Executive Letter: Ending the Year With a Bang - Wisconsin Bankers Association

By Rose Oswald Poels

With the end of 2022 right around the corner, I am requesting you to consider making one last donation (for this year) to help us achieve our advocacy goal. As I wrote in the November 8 Executive Letter e-publication, fundraising is a critical component in our Association’s mission of advocating for our industry and ensuring that the public and our elected leaders understand the issues banks across our state face.

This year, the WBA has a goal of raising over $300,000 for our two primary political accounts: Wisbankpac, our registered political action committee and the Alliance of Bankers for Wisconsin (ABW), our state conduit. All money raised through these efforts goes directly to support pro-banking and pro-business candidates and issues. With two weeks left until the end of the year, WBA is just $30,000 away from reaching this year’s goal!

How You Can Get Involved
As we all are well aware, supporting the well-being of our industry as a whole is not something we can accomplish alone. With your involvement, not only will we reach our goal, but it will help WBA to continue to play an important role in moving our industry’s issues forward.

There are several ways you may choose to engage with WBA’s fundraising efforts yet this year.

Silver Triangle
WBA’s Silver Triangle recognizes individual bankers who personally contribute at least $500 to any combination of Wisbankpac, ABW conduit, or the issue advocacy fund.

Gold Triangle
WBA’s Gold Triangle is the highest level of fundraising recognition for banks and achieved through bank employee or director personal contributions to Wisbankpac, or ABW conduit, or corporate contributions to WBA’s issue advocacy fund. Based on bank asset size, qualifying contributions range from $500 to $4,500 across the entire institution.

Beyond fundraising, becoming involved in WBA’s overall advocacy efforts is another critical way to support our industry.

Bankers Involved in Grassroots and Government (BIGG)
WBA’s BIGG Award expands beyond Gold Triangle fundraising to encompass grassroots advocacy engagement and serves as the Association’s highest level of recognition for overall advocacy. In addition to assisting WBA advance the industry’s legislative priorities and promote pro-banking issues to the public, BIGG Award winners receive extensive recognition for their efforts in advocating for our industry.

In order to qualify for the BIGG recognition, banks must meet at least 5 of 7 criteria which include naming an advocacy officer, obtaining Gold Triangle status, contributing to WBA’s issue advocacy fund, sending one employee (at least) to WBA’s annual Capitol Day, participating in a Federal delegation meeting or regulatory trip, hosting a Take Your Legislator to Work event, or other advocacy-related activity.

Thank you very much for your past active involvement in our Association’s advocacy initiatives to support the well-being of our industry. There are just two weeks left in this calendar year to help us achieve our fundraising goal, and to ensure that your bank is recognized for the outstanding work you did in 2022 to promote pro-banking and pro-business initiatives. Make your final contributions today at wisbank.com/give. If you are interested in learning more about WBA’s annual fundraising campaign, how you can get involved, or if your bank qualifies for recognition, please contact Lorenzo Cruz.

Make A Contribution

Thank you to the 51 banks that have already succeeded in achieving WBA’s Gold Triangle status this year: