Pictured (left to right): Johnson Financial Group Chief Risk Officer Todd Shaffer, Johnson Financial Group VP Compliance Officer Bob Reinders, and WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels.
On September 30, WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels presented Johnson Financial Group’s Bob Reinders with a WBA Lifetime Service Award for 40 years of service to the banking industry.
Pictured (left to right:): Stacey Wagoner, AVP, West Bend Branch Manager at Bank Five Nine, and Kristin Stearns, CEO at Lakeshore Community Health Care.
Bank Five Nine was happy to donate $1,000 to Lakeshore Community Health Care’s (LCHC) Commitment to CARE.
LCHC’s mission is to provide access to comprehensive, integrated health care regardless of ability to pay, eliminating health disparities among the underserved. Their vision is to create communities where all people live healthy and active lives.
“As a community health center, this generous gift will help us provide essential medical, mental health, dental, and pharmacy services to everyone in our community, regardless of their income or insurance status,” said Kristin Stearns, CEO of Lakeshore Community Health Care. “We are truly grateful for Bank Five Nine’s dedication to helping our neighbors lead healthier lives.”
“LCHC and its Community Cares initiative provide uninsured and low-income residents of Washington County with the necessary medical assistance. We are honored to donate to a non-profit that ‘Makes Lives Better’ by helping the community and improving the health of its residents,” said Tim Schneider, CEO and President at Bank Five Nine.
For more information about this organization, please visit lakeshorechc.org To learn more about Bank Five Nine and their charitable giving, please visit bankfivenine.com
Michelle Kearns, VP – Compliance Manager Prevail Bank – Wisconsin Rapids
Prevail Bank is pleased to announce that Michelle Kearns is the bank’s new Vice President of Compliance. Kearns, an accomplished Compliance and Risk professional, brings nearly 20 years’ experience in the areas of auditing and compliance, risk management, residential/consumer lending and loan processing to Prevail Bank. Her home base will be Prevail Bank – Wisconsin Rapids. She will be succeeding long-time professional, Lenore Breit, who will be retiring soon.
“Michelle is an excellent problem solver and communicator,” said Scott Romportl, Chief Risk Officer. “Her strengths in organization, attention to detail, and knowledge of banking regulations, risk management, and the administration of compliance programs are valuable assets. We are excited to have Michelle join our team.”
Kearns is active within the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) and volunteers for various events within her community. When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her family, attending her children’s sporting events, and volunteering/supporting community activities.
Drew Slocum
Bank of America recently named Drew Slocum as president of Bank of America Wisconsin. As president, Slocum will lead the Wisconsin market and will be responsible for connecting clients, teammates and communities to the bank’s eight lines of businesses and the full power of Bank of America.
Slocum joined Bank of America in 2006 and has over two decades of experience in the financial services sector. In his new role, Slocum will also lead the bank’s work to grow market share as one of the company’s newest expansion markets and direct efforts to deploy resources in order to help advance economic mobility and build strong communities.
“During his longstanding career at Bank of America, Drew has established deep relationships with teammates, clients, and the communities in Wisconsin,” said Brian Moynihan, Bank of America chairman and chief executive officer. “Drew is well positioned to grow our presence in Wisconsin and deliver the full breadth of Bank of America’s capabilities to help our local clients improve their financial lives.”
Slocum joined Bank of America in Chicago and returned home to Wisconsin in 2013 as the state’s first Global Commercial Banking relationship manager. He currently serves as Global Commercial Banking market executive, leading a team of middle market bankers in Wisconsin.
Growing up outside of Milwaukee, Slocum is active in the community and is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Wisconsin Economic Roundtable and the Future Wisconsin Project steering committee, as well as an executive partner for the M7 Economic Development Organization. In addition, he is a board member and past board chair of First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin and board member of WMC Foundation. He lives in Mequon with his wife and two daughters.
By Ashley Clemons
Ashley Clemons
In today’s banking landscape, capturing the attention and trust of younger generations — specifically Millennials and Gen Z — is crucial for the sustained growth and relevance of community banks. This tech-savvy group not only represent a significant portion of the consumer market but also bring unique expectations and preferences to their banking experiences. To effectively engage and attract Millennials and Gen Z, try focusing on these important topics:
Understanding Their Needs and Preferences
Millennials and Gen Z value convenience, transparency, and digital accessibility in their banking interactions. They expect seamless digital experiences in all aspects of their everyday life, including their banking services. Offering user-friendly mobile banking apps, online account management tools, and responsive customer service channels are great ways to fulfill this expectation.
Educational Content and Financial Literacy Initiatives
Younger generations appreciate banks that go beyond transactional relationships by offering valuable educational resources and promoting financial literacy. Try differentiating by creating content that educates Millennials and Gen Z about financial planning, budgeting, and saving strategies. Hosting workshops or webinars on topics like student loans, homebuying tips, how to budget effectively, or investing basics can establish credibility and build trust among this demographic.
Innovative Banking Solutions
Offering innovative banking solutions tailored to the needs of younger generations can set banks apart.
Features such as mobile check deposit, chat features, peer-to-peer payment, and automated savings tools appeal to Millennials and Gen Z who prioritize convenience and efficiency.
Building Trust and Credibility
Trust is vital for Millennials and Gen Z when choosing a financial institution. Build trust by maintaining transparent communication, prioritizing data security, and delivering on promises made in marketing campaigns. Positive online reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers can further bolster credibility to attract this group of consumers.
Digital Engagement and Social Media Presence
Leverage your social media platforms and digital marketing channels to engage Millennials and Gen Z effectively. Regularly updating social media profiles with relevant content, customer testimonials, and community involvement highlights can enhance brand visibility and attract younger customers who are active on these platforms. Engaging with followers through interactive posts, polls, and Q&A sessions is a great way to create a sense of community and responsiveness.
Clemons is VP – marketing at The Peoples Community Bank and member of the 2024–2025 WBA Marketing Committee.
Corey Barnes
Peoples State Bank announces Corey Barnes as Retail Sales Manager in Wausau. Barnes will be responsible for leading branch retail sales and service efforts.
“Corey brings nearly 20 years of experience in the financial services industry to Peoples. His knowledge of working with both mid-sized and large banks will be critical to our continued success,” said Jeffrey Saxton, Peoples State Bank vice president, and retail group leader. “We’re confident he will be a significant addition to our leadership team while supporting the growth we’re experiencing.”
Barnes most recently worked in a leadership position at a local credit union. He is looking forward to joining Peoples in this newly created role.
“Peoples State Bank is well-known and respected in the area,” said Barnes. “I’m excited to join Peoples and contribute to their success as a strong community bank that supports local economic growth. I plan to use my energy and skillset to motivate, lead, and encourage positive productivity while remaining dedicated to serving our customers.”
Barnes is a Wausau native who has lived in central Wisconsin nearly all his life. He holds a sales management degree from Minnesota South-East Technical College and a marketing degree from Western Wisconsin Technical College. He enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering at several organizations in the Wausau area.
Pictured (from left to right) Sara Taylor, vice president at Ladysmith Federal and Kathy Berman, GSB’s vice president, marketing and communications.
The Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) is excited to award the 2024 WBA/Prochnow Educational Foundation Scholarship for the Graduate School of Banking at UW-Madison to Sara Taylor, Vice President at Ladysmith Federal. GSB’s Kathy Berman attended the recent WBA BOLT Summer Leadership Summit and was able to present the scholarship to Sara in front of her peers.
The scholarship, amounting to $1,500 for each year of a student’s attendance, assists incoming students at UW–Madison’s Graduate School of Banking to gain a comprehensive education in relevant bank leadership courses across all areas of the bank.
Congratulations, Sara!
Victor Schultz
Prairie Trust, a division of Waukesha State Bank, recently issued a press release announcing that President & Chief Fiduciary Officer Victor Schultz co-chaired the joint study committee that drafted the Wisconsin Trust Code Trailer Bill, which was signed into law by Governor Evers on March 21, 2024, as 2023 Act 127.
Scott Birrenkott, the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s director – legal and staff liaison to the WBA Trust Banking Section, commented on Schultz’s involvement with the Bill, “the passage of the trailer bill is the culmination of many years of work by many individuals, which Victor has been a key part of from start to finish. But even before that, Victor has been a leader within the industry.”
The Bill clarifies various issues and adopts new uniform law provisions that have arisen since the Wisconsin Trust Code was enacted and became effective July 1, 2014. The Trailer Bill enactment is the culmination of more than eight years of effort by a joint State Bar and Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) study committee.
Birrenkott reflected on Schultz’s contributions, “Victor is a member of both the WBA Trust Banking Section and WBA Government Relations Committee, where he has shared his experience and knowledge for numerous years. That expertise has helped shape Wisconsin’s Trust Code into what it is today, not only with the Trailer Bill, but through his work leading to passage of the initial uniform law. Victor’s passion for the industry is inspiring.”
Significant issues affecting trust and estate administration in Wisconsin that are addressed in the Trust Code Trailer Bill include (for more details, read Prairie Trust’s full press release):
Birrenkott added, “we appreciate all Victor has done and are grateful for the opportunity to work with him.”
DFI’s College Savings Program announced an Edvest deposit incentive to celebrate the end of the school year, and to coincide with National 529 Day. Edvest 529, Wisconsin’s only direct-sold 529 college savings plan, has a special incentive to jumpstart college savings with a match deposit offer.
Edvest 529 $50 or $100 Deposit Incentive
Individuals who open a new Edvest 529 account between May 20, 2024 and May 31, 2024, will be eligible for the $50 or $100 bonus incentive.
For the $50 bonus: open an account during the offer time with a deposit of $250 or more and set up recurring contributions totaling $50 or more per month until November 30, 2024.
For the $100 bonus: open an account during the offer time with a deposit of $500 or more and set up recurring contributions totaling $50 or more per month until November 30, 2024.
For program details and requirements, see the announcement: https://www.edvest.com/news/celebrate-summer-051524/
A historic bank in Coffeyville, Kansas.
By Darla Sikora, Citizens State Bank of Loyal
Here’s to hoping that this month’s From the Fields finds your customers finally able to be out in their fields after what seems like a particularly long winter and slow-to-arrive spring! How can it be that in just one more month, the year will already be half over?
With June Dairy Month quickly approaching, complete with its many June Dairy Breakfasts and the appreciation it brings for our ag producers, I am reminded of the words of well-known WGN Farm Broadcaster Orion Samuelson. At the 2013 ABA National Ag Banker Conference in Minneapolis, he told us that he ends each day with this prayer: “Thank you God, for America’s farmers and ranchers: the people who put the food on my table, clothes on my back, a roof over my head and energy in my tank.” There is no doubt our customers have strong work ethics as they strive to provide the food and fiber for the rest of us, but we too all work hard, day-in and day-out, year-in and year-out. For us, the work entails providing an array of ag banking products, programs, and services along with a great deal of guidance, analysis, and direction for the ag producers of the fine state of Wisconsin. With summer (finally!) around the corner, I just want to remind everyone to make sure to carve some time out this year, and every year, for yourselves.
It’s important to take time away from the job to get “out of our heads,” out of our “normal” and to step out into something else. Recently I enjoyed a family road trip to the state of Texas, via some interesting byways. Taking the “scenic route” we also saw much of small town America. It is always interesting to see the agriculture in other parts of the country; from massive farm fields, to rows and rows of grain bins, to longhorn cattle right on the outskirts of town, to the Southwest Dairy Museum, and to “Rancho” proudly displayed in the titles on overhead signs leading to Texas ranches.
Tying just a bit of banking into the vacation, on a quiet, cloudy Sunday morning we drove through rural Coffeyville, Kansas where 130 years ago on October 5, 1892, the Dalton Gang rode into town attempting to make outlaw history by robbing not one, but two banks simultaneously. They were unsuccessful and after a 12-minute gunfight, four of the six members lay dead. The storied shoot-out also claimed the lives of four of Coffeyville’s courageous townspeople who defended against the Dalton’s last raid. (Interesting note: In 1876 John W. Cubine helped put Coffeyville on the map by creating a cowboy boot that fit the left and right foot individually. Before this, all boots were constructed exactly the same and didn’t have a specific fit for each foot. Think of that the next time you pull on your Ariats! John’s nephew, George Cubine, and another employee of the boot shop, Charles Brown, were both killed defending Coffeyville on the day of the Dalton Raid.)
There is so much out there to learn, to see, to experience. Life is short. Moments are fleeting. Time is precious. Remember to set the busy-ness and the demands of the daily routine aside every now and again to take a break and to spend time with those who mean the most to you. Years ago, on another road trip, I saw a sign outside of a church near Escanaba, Michigan that read, “families go on vacation to become families again”. Take the road less traveled, step outside the usual, make the connections, laugh more, and embrace those you love with all your might.
Darla Sikora is senior vice president of agricultural banking with Citizens State Bank of Loyal, and currently serves as the Past Chair on the WBA Agricultural Bankers Section Board of Directors.
