Staying Relevant: Paul Northway Begins Term as WBA Chair

For Paul J. Northway, relevance isn’t just the theme of his term — it’s a mindset. As he takes the helm as 2025–2026 chair of the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) Board of Directors, Northway is encouraging fellow bankers to think about what it means to lead with purpose and stay connected to the people they serve.

“Relevance is not a luxury; it is a necessity,” he said in his remarks during the WBA Board Installation on June 11. “In a world where technologies, expectations, and economies are evolving faster than ever before, we cannot afford to be passive observers.” He added that being relevant means more than just keeping up; it requires paying close attention to what’s happening on the ground, understanding what matters to your teams, and staying attuned to the evolving needs of communities.

Northway serves as president and CEO of American National Bank Fox Cities in Appleton. He brings more than three decades of banking experience to the role, along with a passion for team development, strong culture, and the power of advocacy.

“I have always been drawn to finance and accounting,” said Northway. “But the opportunity to focus on numbers while helping clients achieve their financial goals — that’s what pulled me into this industry.” Northway earned his undergraduate degree from UW–Green Bay in 1990 and later completed his MBA at UW–Oshkosh. He continued his career in Wisconsin, where he built a wide breadth of banking experience in retail, mortgage, commercial lending, insurance, private banking, and wealth services.

Reflecting on his approach to leadership, Northway shared a quote that has stuck with him: “Be the leader you always wanted.”

“That describes me and my approach. I’ve always wanted to be part of an organization that invests in talent development and builds great teams,” he said. “Collaborating with an executive coach on the importance of emotional leadership and receiving constructive feedback from my team have been key in shaping the leader I am and continue striving to be.”

His people-first philosophy is evident in his bank’s culture. “I’m proud of so many things about our bank, but it all starts with the team,” he said. “We’ve worked hard to build a great culture and tell our story. When I arrived 12 years ago, we were a bit of a well-kept secret; now, we’ve built a much more relevant profile in our community — and that speaks to our team and the passion they show up with every day.”

Northway is focused on keeping the same momentum going across the association as he steps into the role of WBA board chair, particularly when it comes to engagement and advocacy. He’s set an ambitious goal: raising $300,000 for WBA’s annual political fundraising campaign.

“Every dollar contributed counts,” he said. Northway believes that advocacy is one of WBA’s most important causes, adding, “No one can tell the story of Wisconsin bankers better than WBA members themselves. That was demonstrated in May when over 300 bankers attended WBA’s Capitol Day.”

Participation by banks increases the collective impact. “Over 100 banks have already designated Advocacy Officers to help advance pro-banking priorities such as tax parity and fighting against government mandates like credit card routing and interest rate caps,” he said.

Northway is quick to emphasize that advocacy isn’t just about policy — it’s about relevance, too. “In order to stay relevant, we have to be proactive,” he said. “In addition to asking, ‘What can we do better?’ we also need to ask questions like, ‘Who might we be overlooking?’ ‘Where is our influence most needed?’ ‘Are we helping small businesses grow?’ and ‘Are we supporting local housing, economic development, and financial literacy?’”

Looking ahead, Northway sees WBA as a vital force in helping the industry navigate ongoing change and meet new challenges head-on. “Education and advocacy are always going to be important, and I am sure that we will continue to double down on them,” he said. “As we have proven in the past with insurance solutions and consulting services offered through our subsidiaries, WBA will continue to identify new ways to support our membership by solving key business topics.”

When he’s not at the bank, you can find Northway on the golf course. “My son Andrew has been beating me since he was 12,” he laughs. Northway and his wife Kristin, married 31 years this October, also enjoy visiting their son, Aaron, in Chicago. Each fall, they make an annual trip to their favorite getaway in Florida.

When Northway described his parenting philosophy, it echoed his approach to letting his team at the bank shine, “Empower them, and then get out of the way.”

As board chair, Northway is looking forward to connecting with bankers around the state and encourages others to get involved by attending an event, taking part in training, or signing up for Capitol Day in Madison or a trip to Washington, D.C.

Northway’s term as chair is about more than continuing the legacy of WBA’s 133-year history; it’s about helping banks demonstrate their relevance and very foundational reason for existing: to help customers navigate economic cycles and new financial challenges.