National Exchange Bank & Trust Named 2023 WBF Financial Education Innovation Award Winner

Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Recognizes Outstanding Financial Education Initiative

The Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) is pleased to announce that National Exchange Bank & Trust, headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wis., has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Financial Education Innovation Award. The award was presented to National Exchange Bank & Trust representative Jaclyn Rutkowski during a special luncheon on February 8, 2024, in Wisconsin Dells at the largest banking industry event in the state, the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) Bank Executives Conference. 

“Too often, people are reluctant to talk or ask questions about finances,” said Rose Oswald Poels, WBF chair and WBA president and CEO. “Through their ‘It’s OK not to know’ campaign, National Exchange Bank & Trust has shared useful financial resources in a fun, accessible way.” 

National Exchange Bank & Trust’s multi-media financial education campaign, titled “It’s OK not to know,” ran across digital and social media channels, including TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. The campaign was designed to engage community members who may not yet feel confident in their financial literacy. Featured content covered topics such as “pay yourself first,” “zero-based budgeting,” and the difference between an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) and a fixed-rate mortgage. The campaign included a diverse range of media, such as short-form videos, images with text, emails, and blog posts. The shareable content also emphasized an overarching theme that banks are judgement-free resources, ready to provide support and guidance. 

The WBF Financial Education Innovation Award is a prestigious category of the WBF Excellence in Financial Education Awards. Submissions for the 2023 WBF Excellence in Financial Education Awards encompassed over 700 financial education presentations given by 365 Wisconsin bank employees, reaching approximately 25,500 Wisconsin community members.