Corey Chambas Named 2025 Banker of the Year

Corey Chambas; CEO, First Business Financial Services, Inc., Madison; honored by Wisconsin Bankers Association

The Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) is pleased to announce that Corey Chambas, CEO of First Business Financial Services Inc., parent company of First Business Bank, Madison, Wis., has been named the 2025 Banker of the Year. The award was presented the evening of February 5, 2026, in Wisconsin Dells at the largest banking industry event in the state, the WBA Bank Executives Conference.

“We are proud to recognize Corey as the 2025 Banker of the Year,” said Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO. “A forty-year industry veteran, he is an exceptional professional whose kindness, integrity, and commitment to his colleagues and community make him truly deserving of this honor.”

With 32 years at First Business Bank, Chambas has led the organization through principled growth. Today, the organization is a $4 billion institution with five specialized lending divisions, private wealth services with $3.8 billion assets under management, and bank consulting services that help other financial institutions. Under his leadership, the organization has delivered extraordinary shareholder returns, strong profitability metrics, and consistent market leadership. This performance has earned First Business Financial Services industry recognition, including being named a five-time honoree of Piper Sandler’s Sm-All Stars, a distinction awarded to high-performing, publicly traded community banks.

Chambas is equally recognized for cultivating a people-first culture. His collaborative leadership style has resulted in First Business Bank being named a National Top Workplaces USA Award winner from 2022 through 2025. In 2025, the organization also achieved a Net Promoter Score of 78, placing it among the top performers in the financial services industry.

A respected industry voice, Chambas has shared insights on strategy, growth, and culture at leading forums including Second Curve Capital’s Financial Services CEO Retreat and Bank Director’s Acquire or Be Acquired Conference. Chambas was also recently recognized as BankBeat magazine’s Banker of the Year for 2026 and by BizTimes as one of Wisconsin’s 275 Most Influential Business Leaders statewide.

 

Chambas’ leadership extends into education, executive development, and civic engagement. He has presented to students at the Wisconsin School of Business as part of UW-Madison’s “Distinguished Entrepreneur” program, spoken to the FEI Madison Chapter on leadership and team dynamics, and facilitates Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce’s Executive Forum Milwaukee cohort, mentoring Wisconsin business leaders on strategy and executive leadership.

His community leadership includes board service with United Way of Dane County, Madison Breakfast Rotary, and the Foundation for Dane County Transition Schools. Recognizing Dane County’s critical affordable housing shortage, Chambas championed First Business Bank’s $2 million investment in the Dane Workforce Housing Fund, helping support the creation of more than 747 affordable housing units. Beyond formal roles, Chambas has also participated in numerous initiatives that strengthen local schools and families. This hands-on approach to community building has created lasting impact while inspiring others to follow his example of generous service.

The Wisconsin Bankers Association’s Banker of the Year award is presented to one Wisconsin banker each year in recognition of outstanding service to their bank, to the continued vitality of their community, and to the banking profession. The Banker of the Year award began in 1986, and Chambas is the 40th banker honored with this distinction.