Chair’s Column: Amplifying the Strength of Wisconsin Banks

By Joe Peikert

It is hard to believe that I am already two months into my term as the Chair of WBA. I have spent considerable time reflecting on the tradition of WBA Chairs selecting a theme to advise their year of service. This exercise challenged me to really think about the value WBA brings to membership, and the role I hope to play in the months ahead.

After much contemplation, I am excited to announce my theme: amplify.

The dictionary defines amplify as “to make more powerful” or “to increase the strength of something.” The word captures what I hope to achieve as Chair and also reflects what WBA does every day on behalf of Wisconsin banks.

No bank needs to operate in isolation. We all face many of the same issues — from day-to-day challenges of protecting our customers from fraud, to addressing the competitive imbalance created by tax-exempt credit unions. We each have our individual voice that reflects our respective communities, and WBA works to unify our many voices and advocate for our industry.

I chose amplify for its breadth of meaning. While amplify describes how WBA heightens our collective voice, I also seek to amplify the day-to-day stories of banks across our state. Banks remain the respected institution in our communities — we help customers purchase homes for their families, support the businesses that make our local economies thrive, and our bankers volunteer in countless ways, whether providing financial education or lending a hand with local non-profit organizations. Together, we can amplify the positive impact bankers make across Wisconsin.

During my six years of service on the WBA Board, I have witnessed firsthand the important work and meaningful change the Association brings to the industry. I continue to be grateful for the confidence placed in me by the Board and thankful for WBA’s excellent leadership team. I look forward to having conversations with many of you this year as we continue to amplify the strength of our banks.

Peikert is the CEO at Wolf River Community Bank, Hortonville, and the 2026–2027 WBA Chair