP Tabletop and IRP Testing

• Threat Intelligence Briefings

Contact FIPCO’s Rob Foxx to get started.

rfoxx@fipco.com

800-722-3498 x 249 www.FIPCO.com

The

Role of AI in Evolving Threats

Artificial Intelligence, at this point, should be a familiar concept.

AI consumes vast amounts of data, analyzes it, and uses that as a foundation to learn, reason, and solve problems. While it’s far from perfect, AI has become a powerful tool — especially for bad actors.

Cybercriminals are now using AI to improve their research, enhance targeted phishing, and execute more convincing social engineering attacks. With access to better, more personalized data than ever before, AI-generated threats can appear highly authentic — even to seasoned users.

Additionally, AI can be used to create ransomware faster, with greater effectiveness, and with less technical skill required than in the past. These advantages make AI an indispensable tool for attackers — and a growing concern for defenders.

What You Can Do

The most important thing you can do today is educate your team and ensure you have access to cybersecurity experts who can help manage these risks. Strong security practices are more critical than ever, including:

• Longer passwords, as recommended by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for system access

• Continuous logging and review of activity within your environment

In addition, legacy tools are no longer sufficient on their own. Many environments now require upgraded solutions, such as:

• Next-generation antivirus (NGAV)

• Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services from providers like Cynet 360, CrowdStrike, and SentinelOne

These solutions can analyze logs, detect threats, and issue alerts far more quickly than human analysts ever could. They typically cover:

• User behavior analytics

• System and process monitoring

• Network traffic inspection

• File and endpoint analysis

Most importantly, these tools are also AIpowered, allowing them to defend against AI-driven attacks using similar technology. In the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, staying ahead means adopting the same tools and techniques your adversaries are using — and doing it before they do.

Foxx is director – infosec and IT audit services for FIPCO. He can be reached at rfoxx@fipco.com or 608-441-1249.

For more information about FIPCO forms, software, or other products, visit fipco.com, call 800-723-3498, or email fipcosales@fipco.com.

FIPCO is a WBA Gold Associate Member.

The Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) is pleased to announce that six grants of $10,000 each have been awarded to support housing and housing literacy, economic development/ community investment, and financial or cyber literacy in Wisconsin.

“Affordable housing and financial literacy are acute needs for individuals and families in our state and are critical drivers for our economy’s workforce needs,” said Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO. “We are proud to once again offer this grant opportunity, which showcases the partnership of Wisconsin banks and non-profit organizations to strengthen programming that empowers Wisconsinites to become financially capable, promotes homeownership, and builds wealth that can be passed on to future generations.”

The selected projects include:

• Bank of Prairie du Sac plans to work in partnership with 6:8, Inc. to help support the 6:8 Circles program which works to both empower highly motivated lowincome participants to permanently move out of poverty and into stability and increase the “poverty IQ” of leaders in business, education, health, philanthropy, volunteerism, public service, and other major sectors of the community in order to motivate strategic collective action to resolve systemic barriers to self-sufficiency.

• Bay Bank, Green Bay, is a stakeholder of a new effort, the Wisconsin Native Homeownership Coalition, which consists of different professionals from Wisconsin’s tribal communities that are engaged in housing related activities. The coalition brings together Bay Bank, two Native CDFI lenders, tribal housing authority executives, and an affordable housing developer to develop tools, resources, and practices that will increase the number of housing units for Native Americans. WHEDA's tribal liaison is also participating in the Coalition efforts. The grant funds will be used towards the cost of developing a written strategic plan for the Wisconsin Coalition.

• Horicon Bank plans to develop a down payment assistance program to make homeownership more accessible to families. Through a partnership with Acts Housing, Horicon Bank will ensure that homebuyers receive the financial guidance they need throughout the homebuying process.

• PremierBank, Fort Atkinson, plans to help expand financial literacy and cybersecurity fraud prevention education materials in Spanish throughout Janesville and surrounding communities in collaboration with Adelante Janesville, a program of Forward Janesville

Congrats BankWork$ Grads!

BankWork$ is a free, eight-week training program to prepare participants — primarily individuals from under-resourced communities — for retail banking careers. The nationwide program was brought to Wisconsin in 2019 through a partnership between the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) and Employ Milwaukee. In May, a class of seven students graduated from the program. WBA’s Daryll Lund attended the ceremony and congratulated the graduates on their achievement. To learn more about the program, please visit employmilwaukee.org/BankWorks.htm.

that was formed two years ago to uncover ways to better serve the Latino community, specifically by supporting Latino business owners and entrepreneurs in the Janesville area.

• The Bank of New Glarus has collaborated with St Vincent de Paul of Green County located in Monroe to develop and distribute a microloan program for emergency financial assistance to low-income families for housing related expenses, specifically overdue rent or utilities. The program will also provide financial literacy counseling through the University of Wisconsin Extension. The grant funds will support the operations of the microloan program, providing financial relief and empowerment to community members in need.

• Woodford State Bank, Monroe, plans to implement a community-based program to address financial literacy, help prevent fraud, and to better understand the home-buying process thereby empowering individuals to achieve financial stability and homeownership. Specific focus being placed on the Lafayette County in southwest Wisconsin.

SOUND STRATEGIES FOR PORTFOLIO INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

Pictured (left to right): Suzanne Zulli, Jennifer Scott, Mariana Hyde, Jean-Paul Johnson, Dinah Watts, Sandra Janik-Wojahn, Parthasarathy Allappakam, and WBA Exec VP and Chief of Staff Daryll Lund. Pictured (front): Doniven Henderson

Staying Relevant in a Rapidly Changing Industry

By Daryll J. Lund

The start of the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s (WBA) new fiscal year is a great time to spotlight the many opportunities available for both new and experienced bankers to grow professionally and connect with others in the industry. Representing over 30,000 bankers statewide, WBA is powered by its members’ energy, insight, and commitment to working together.

On June 11, 2025, Paul Northway, President and CEO of American National Bank Fox Cities, was installed as Chair of WBA’s Board of Directors. With a focus on relevance, Northway's message to members is clear: staying connected, engaged, and forward-thinking is essential for the association — and the industry — to thrive. As the banking landscape continues to evolve, it’s up to all of us to ensure WBA remains a trusted, valuable resource for years to come.

A key opportunity is the WBA Advocacy Officer program. These individuals serve as liaisons between their banks, WBA, and policymakers. By sharing how legislation affects their businesses and communities, Advocacy Officers play a crucial role in helping lawmakers understand the real-world impact of their decisions.

WBA’s professional development and engagement opportunities are designed to keep our members informed and well-prepared to face the evolving issues in our industry. Each year, WBA hosts 75 in-person events, conferences, and schools across Wisconsin, in addition to convenient virtual programs. These gatherings connect bankers to expert insights, practical tools, and each other.

Leadership development remains a top priority. Our Building Our Leaders of Tomorrow (BOLT) program, now in its 12th year, helps emerging leaders grow their skills and confidence. Through events and mentorship, BOLT participants are shaping the future of Wisconsin’s banking industry.

WBA is also committed to peer connection. WBA Connect offers focused peer networking groups for everyone from HR professionals to commercial lenders — providing a space to exchange ideas, solve problems, and stay sharp.

Whether you're attending a conference, mentoring a colleague, or advocating for your bank, your engagement strengthens WBA and helps ensure WBA’s relevancy — together.

Lund is WBA executive vice president and chief of staff.

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Community Advocate Spotlight

Wisconsin bankers are the definition of “community advocates” in all that they do every day to improve their local economy through bank products and services, as well as through generous philanthropy of time and money. The Community Advocate Spotlight shares and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and innovation of some of the extraordinary bankers in the state.

Questions and Answers

The following is a brief interview between WBA President and President of Northern

Rose: How did you first get into the banking industry?

John: I mostly credit my education, at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, for my banking career. Neither of my parents were college grads. My mother was a secretary. My father was … well honestly … an alcoholic. Early on, I realized my only ticket out and up would be through a good education. I couldn’t afford private college or out-of-state tuition, so I opted for Madison.

First Wisconsin – Madison was my first banking job after obtaining my MBA. After First Wis, I continued to learn through positions at First of America – Michigan and NorthLand Bank of Wisconsin. Throughout my career, I have held many titles; branch manager (yes, with teller duties), consumer, mortgage, commercial lender, chief loan officer and president.

After years away, I was offered a position to come back home -- to work at the last remaining community bank in Ashland; Northern State Bank. I am living proof that you can go home again.

What is your favorite aspect of your role at the bank?

I value building relationships with my customers, fellow employees, supporting entities, and our community. Strong customer relationships are the foundation of community banking. I know the people in my hometown. A lot of them are my customers. I know their families. I know their life stories. Over the years, we’ve built a confident trust. They know I will be there for them … offering sound and honest financial options.

My fellow workers are my second family. I spend more of my waking hours with them, than I do at home. We are on the same team. We share our lives.

Building relationships with key external support partners and vendors helps us provide quality customer service. We cannot do everything internally. We form bonds with people and organizations we know we can rely on. When our community improves, we all do better. I grew up in Ashland. My roots run deep. I volunteer … lots. We are in this together.

What do you wish the general public understood about the banking industry?

Community banking is built on trust. Most community bankers are not paid on commission. We do well when our customers succeed. Community bankers listen and match our products and services to wants and needs – to make lives better. It’s what we do. It sets us apart.

Where do you believe the industry’s greatest challenges are in the next three to five years?

I believe community banks’ greatest challenges are succession planning and finding good people who will be committed to our industry.

Do we have qualified people who will continue to carry the torch? If not, where will they come from? What about the work ethic?

Please describe your current role at your bank and share with us one of your more rewarding experiences (e.g., A time you had to go above and beyond to help a customer, a memorable customer interaction, stepping in to help the local community after a disaster, or something more personal, etc.).

I view my current role as managing, mentoring, and transferring longstanding relationships. Managing and mentoring means accepting change yet acknowledging and honoring the values, processes, and procedures that got us here … and made us successful.

Transferring my customer relationships will require both time and great care. My loan portfolio was sizeable and built over decades. Our customers are our greatest assets.

When I was grade school age, my mother worked as a loan secretary at Northern State Bank. We lived on the east side of Ashland and the Little League parks were on the west side. The bank is smack-dab in the center of town. Almost every day, a group of us sandlot kids would ride our banana bikes to play baseball. After many a hot summer games, we would bicycle home and stop at the bank for a drink of cold water (at their water fountain) and I’d say “Hi!” to mom.

My mother retired in 1984 and was diagnosed with breast cancer that same year. She passed, after an anguishing battle, six years later. She would never live to see her son come back home and become President of Northern State Bank. Miss you, Mom!

New Associate Members

Amundsen Davis LLC

https://www.amundsendavislaw.com/ I Shannon Daniels sdaniels@amundsendavislaw.com I 920-996-0000

Solutions: Legal Services

At Amundsen Davis's core, you’ll find a full-service law firm built on a foundation of integrity, tenacity, shared values and commitment to our clients. Our attorneys are prepared to handle a multitude of diverse legal services from the inception of business, to labor and employment issues, and litigation.

Community Mortgage, powered by BANK

https://www.bank.bank/community-mortgage I Chris Grimm

CommunityMortgage@bank.bank I 515-223-2265

Services: Mortgage Services; Software Solutions

Community Mortgage, powered by BANK, is a mortgage aggregation service, developed by bankers, for bankers. Community Mortgage can help community and mid-sized banks offer high-quality, competitive mortgage programs, retain and protect retail customers, leverage an experience mortgage team, access technology to improve customer experience, and earn generous fee income.

FIS Global

https://www.fisglobal.com I Chris Crone christopher.crone@fisglobal.com I 704-230-8512

Services: Information Technology/Cybersecurity; Payment Processing; Software Solutions

For more than 50 years, leading financial institutions and businesses have relied on FIS financial technology to power their mission-critical operations. Today, our technology helps out clients unlock new growth opportunities by cutting through complexity and bringing harmony in how they store, move, and put money to work.

Inveritax

LLC

https://www.inveritax.com I Alex Kowalski alex.kowalski@inveritax.com I 877-713-9829

Solutions: Real Estate Tax Services.

Inveritax helps Wisconsin’s community banks simplify real estate tax servicing. Our intelligent platform eliminates manual work, reduces risk, and automates escrow reporting, delinquency monitoring, and tax payment workflows.

Transformation Solutions

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryellengiffels/ I Mary Ellen Giffels maryellengiffels7@gmail.com I 708-442-6003

Services: Consulting Services; HR Services

Transformation Solutions provides consulting services to banks that want an outside-in-perspective to unlock potential and make progress towards goals. Services include coaching for individuals and teams, facilitation and advisory services.

Bankers Marketplace

Market Manager – Ixonia Bank

The Market Manager manages the branch day-to-day operations in conjunction with the policies and procedures of Ixonia Bank. This position manages the Retail branch staff. The Market Manager is also responsible for overall branch efficiency in terms of staffing levels and utilization of staff. The Market Manager is accountable for branch performance and branch objectives. Branch objectives include specific sales targets including core deposits, IB financial services referrals, retail lending, credit & debit card production, and retail & business checking accounts. The Market Manager is responsible for the establishment of individual-level objectives for all Retail branch staff.

At Ixonia Bank, we pride ourselves on our core values which are evident in our work, how we interact with each other, & how we take care of our customers. We believe every individual counts! Our highly-qualified, driven employees continually strive to give Ixonia Bank customers a personal banking experience. We offer rewarding careers, all within a professional and friendly work environment. If you are interested in joining the Ixonia Bank team, we invite you to view this or other opportunities that match your skills and talents on our career page: https://www.ixoniabank.com/careers/. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Wisconsin Banker

WBA Mission Statement

We actively advocate for, educate, and support our members to help them positively impact the Wisconsin communities they serve.

Association Officers:

Paul J. Northway (Chair), President and CEO, American National Bank Fox Cities, Appleton

Joe Peikert, (Chair-Elect) President and CEO, Wolf River Community Bank, Hortonville Greg Lundberg (Vice Chair), President and CEO, Fortifi Bank, Berlin Alvaro (Al) Araque (Past Chair), Senior Vice President, Director of Consumer, Private, and Business Banking, Johnson Financial Group, Racine

Rose Oswald Poels, President and CEO, Wisconsin Bankers Association, Madison Association Board of Directors:

Tina DeGustino, Regional President Wisconsin Region, BMO Bank, Milwaukee

Jim Hartlieb, President and CEO First Business Bank, Madison

Kelly Heroux, President and CEO Peshtigo National Bank

Shay Horton, President and CEO Cumberland Federal Bank

Shane Ilstrup, President Citizens First Bank, Trempealeau

Jimmy Kauffman, President and CEO Bank of Sun Prairie

Todd Nagel, President and CEO IncredibleBank, Wausau

Nathaniel (Nate) Parrish, President First Citizens State Bank, Whitewater Timothy (Tim) Schneider, President and CEO Bank Five Nine, Oconomowoc William (Bill) Sennholz, CEO Forward Bank, Marshfield

Lindsay Spitzer, President and CEO Bluff View Bank, Galesville Eric Witczak, Executive Vice President and COO, Nicolet National Bank, Green Bay

The Wisconsin Banker is published by the Wisconsin Bankers Association, 4721 South Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718; Telephone: 608-441-1200; wisbank.com.

Katie Reiser, Editor 608-441-1237; kreiser@wisbank.com

Advertising: sales@wisbank.com

To report a change of address, please email us at requests@wisbank.com.

The publication of advertisements does not necessarily represent endorsement of those products or services by the Wisconsin Bankers Association. The editor reserves the right ot reject any advertising or editorial copy deemed unsuitable for publication for any reason. Copy deadline is eight business days before publication date.

Disclaimer: With the exception of official announcements, the Wisconsin Bankers Association disclaims all responsibility for opinions expressed and statements made in printed articles and advertisements in the Wisconsin Banker. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is distributed with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal or accounting advice or expert assistance is required, the services of a qualified professional should be sought.

July

7/108/1

Understanding Bank Performance Virtual Series

Eight-part webinar series – $1,000 /attendee

16 Branch Manager Boot Camp: Session III

Four-part series, virtual half days – $800/attendee

22 Community Bankers for Compliance (CBC) –Session III

Virtual half-day – annual membership/pricing varies

29- 31 Agricultural Lending School

Madison – $895/attendee; Optional pre-school workshop available 7/28 - $200/attendee

August

4 NEW PROGRAM! Numbers Talk. Bankers Need to Listen! Workshop

Madison – $275/attendee

14 WBA Chair’s Member Appreciation Golf Outing Wisconsin Dells

20 Branch Manager Boot Camp: Session IV

Four-part series, virtual half days – $800/attendee

September

10- 11 Strategic Management Summit – a summit designed for Chief Operations, Chief Risk, and Chief Credit Officers

Madison – team pricing available

15 IRA Essentials W orkshop

Madison or Virtual - $245/attendee

16 Advanced IRA Workshop

Madison or Virtual - $245/attendee

9/1610/9 Understanding Bank Performance Virtual Series

Eight-part webinar series – $1,000 /attendee

17 Branch Manager Boot Camp: Session I

Four-part series, virtual half days – $800/attendee

17- 18 FIPCO Software & Compliance Forum: Loan & Mortgage Wisconsin Dells

9/2211/19

Credit Analyst Development Program Virtual Series

Six-part virtual series – $2,750 /attendee

September

continued

22 Innovation Showcase Wisconsin Dells – multiple registration options available

2324 Bank Technology & Security Summit Wisconsin Dells – multiple registration options available

3010/1 Personal Banker School Wausau – $495/attendee

TBD Principles of Banking Two-day sessions, location(s) TBD - $550/attendee

October

8-9 Principles of Banking

Mineral Point - $550/attendee

7-9 Bank Trainers Conference Orlando, FL

14 Internal Audit Workshop

14- 15

Madison - $245/attendee

Advanced Commercial Lending School

Madison – $550/attendee

KEY: Color -Coded Event Descriptions

Conferences/Summits – One or more days, based on hot topics, industry news and best practices, scheduled time for peer networking

Schools/Boot Camps – Focused on a particular area of banking, allowing for a deep dive into that focused area over the course of two to six days

Workshops/Seminars – One-day programs, sometimes in multiple locations, focused on a specific topic or area of banking.

WBA-Hosted Webinars – Two-hour webinars instructed with a particular focus on Wisconsin state law and rules.

Other Events

www.wisbank.com | 608-441-1252 | wbaeducation@wisbank.com