Executive Letter: The Power of Your Network
By Rose Oswald Poels
Banking is a business built on relationships, so Wisconsin bankers understand the value of strong connections and community more than anyone. Yet, the priority bankers understandably give to forging customer relationships and other work responsibilities can push building connections with other banking leaders to the backburner. WBA is committed to creating intentional opportunities for bankers to grow professional relationships with their peers statewide. Below are some of those opportunities I encourage you and your team to consider joining.
Wisconsin CEOnly/CFOnly Network
This annual membership is open to all CEOs and CFOs currently employed at a Wisconsin-chartered bank. The group focuses on networking related to Wisconsin’s banking industry and provides bankers with a platform to anonymously ask questions and receive compiled responses via email. Participants will connect with peers at three in-person networking events hosted around the state. More than 100 bankers join the network and find great value in the confidential discussions and the in-person meetings.
We are pleased to announce a new role-based networking opportunity for 2026: the Banker Only Forum. Four memberships are available:
- Bank Marketing
- HR Officer
- Operations Officer
- Risk Management
We will limit each group to 20–25 participants to facilitate meaningful discussions. The forum includes two in-person meetings during the calendar year at WBA headquarters in Madison. Members will also attend their relevant WBA specialty conference and gain access to an online community platform to continue conversation between meetings.
The WBA peer groups offer your staff members a way to connect with bankers around the state as well. Membership in each group comes with access to that group’s exclusive online peer-to-peer email. Certain groups also coordinate in-person networking meetings as desired by the group’s participants.
The following Connect Peer Groups are available:
- Allies for DEI in Banking
- Bank Trainers
- Commercial Lending
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Human Resources & Organizational Development
- Marketing
- Retail Banking
- Small Business Bankers
- Technology & Operations
- Treasury/Cash Management
I encourage you to share this information with your team and take full advantage of these opportunities in 2026! Investing in your network means investing in the future of your institution and the strength of our industry.
