Chair’s Message: Education: Our Industry’s Best Investment

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

As bankers, we spend a great deal of time thinking about return on investment. We carefully evaluate opportunities, assess risk, and make decisions designed to create long-term value. While those conversations often focus on financial outcomes, there is one investment that consistently delivers returns far beyond what can be measured on an income statement: investing in our people through education and professional development.

Education has long been one of the WBA’s core pillars, and I believe its importance continues to grow as our industry evolves. Banking today looks much different than it did even a few years ago. New technologies are transforming how we serve customers. Fraud schemes are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Emerging financial products, digital assets, and changing regulations continue to reshape the landscape. The pace of change shows no signs of slowing.

In this environment, standing still is not an option. To remain strong institutions and trusted financial partners, we must ensure our teams have the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to navigate whatever comes next.

That starts with a commitment to developing staff at every level of our organizations. Too often, education is viewed only as a benefit for new employees or emerging leaders. In reality, learning should be a lifelong pursuit. Whether someone is in their first year of banking or their thirtieth, there are always opportunities to strengthen skills, expand expertise, and prepare for new challenges.

One of the most important reasons to invest in education is leadership development. Every bank should be asking itself a simple question: Who will be ready to step up when the next opportunity arises?

Succession planning is not something that happens overnight. Building the next generation of leaders requires intentional effort, mentoring, and ongoing development. We need to identify individuals with potential and provide them with opportunities to grow before leadership positions become available. The strongest organizations are those that have exceptional bench strength, where capable and prepared employees are ready to assume new responsibilities when the time comes.

I am reminded of a quote that is often shared when discussing employee development: “What if we train them and they leave?” The better question is: “What if we don’t train them and they stay?”

The cost of education is visible and immediate. The cost of not educating our workforce is often hidden until a challenge emerges. When employees lack the skills needed to adapt, innovate, solve problems, or lead others, organizations can find themselves struggling to keep pace with change.

The future of banking will increasingly reward critical thinking, problem solving, adaptability, and analytical skills. While technology will continue to transform our work, it will not replace the importance of knowledgeable professionals who can interpret information, build relationships, make sound decisions, and guide customers through complex financial situations. Those capabilities are developed through continuous learning.

As we look ahead, I encourage every banker to view education not as an expense, but as a strategic investment. When we invest in our teams, we amplify our institutions. When we amplify our institutions, we better serve our customers and communities. And when we commit to developing the people who make banking possible, we are investing in the future success of our industry itself.