In March, David Bridges, commercial lender at Dairy State Bank in Rice Lake, was recognized for his long service to the banking industry with WBA’s Lifetime Service Award. In total, Bridges has served 38 years in the industry, the last 23 at Dairy State Bank.
By Hannah Flanders
Most people do not grow up dreaming of a career in banking. In fact, many of today’s bankers look back on their paths that led them to the industry as a “happy accident.” However, with large numbers of retirees leaving the workforces every year and evolution caused by technology, regulation, and customer expectations reshaping the industry, banks across Wisconsin are hoping to inspire and cultivate a new generation of aspiring professionals who see the banking industry as an exciting and rewarding career choice.
“We have to build our bankers from the younger generation,” emphasizes Kari Davis, chief talent officer at Lake Ridge Bank in Madison. “Students don’t know what they don’t see; it is our role to demonstrate to them the business of banking and why our teams feel so passionate about their work.”
Starting Young
For Gwen Schnitzler and the team at Forward Bank, Marshfield, introducing banking as a career opportunity to students long before their high school graduation is a priority.
“Interacting with high schoolers is the greatest way to ‘get into the minds’ of local students,” said Schnitzler, vice president – human resources. “As a bank, we want them to know of the opportunities present in our industry. As a community bank, we want them to know these opportunities are available here in their hometown.”
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program has helped banks across the state connect with high school juniors and seniors exploring different career paths. The program — which features pathways related to finance/banking, marketing, and business administration — combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training.
Through the YA program, banks, including Forward Bank and Lake Ridge Bank, have found great benefit in introducing students to the careers available to them with hands-on experience. Both Davis and Schnitzler note that YA’s defined paths make it easy for banks to facilitate the most relevant and meaningful experience for both the student and the team. So much so that several apprentices who started at either bank went on to study finance, or another banking-related area, in college and later returned to the same institution for full-time employment.
In addition to apprenticeship opportunities, many banks across the state utilize internships to connect with students in both high school and college. While these opportunities may look different depending on the size and location of the bank, one thing is certain — to keep students engaged, it is important that their work allows them to exercise and expand their skillset. Finding unique ways for students to contribute directly to the institution may just be the difference between a résumé builder and the beginning of a fulfilling career.
“Whether they are students working as apprentices or interns, these individuals aren’t focused on filing and scanning. Our goal is to demonstrate the full experience of what it means to be a banker — operating in a professional environment, getting into the community, meeting with clients. . . that’s what they really want to see and experience,” highlights Davis.
To help recruit for open internship opportunities and raise awareness of the banking industry, many banks across Wisconsin also partner with local colleges and universities. As a partner or sponsor, bankers may attend networking events such as career fairs, take part in career readiness events by hosting mock interviews, and collaborate with students, among the many other benefits of establishing the bank as a trusted employer and advocate for student success.
Creating a Meaningful Experience
At Johnson Financial Group, Racine, the 10-week summer internship program concludes with a group presentation to members of the bank’s senior leadership team. Throughout the program, interns work together on a relevant business challenge. The presentation offers interns the chance to present their findings and share feedback with bank leaders.
“More than anything, we want our interns to feel like they are part of the team,” says Logan Aguilar, human resources specialist – early career. “Within the first week, they are keyed in on our current strategic goals, and by the end of the summer, students have had the opportunity to hear directly from our business partners on their paths into the industry, see firsthand our culture and values, and contribute their skills in various areas of the bank.”
Through the internship program at Lake Ridge Bank, students are not only able to develop practical skills for their future careers, but they are also encouraged to join their mentor on an off-site business visit to meet current clients, learn more about their role in the community, and directly hear the role of the bank from a customer perspective.
“Most students are not coming into banking from a career standpoint; they are attracted by the opportunity to make a difference,” says Davis. “Meeting and hearing from our clients is a great way for interns to broadly see this impact.”
Networking with clients, fellow interns, and current bankers helps students to build valuable connections that can be instrumental in their future careers. In addition, offering hands-on experience, taking time to introduce interns to the various functions of a bank, what departments make up the bank, and the broad range of knowledge and skill sets that lend themselves to a successful career in the industry help students envision a future career.
Johnson Financial Group’s Vice President – Talent Acquisition Manager Nikki Redmond notes that because students may not be aware of the myriad career paths available in the industry, they may mistakenly believe that if one option does not align with their interests, there are no alternative avenues available. “The banking industry offers so many opportunities for growth, and people move around; it’s not uncommon to hear of bankers moving throughout the organization to find the area that fits them best.”
For banks, it is important to make this clear when connecting with or employing students.
Conveying the Benefits
There is no doubt that allowing students to gain hands-on experience in a bank setting is the best way to showcase what career opportunities are available in the banking industry. However, human resource professionals in the banking industry agree that it is equally important to emphasize the broader advantages the industry offers.
“Banks offer a certain level of security that students don’t know — or maybe even consider — when they first begin thinking about their future career,” highlights Schnitzler. “Beyond showcasing what opportunities are available throughout the bank, we must be diligent in emphasizing how students will benefit from pursuing these career opportunities.”
From career advancement opportunities to job stability, banking is set apart from many industries with the ability to be both consistent and ever-changing in positive ways. With a rich history spanning nearly two centuries, Wisconsin’s banking industry has long shown commitment to supporting the economic vitality of the state. Yet, in order to meet the evolving needs of Wisconsinites, banks remain adaptive and resilient to changing conditions allowing for bankers to continually explore new avenues to make meaningful contributions. For the younger generation, a career in banking is not only rewarding but long-lasting.
For many bankers of all experience levels, the greatest benefit of their career is related to involvement in the community. Being present at community events, sharing success stories and donations, and volunteering at local organizations and schools is highly rewarding. Similarly, student employees and interns should be encouraged to be active in the community.
For the summer interns at Johnson Financial Group, this means taking part in a community service activity during the internship program’s annual Service Day and participating in the Light the Hoan Intern Challenge.
Reaching Diverse Talent
Throughout Wisconsin, banks provide a diverse range of services that cater to a wide variety of individuals, businesses, and communities. As such, it is critical that bank outreach efforts are just as inclusive and accessible.
In attempting to connect with the younger generation, human resource managers highlight the importance of utilizing the internet, social media in particular, for recruiting. Posting all available job openings, sharing banker/client success stories, and tailoring content to students and young adults helps expand the bank’s reach. Banks that are members of the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) may post internships on WBA’s job board for free, and other job opportunities may be posted for a modest fee. Additionally, thousands of employers, including banks, utilize Handshake — a commonly used recruiting platform for college and university students — to connect with students throughout the state.
Providing opportunities for students to shadow and explore diverse roles within the bank and build early connections in their career journey are pivotal for success. However, human resource professionals agree that the greatest challenge lies in dispelling preconceived notions about the banking industry.
“There is a certain stigma surrounding the banking industry — that you have to be good at math or like numbers, but the reality is that the banking industry is much more diverse and dynamic than students may realize,” notes Redmond.
For banks seeking new opportunities to reach the next generation of talent, the Association has created a ‘Careers in Banking’ brochure to inform students of the banking industry and its benefits as a career. The brochure is free to all members at their request and may be customizable to reflect the opportunities available at a given institution.
By addressing these misconceptions and fostering an inclusive culture that embraces the varied skills and talents individuals bring, we not only break down barriers but also pave the way for an industry that truly reflects the richness of perspectives and abilities within our society.
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About Forward Bank
Forward Bank is a customer-owned, independent community bank who operates to benefit its depositors while offering no fee deposit options, lower lending fees, and rates. The bank continues to be community-orientated by proudly supporting local clubs, businesses, sports, organizations, and schools.
Forward Bank currently has offices in Athens, Colby, Dorchester, Greenwood, Marshfield, Medford, Park Falls, Phillips, Stanley, Thorp, and Withee. For more information, please visit www.forward.bank.
About Johnson Financial Group
Johnson Financial Group is a privately-owned financial services company offering banking and wealth solutions through its subsidiaries, Johnson Bank and Johnson Wealth. Principal owners of Johnson Financial Group are members of the Samuel C. Johnson family. Helen Johnson-Leipold is Chairman of Johnson Financial Group. For more information visit www.johnsonfinancialgroup.com.
About Lake Ridge Bank
Lake Ridge Bank’s mission is to “create extraordinary banking experiences where everyone prospers.” For more than 100 years, this has meant getting to know each of our clients to offer personalized services to meet their specific financial goals. Lake Ridge Bank offers a full line of financial products and services. We focus on offering products and services to make your banking easy. Our business banking and mortgage lenders are trusted leaders in their field with the expertise to provide the right loan at the best rate possible for our clients. As a community bank, we are dedicated to reinvesting in, and making our communities great places to live, work and raise a family. Visit www.lakeridge.bank to learn more about how we can help you.
Each of Prevail Bank’s nine locations will be holding a Free Community Shred Day Event for paper documents. Everyone is invited to participate.
In addition to providing an identity theft safeguard, Prevail Bank will also donate $1 for each pound of paper shredded, up to $1,000 each at each location, for the benefit of a local nonprofit chosen by that Branch.
Listed by event date, Prevail Bank’s Free Community Shred Days are:
- April 10 (9–11 a.m.) at Prevail Bank in Wisconsin Rapids
- May 1 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) Prevail Bank Owen
- May 13 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) Prevail Bank Baraboo
- May 16 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) Prevail Bank Marshfield
- May 16 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) Prevail Bank Medford
- May 17 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) Prevail Bank Eau Claire
- May 21 (1–4 p.m.) Prevail Bank Phillips
- May 21 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) Prevail Bank Stevens Point
- May 23 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) Prevail Bank Wausau
A $5/box donation is encouraged for more than three boxes.
From an identity theft perspective, shredding confidential information is strongly recommended. According to the IdentityTheft.org, the number of identity theft scenarios in the U.S. is nearly three times higher than that of other countries. Consumers aged 30–30 were the most victimized, followed by those 40–49. People need to safeguard their personal information. Credit monitoring and identity theft restoration services do exist. More information relating to those services can be acquired through a Prevail Bank professional.
North Shore Bank today announced the opening date for a new, full-service Oak Creek branch located at 200 W. Drexel Ave. The new office opened on Monday, March 4, 2024.
The easy to access new branch across from Drexel Town Square will have individualized financial assistance with private offices, a larger lobby space, and video tellers to provide assistance during extended service hours seven days a week.
“We’re thrilled to welcome customers to our brand-new Oak Creek branch. Our larger, newer space that now offer video teller service, coupled with the vibrant Drexel Town Square area, makes the branch a desirable space for customers, employees, and community members alike,” said Susan T. Doyle, senior vice president of retail banking at North Shore Bank.
The existing Oak Creek branch, located at 8701 S. Howell Ave., closed on Friday, March 1, with the bank working directly with customers to assist in the transition. Video teller service became available at the new branch on Drexel Ave. starting Saturday, March 2 for customers to access accounts and conduct transactions.
Employees were be transferred to the new location with Heather Somers serving as manager of the new location. Somers, a resident of Oak Creek, has been with North Shore Bank since spring of 2022, first serving as Branch Manager of its North End office in Milwaukee prior to leading the team in Oak Creek. Somers is an active member of her community where she serves as the Cedar Hills Elementary School PTO Treasurer and Wolf Den Leader and Assistant Cub Master for Cub Scout Pack 316.
“As a community bank, we are continually looking to find new and better ways to service our communities at state-of-the-art branches in new and existing locations,” added Doyle. “We recognize the importance of providing easier and updated ways for our customers to bank and the importance of reinvesting in the communities where we live and work.”
Cinnaire has announced the promotion of several team members to key new leadership positions in alignment with the organization’s long term strategic plan. These new executive level positions will support Cinnaire’s goal to advance economic equity in the markets it serves.
Cinnaire’s promotions include:
Jennifer Everhart has been promoted to Chief Impact Officer (CIO). Everhart will set the overall strategic and operational goals for achieving Cinnaire’s community impact efforts. She will also oversee activities for seeking and securing funds for Cinnaire’s community development agenda and for identifying private, public, local, and national funding partners. Everhart started her career with Cinnaire in 1997 and transitions into this new role from her previous post as executive vice president and chief underwriter. In this role, she oversaw the underwriting and investment of equity and debt, including more than $3 billion of equity and growing the lending portfolio by over 200%. Everhart is an inaugural member of Cinnaire’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging steering committee. She brings her commitment to that effort and her more than 25 years of industry experience to her new role.
Donsia Strong Hill has been promoted to executive vice president of equitable engagement & impact strategies. Strong Hill is charged with leading Cinnaire’s efforts to identify and analyze new business opportunities and drive strategies to deepen community connection and advance impact in alignment with Cinnaire’s Theory of Change, the corporate mission and equitable and inclusive development. She will also oversee the development and implementation of systems and tools that define and measure the impact of Cinnaire’s work. Strong Hill joined the team at Cinnaire in 2020 as senior vice president of corporate capital strategies, working to raise capital among Cinnaire’s financial institution partners and aligning funding with strategy and meeting CRA metrics. She also served as the lead on strategy and business development for Cinnaire’s work with foundations, charitable funders, corporations, and financial institutions. Strong Hill led the creation and implementation of Cinnaire’s recent $55 million UBUNTU Equitable Access Fund for emerging developers of affordable housing in the Midwest.
Ryan Robinson has been named president of Cinnaire Syndication. Robinson will lead efforts in financing affordable housing projects through low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) syndication. Robinson has a strong background in tax credit syndication, investor relations, and fund management. In 2011, Robinson joined Cinnaire as an asset manager and has since served as the vice president of fund management, vice president of asset management, and most recently executive vice president of operations and risk management. In addition to the various positions he has held, Robinson served as a key lead among the Cinnaire Managers Group, establishment of the staff engagement committee and various other initiatives.
Spring Bank is pleased to announce the addition of Jasmine Mercado to our commercial lending team as vice president. With 20 years of financial acumen, Mercado has a proven track record of financial management and turning visions into reality. At Spring Bank, she will work to equip businesses with the necessary resources for growth, enabling entrepreneurs and small business owners to realize their potential. Mercado’s steadfast dedication to community impact aligns with Spring Bank’s values.
Under Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rules, recipients of either the CAF Phase II Auction or the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction (collectively, auction support recipients) had to obtain an irrevocable standby letter of credit (LOC) issued by a qualified bank. To be considered a “qualified bank,” FCC has several eligibility rules, including that the issuing bank must maintain a Weiss Safety Rating of at least a B-.
According to the Weiss Rating website, its Bank Safety Rating is “based on a complex analysis of hundreds of factors that are synthesized into five indexes: capitalization, asset quality, profitability, liquidity, and stability.”
After obtaining LOCs from qualified banks, several auction support recipients have had their respective bank’s Weiss safety ratings fall below B-. In such situation, FCC rules require that the carrier obtain a new LOC from a different bank with a sufficient Weiss safety rating. Until the carrier obtains a new LOC, its support is withheld.
Last month, WBA submitted a letter requesting FCC eliminate its “safety rating” requirement due to the unreliability of the Weiss rating. In response to letters from WBA, Bank of America, and others, FCC has granted individual waivers of the relevant LOC rules. The temporary waiver extends only to auction support recipients that wish to retain, renew, or reestablish their LOCs with banks that previously had Weiss ratings at or above a B- but have since seen that rating fall below B-. The waiver does not allow an auction support recipient to obtain an LOC from a new bank that did not previously provide it with an LOC if that bank has a Weiss safety rating below a B-.
The waiver will also allow auction support recipients whose support was suspended solely because their bank’s Weiss safety rating fell below a B-, and who have not yet obtained a new LOC from a bank with a sufficient Weiss safety rating, to resume receiving support. The waiver expires in one year, on March 12, 2025.
During the temporary waiver period, FCC stated it anticipates an evaluation of potential long-term solutions to the bank eligibility issue. WBA will continue to advocate for a more reliable safety rating system than the current Weiss rating system.
By Josh Effinger
Whether it’s internally with your coworkers or externally with your customers and community, community banks create many positive interactions on a daily basis. Capitalizing on these opportunities for social media and digital content can be a game-changer by showcasing your company culture and humanizing your bank.
While this strategy sounds simple and straight forward, this can be challenging for a marketing department or individual limited by time, resources, and other priorities. Consider these four tips to utilize your colleagues efficiently and effectively.
1. Identify what makes your bank culture unique. If your bank has a fun activity or social event, take pictures to capture staff camaraderie, such as volunteering in the community, attending high profile events, employee spotlights and accomplishments, staff wellness initiatives, customer testimonials, thought leadership, and professional growth narratives.
2. Encourage employees to participate. Ask staff to capture day-to-day moments within the bank that reflect its culture, such as team achievements, customer interactions, or community involvement. This can be as simple as capturing a few photos at an event or documenting a positive customer experience. Utilizing your employees outside of the marketing department can create valuable content and expand your reach so the content creation doesn’t fall on one person or department. Seek out fellow co-workers who might have a photography background or passion. By creating a sense of ownership and enthusiasm among employees to showcase the company culture through their lens, marketing managers can foster a more engaging and relatable social media presence for the bank.
3. Train staff. Training should involve clear guidelines on content creation, ensuring it aligns with the brand’s messaging while highlighting the human aspect of the bank. Give clear directions and provide examples with tips to make it fun and easy for staff to be involved. Leading by example will show employees that you also buy into the culture. Meeting with newly hired employees and sending helpful reminders will set expectations right away and reinforce them periodically.
4. Ensure everything runs through marketing and compliance. Ultimately, the marketing department has final say on what content is posted on social media. Limiting employee access to company social media profiles is essential for proper security and ensures compliance guidelines are followed.
Leveraging your staff to help create content not only creates more opportunities to showcase your company culture on social media, but it also generates efficiencies for the marketing department so they can focus on other objectives and not have to be present for every positive customer interaction or event. With proper training and clear guidelines, you can create a fun and inclusive environment that allows employees to proudly showcase their accomplishments and make a difference in the community.
Effinger is marketing officer at Ixonia Bank and member of the 2023–2024 WBA Marketing Committee.
One Community Bank is proud to continue investing in our communities. The Village Diaper Bank held their 4th Annual Diaper Drive in February. OCB was thrilled to donate $5,000 and collect donations at its Dane County locations.
The Diaper Drive raised over 1.1 million diapers from generous donations and a Match Day held on Thursday, February 22nd. The Village Diaper Bank partners with local service organizations to provide free diapers to families in need. Currently, 1 in 2 families in America struggle to afford diapers for their children.
“Donating diapers and similar items may seem small, but it makes a big impact for families in our communities. As a Board Member at The Village Diaper Bank, I get to witness the gratitude and positive impact this organization brings to families. I am appreciative of OCB’s support and participation in this drive each year,” said Karleigh MacWilliams, AVP – Treasury Management Solutions Manager.
Visit The Village Diaper Bank’s website for more information and other opportunities to donate.
We are very pleased to announce that Kate Tischendorf has joined Intercity State Bank in the role of Assistant Vice President – Business Banker.
Kate will be servicing our business loan customers with their financing needs and will work closely with our Treasury Management Specialist to support our business customers’ deposit needs. Kate’s experience in outbound business development with prospective customers will help us continue our loan growth while also securing new business deposits.
Kate comes to us with an extensive banking background. She began her career as a teller and then loan processor. She then held a variety of roles including personal banker, branch manager and business relationship manager. Most recently she was a Business Relationship Sales Market Manager where she was responsible for a 17-member sales team focused on business banking growth.
Kate has a BS-Business Administration degree from UWSP. She lives with her husband in the Kronenwetter area and enjoys spending time up north with family.