Archive for category: News

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North Shore Bank Celebrates 100 Years

Pictured (left to right) are Jay McKenna, Rose Oswald Poels, and Jim McKenna.

North Shore Bank, celebrating its centennial anniversary, has announced a financial commitment of $50K to ELEVATE Wisconsin®, the financial wellness program created by the State of Wisconsin, Department of Financial Institutions, and Financial Fitness Group. The program provides interactive, effective, and unbiased online instruction in personal finance and investment fundamentals designed to enhance the lives of Wisconsin employees and their families.

The financial commitment, a joint contribution through North Shore Bank and its partners Mastercard, Cetera Financial Group, and Fiserv, kicks off phase two of ELEVATE Wisconsin®, allowing Wisconsin employers to offer the program to their employees. The investment will support nearly 12,000 Wisconsin employees with access to financial resources.

The financial commitment, in honor of North Shore Bank’s 100th anniversary, was announced at a centennial commemoration event on May 11 at the bank’s corporate headquarters that featured Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez, Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow, City of Brookfield Mayor Steven Ponto, Wisconsin’s Department of Financial Institution’s Secretary-designee Cheryll Olson-Collins, Wisconsin Bankers Association president and CEO Rose Oswald Poels, along with North Shore Bank’s key financial literacy partners.

“We are honored that so many state, regional, local, and community partners joined us to celebrate our past 100 years and look forward at the next 100 years,” said Jay McKenna, president and CEO at North Shore Bank. “This year, we’re focusing on causes especially important to us such as this donation to supply thousands of Wisconsin employees with financial resources while we also show thanks to our hundreds of loyal employees, and celebrate our dedicated customers and community members.”

To honor North Shore Bank’s past 100 years and celebrate its future, State of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers presented the community bank with a commendation. The bank also received a commendation from Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow, and a proclamation from City of Brookfield Mayor Steven Ponto, the location of North Shore Bank’s headquarters since 1982.

In commemorating its 100 years, the community bank also invited local officials and community partners to identify a memento to be placed inside a time capsule that will be positioned inside the corporate headquarters during renovations this summer. The bank contributed paper currency from 1923, an original ledger from the bank’s first years, along with other mementos significant to its history.

To celebrate its centennial anniversary, North Shore Bank has been celebrating with customers and the community all year long. From random $100 giveaways and a partnership with professional basketball player Pat Connaughton, to additional surprise and delights planned for this summer, the community bank, founded in 1923 by a group of teachers in the back of a hardware store in Shorewood, Wis., is keeping the community at the forefront of its celebration.

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Chair’s Column: Shaping the Association and Industry

By Daniel J. Peterson

When I first became Chair of the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s (WBA) Board of Directors in June of last year, I encouraged all members to consider deepening their engagement with the Association.

As my time as WBA Chair concludes on May 31, I look back on all the ways in which bankers across the state have found new ways to participate. Despite rising inflation, new regulatory proposals and rulings, and continued difficulties with talent recruitment, WBA members have stepped up this last year as advocates for the banking industry.

In just the last year, bankers helped raise over $270,000 to support pro-banking and pro-business candidates as well as help the team effectively lobby for key issues impacting the industry. Hundreds of bankers also joined WBA in its advocacy efforts by attending the Association’s annual Capitol Day, traveling to Washington D.C. during a summit, or casting their votes in various Wisconsin elections.

More than ever, 2022–2023 has emphasized the importance of speaking with our elected representatives and making our voices heard. These actions are critical to the continued success of our industry and help to educate the general public as well as shape their opinion.

Beyond this, partaking in activities as simple as sharing WBA’s consumer resources with your customers, calling the Legal team with questions, or volunteering for a committee, all greatly assist the WBA staff in understanding the needs of the membership and the communities we each serve. While educational opportunities and resources for bankers lie at the heart of the Association, our input and engagement keep these materials relevant and high-quality every year.

As I prepare to help usher Donna Hoppenjan in as the 2023–2024 WBA Chair, I thank you, WBA members, for your continued efforts in assisting our Association in creating an environment where bankers grow, and communities thrive. While the task of bettering our industry is daunting when faced alone, our efforts, combined with those of Rose Oswald Poels and her dedicated staff, continue to prove effective in making the change we wish to see for the banking community, and beyond.

Peterson is president and CEO of The Stephenson National Bank & Trust, Marinette, and the 2022–2023 Chair of the WBA Board of Directors.

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FDIC Issues Proposed Rule on Special Assessment

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Associated Bank Recognized with Platinum Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health

Associated Bank is proud to announce their recognition of the 2022–23 Platinum Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health by Mental Health America (MHA). The Bell Seal is a first-of-its-kind workplace mental health certification that recognizes employers who strive to create mentally healthy workplaces for their employees.

The Bell Seal recognizes employer advances in workplace mental health by awarding Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum recognition levels. Associated Bank underwent a rigorous evaluation of its policies and practices in four areas: workplace culture, benefits, compliance, and wellness programs. Our status as a Bell Seal-certified organization demonstrates Associated’s ongoing commitment to employee mental health and well-being.

“Associated Bank is proud of our ongoing commitment to our colleague’s mental health and well-being and the Bell Seal affirms that,” said Arthur Valentine, well-being program manager, Associated Bank. “The bank continues to enhance colleague well-being programs focused on physical, mental and financial health and will continue to advance and improve offerings based on industry trends, data and colleague feedback.”

MHA — founded in 1909 — is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the overall mental health of all. MHA has spent decades researching mental health in the workplace, and in 2019, MHA introduced the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health to recognize companies and organizations that understand the value of addressing mental health at work and implement policies and practices that support employee well-being.

Learn more about MHA and the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health at mhanational.org/bestemployers.

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CSB Celebrates Ten Years of Implementing Financial Literacy Program

In 2013 Community State Bank (CSB) saw an opportunity to partner with local business leaders and educators to teach high school students the importance of making smart financial decisions. Today, that opportunity has developed into a comprehensive financial literacy program, known as MyLIFE. 2023 marks 10 years of MyLIFE playing an active role in the curriculum of local high school students.

“We created this program to be as realistic as possible,” said CSB Senior Vice President Neil Buchanan. “These students are expected to graduate high school with the knowledge to build credit and manage a budget. MyLIFE provides students with an opportunity to learn those skills in a safe learning environment.”

MyLIFE was developed to change the way students look at money by placing them in real-life situations, such as buying a home, paying for utilities, saving for retirement, and more. During the school year, students have the opportunity to choose a career path that determines their starting salary for the event. They also have the opportunity to choose their marital status, number of dependents, pets, and a preferred retirement age. Finally, the students are assigned a complete “life” — which includes their credit score, level of education, and student debt — all potential real-life situations.

Once the student’s “life” is assigned, they are directed to the gym, where high school staff and volunteers help guide students through essential life decisions. Each of the students are required to manage a budget as they travel station to station. Those stations are staffed by local business leaders who are experienced in specific industries such as real estate, car sales, banking, retail sales, insurance, health care, and investments.

“Many of the students will find themselves running out of ‘money’ during the program,” said Union Grove High School Athletic Director David Pettit. “This presents an opportunity for our staff and volunteers to sit down with these students and talk through their life choices that may have placed them in a difficult situation. It’s real for them and they learn to understand the importance of making smart spending decisions.”

In 2020, CSB took the program a step further by implementing a banking app to help guide students through the budgeting portion of the program. CSB partnered with BrownBoots Interactive to develop the MyLIFE Transaction Register App.

“Gen Z isn’t using paper transaction registers. They’re using apps or nothing at all. We wanted to make sure that our program was evolving with our students, so we created an app for them to use. It’s been a great addition and can be used long after they experience MyLIFE,” said Buchanan.

The MyLIFE program has been recognized at a state level by winning the Wisconsin Governor’s Financial Literacy award twice. Since being launched, the program has been introduced to over 7,000 students and 6 local schools (Lake Geneva Badger High School, Shoreland Lutheran High School, Shepherds College, Union Grove High School, Waterford Union High School, and Westosha Central High School) and has been so successful that a grade school edition was developed, MyLIFE Essentials.

CSB recently completed the 2023 MyLIFE program for Westosha Central High School in April and looks forward to upcoming MyLIFE events at Union Grove High School on Friday, May 19 and Waterford High School, on Thursday, May 25. For more information about MyLIFE, please visit CSB.bank.

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Strategic Connections: Tips for Refreshing Your Website

A website that’s easy to find, readable, and informative is key

By: Ashley Clemons

Now more than ever consumers depend on the internet to have all the answers to their questions. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. Whatever the case, having your website easily findable, readable, and informative is crucial to providing potential and existing customers the information they are searching for.

Ease of Information

Consumers want answers, and they want them now. Ideally, they don’t want to read through a lengthy paragraph with filler material to get the information they’re looking for. Making sure your services and products are easily listed in a concise manner provides the quick service many consumers are looking for.

While keeping things simple is important, it’s also essential to keep the consumer’s interest. This can be done by adding interactive content to your website. Interactive content could be a Q&A section or a quick video explaining a product, service, or offering.

Make sure your website doesn’t require consumers to bounce between too many pages when searching for information. Once consumers have found what they’re looking for, they need to know what’s next. Having a call to action on each page is imperative to keeping consumers on their journey to finding you.

Self-service Options

With almost every product or service out there today, accessibility to that product or service is crucial. While some consumers still like to discuss in person or over the phone, many are moving away from this interaction if at all possible.

Having self-service options such as online account opening, applications, or fillable forms is essential to providing the best website and online experience. Giving consumers the ability to choose which avenue they use to interact with your business is a sign of excellent customer service and shows your commitment to your customers.

Staying Up to Date

Keeping your website up to date does not have to be an overbearing idea. Check in with each department on a schedule that works for you to make sure all information is still current and what consumers are asking for.

Use Google to Your Advantage

The first place a consumer will go to find answers is Google. Being at or near the top of search results is vital to directing consumers to your website as many consumers will not look past the first four search results. Make sure your website is using key words in multiple places that consumers search for. This can be done ‘behind the scenes’ by giving titles to your pictures that are uploaded and links to blogs or other helpful webpages.

Google is a great space to track how consumers are interacting with your website. Google Analytics will show which pages consumers are interacting with most and is a great starting point when deciding which of your webpages to focus on updating first or most often.

Clemons is vice president – marketing at The Peoples Community Bank, Mazomanie, and member of the 2022–2023 WBA Marketing Committee.

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Shredded Documents Equate to $2,306 for United Way

As a result of Prevail Bank’s Community Shred Day event in Wisconsin Rapids, $2,306 was gifted to the United Way of South Wood & Adams County. That amount is comprised of $1,000 from Prevail Bank, $1,000 from Bank-A-Count (both organizations pledged a dollar for every pound of paper shredded, up to $1,000), and public donations. The United Way helps local initiatives and coalitions improve education, income, health, and safety net services for citizens in the communities they serve.

“From an identity theft perspective, shredding confidential information is highly recommended,” said Taylor Doescher, Prevail Bank branch manager. “I’m glad so many took advantage of this event, 4,045 pounds of paper was shredded.”

According to the National Council on Identity Theft Protection, 1 million more reports of identity theft and fraud, totaling 5.7 million, were reported in 2021 than 2020. Alarmingly, the number of identity theft scenarios in the U.S. is nearly 3 times higher than that of other countries; 33% of Americans have faced some kind of identity theft attempt.

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WaterStone Bank Welcomes New Community Presidents

WaterStone Bank recently named three new Community Presidents at its Brookfield, Germantown, and Oconomowoc branches.

Aimee Good has been hired as community president at WaterStone Bank’s Germantown branch. With 12 years of management experience at Ulta Beauty, Inc., including a role as district leader, Good’s background provides key direction in overseeing customer loyalty initiatives and developing internal talent at WaterStone Bank.

Good looks forward to forming relationships with customers at Germantown. “I want our customers to know that it is my goal to ensure quality customer service and to build lasting relationships,” Good says. “I am excited about being part of a local organization.”

A supporter of the arts and lover of antiques, Good frequently attends art shows and festivals. Born and raised in Milwaukee, which she calls “the best big, little city,” Good lives on the South side, and is excited to explore her new workplace: “I am looking forward to giving back to the community.”

Heather E. Fletcher takes the role of community president at Oconomowoc. Fletcher comes to WaterStone Bank after 11 years in management at Walgreens, where she served as a project lead for hiring, recruiting candidates, and facilitating the hiring process.

Fletcher, who holds a degree in business management, is pleased with the switch to banking. “I’m enjoying the pace of the day-to-day interactions,” says Fletcher, who appreciates being on a first-name basis with her customers.

Fletcher enjoys traveling, and has visited 29 states in the U.S. She has a goal of reaching all 50 and keeps her passport ready for travel abroad. Fletcher lives in Franklin, which gives her access to Brewers games, Summerfest, and her favorite spot, Seven Bridges Trail in Grant Park.

Caleb Quakkelaar has been promoted to community president at WaterStone Bank in Brookfield. Following graduation from Marquette University, Quakkelaar served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 2013–16. His career with WaterStone Bank began in 2021, when he was hired as a universal banker at the Waukesha branch. The promotion is Quakkelaar’s second in his time with WaterStone Bank.

Quakkelaar’s first goal as the new lead in Brookfield is becoming involved with volunteering and community events in the area. In particular, he says, he wants to focus on “developing a network of contacts to partner with [to] expand WaterStone Bank’s involvement with the people, businesses, and nonprofits in the area.”

Quakkelaar lives in Waukesha. In his free time, he enjoys camping, hiking, and an annual trip to Colorado for hunting elk and black bear.

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Executive Letter: Take Action: Advancing the Association’s Advocacy Initiatives

Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

This April, nearly 200 bankers from throughout Wisconsin gathered in Madison to address their elected officials on topics impacting our industry and communities. As part of the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s (WBA) efforts to advocate and assist members in positively impacting their local communities, the Association annually hosts Capitol Day to provide bankers with the opportunity to establish relationships and share experiences with their legislators. This year’s record attendance not only underscores the dedication WBA-member bankers have for their industry but highlights the desire bankers have to get involved.

During this legislative session, WBA will be working to guard against harmful credit union expansion and credit card swipe fees (interchange) as well as pass legislation that will help prevent elder financial exploitation, provide greater tax fairness, and support banking modernization, among many other key issues. In addition to familiar faces, we were happy to see many first-time attendees at the 2023 Capitol Day. Now is the time to keep the momentum going; attending Capitol Day is just one of the many ways bankers in Wisconsin can get engaged to support the banking industry and the Association’s advocacy initiatives.

Lead 

First and foremost, all banks should ensure that they have named an Advocacy Officer. As an Advocacy Officer, WBA members help coordinate regulatory, legislative, and community advocacy efforts in their bank, and beyond. This volunteer position serves as the point person between the WBA Advocacy Team and your bank. The Advocacy Officer shares key updates and opportunities to ensure your bank is up to speed on issues impacting your institution and your community.

In addition, your bank’s Advocacy Officer can help coordinate, in conjunction with WBA staff, Take Your Legislator to Work Days — an outreach program that provides lawmakers with the opportunity to learn more about the state’s banking industry by visiting a community bank. In addition, your bank’s Advocacy Officer can help coordinate or participate in trips to the State Capitol, Washington, D.C., and in-district offices to meet with state and federal elected officials and regulators.

Fundraise 

As we look ahead to the 2024 Election, engagement in all areas of the Association’s advocacy infrastructure is critical. Of course, active participation in events that help connect bankers with their elected officials is important. However, in order to proactively support the pro-banking legislators and candidates who stand behind our industry, fundraising continues to be one of the most significant components in our role as advocates.

While donations of any amount to Wisbankpac, Alliance for Bankers Conduit (ABW), and the Association’s issue advocacy fund greatly impact the work we do on the industry’s behalf, I encourage bankers to consider joining WBA’s Silver Triangle Club, Gold Triangle Club, Leadership Circle, and/or the Hall of Fame.

  • Silver Triangle: Minimum personal donation of $1,000 by an individual banker.
  • Leadership Circle: Minimum personal donation of $3,000 by an individual banker.
  • Hall of Fame: Minimum aggregate lifetime personal donations of $25,000 by an individual banker.
  • Gold Triangle: Aggregate personal donation, based on bank-asset size, from officers, directors, and employees.

These efforts to unify the voices of bankers in Wisconsin and shape our industry for the betterment of our communities are impossible to do alone. Annually, WBA also recognizes the individual banks that go above and beyond in their overall advocacy efforts with the BIGG (Bankers Involved with Grassroots and Government) Award.

With such an impressive turnout at this year’s Capitol Day, I look forward to seeing the energy and enthusiasm continue to take WBA’s advocacy efforts to new levels.

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Kelly Dvorak Promoted to Chief Legal Counsel at Bank First

Mike Molepske, chief executive officer of Bank First (NASDAQ: BFC), is pleased to announce Kelly Dvorak has recently been promoted to chief legal counsel. Kelly joined Bank First in 2017 as general counsel and corporate secretary and accepted an expanded role with the management of the bank’s compliance team in 2022.

“Kelly is an integral member of the bank’s senior management team,” stated Molepske. “Her in-depth knowledge and expertise in the fields of law, banking regulations, and compliance risk, combined with her integrity and commitment to Bank First’s mission, provides significant value to our team of bankers, shareholders, and customers alike. We are proud to have her as a member of our team, and her leadership and strategic acumen will be instrumental as we continue to grow.”

Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from UW–Madison, a juris doctorate from UW Law School, and will graduate this summer from the Graduate School of Banking through UW–Madison. She serves on the board of directors of the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra and UFS, a bank technology outfitter headquartered in Grafton, Wisconsin. Kelly lives in De Pere with her husband and two children. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, reading, cooking, and traveling.

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