Executive Letter: Wisconsin Bankers Promote Financial Literacy, Capability
By Rose Oswald Poels
With a long-held tradition of promoting financial literacy and capability to individuals throughout the state, the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) — our Association’s nonprofit arm — looks forward each year to recognizing the outstanding efforts of those who continue to make strides in educating members of our communities.
As such, during the annual breakfast program at WBA’s LEAD360 on November 17, several bankers received WBF’s financial literacy awards. This year, 24 bankers and 11 banks were recognized for their remarkable efforts during the 2021–2022 fiscal year.
As the Chair of our Foundation and advocate for Wisconsin bankers and our communities, I am incredibly pleased to honor these individuals and banks for their outstanding achievements and dedication to financial education. I am also very excited to note that this year Wisconsin bankers reached over 10,400 members of their communities!
For the second year in a row, Sue Krause of Fox Valley Savings Bank in Fond du Lac was awarded the Foundation’s most prestigious individual award — the Financial Literacy Banker of the Year Award. This award is presented to the banker who reports the highest number of financial education presentations. This year, Sue was able to do a remarkable 150 presentations in her local community! Thank you, Sue, for your continued commitment to the prosperity of your neighbors.
The Financial Literacy Banker Award, presented to the banker who reports the second-highest number of financial education presentations, was awarded to Joshua Pauling of Farmers State Bank in Waupaca. Josh’s incredible 35 presentations have left a lasting impact on individuals young and old.
Both Sue and Josh, in addition to Jenean Friedl and Paige Hyer of Royal Bank in Elroy and Pam Blattner of Bank of Sun Prairie, were presented with WBF’s Certificate of Excellence Award for achieving 20+ presentations during the fiscal year. Thank you and congratulations to these five dedicated bankers for their incredible accomplishment.
The Foundation also recognized those bankers who give between five and 19 presentations in the fiscal year with a Certificate of Recognition. Thank you to Christine Buckman, Hilari Henke, Deann LaValley, Erik Thompson, and Dawn Whipple of First Bank of Baldwin; Emily Bennig, Rachael Danielson, Katie Dillon, and Tami Miller of First National Bank of River Falls; Kaylee Fellom and Matteson Mahlum of Union State Bank in West Salem; Katlein Detloff of Ladysmith Federal Savings & Loan; Dena Hineline and Pamela Sanderson of Bank of Sun Prairie; Karri Oelke of National Exchange Bank & Trust in Fond du Lac; and Beth Durow, Lisa Hower, Alyssa Manley, and Alicia Schneider of The Stephenson National Bank & Trust in Marinette.
Additionally, congratulations to the 11 banks that were awarded the WBF Excellence in Financial Education Award for their bank-wide dedication to financial literacy. These banks include: Bank of Sun Prairie; Farmers State Bank of Waupaca; First Bank of Baldwin; First National Bank of River Falls; Ladysmith Federal Savings and Loan Association; National Exchange Bank & Trust, Fond du Lac; Premier Community Bank, Marion; PremierBank, Fort Atkinson; The Stephenson National Bank & Trust, Marinette; Union State Bank, West Salem, and Waumandee State Bank.
Thank you, once again, to all the bankers who continue to commit their time and efforts toward improving the financial literacy and capability of individuals throughout our state. If your bank has taken part in any financial education events since June 1, 2022, please do not forget to highlight these efforts at wisbankfoundation.org/financial-education-awards. I also encourage those that have not already to highlight their achievements for the Governor’s Financial Literacy Awards, which are due December 2.
