Tag Archive for: Advocacy

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Association Update: Staying Relevant in a Rapidly Changing Industry

By Daryll Lund

The start of the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s (WBA) new fiscal year is a great time to spotlight the many opportunities available for both new and experienced bankers to grow professionally and connect with others in the industry. Representing over 30,000 bankers statewide, WBA is powered by its members’ energy, insight, and commitment to working together.

On June 11, 2025, Paul Northway, President and CEO of American National Bank Fox Cities, was installed as Chair of WBA’s Board of Directors. With a focus on relevance, Northway’s message to members is clear: staying connected, engaged, and forward-thinking is essential for the association — and the industry — to thrive. As the banking landscape continues to evolve, it’s up to all of us to ensure WBA remains a trusted, valuable resource for years to come.

A key opportunity is the WBA Advocacy Officer program. These individuals serve as liaisons between their banks, WBA, and policymakers. By sharing how legislation affects their businesses and communities, Advocacy Officers play a crucial role in helping lawmakers understand the real-world impact of their decisions.

WBA’s professional development and engagement opportunities are designed to keep our members informed and well-prepared to face the evolving issues in our industry.
Each year, WBA hosts 75 in-person events, conferences, and schools across Wisconsin, in addition to convenient virtual programs. These gatherings connect bankers to expert insights, practical tools, and each other.

Leadership development remains a top priority. Our Building Our Leaders of Tomorrow (BOLT) program, now in its 12th year, helps emerging leaders grow their skills and confidence. Through events and mentorship, BOLT participants are shaping the future of Wisconsin’s banking industry.

WBA is also committed to peer connection. WBA Connect offers focused peer networking groups for everyone from HR professionals to commercial lenders — providing a space to exchange ideas, solve problems, and stay sharp.

Whether you’re attending a conference, mentoring a colleague, or advocating for your bank, your engagement strengthens WBA and helps ensure WBA’s relevancy — together.

Lund is WBA executive vice president – chief of staff and president of EBC and MBIS.

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Executive Letter: “Crypto Week” is Next Week in D.C.

From the Desk of Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

WBA and its members have spent an increasing amount of time over the last few years discussing cryptocurrency and its impact on the banking industry and consumers with our congressional delegation during both in-district and Washington, D.C. meetings. Those conversations intensified this session with Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-01) becoming the Chair of the Digital Assets Subcommittee of the House of Financial Services. At a June 30 event for Rep. Steil, he discussed in detail his leadership of the STABLE Act bill, broader crypto industry regulation, and the likely path forward in the House. His forecast was confirmed late last week when the House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (AR-02), House Committee on Agriculture Chairman GT Thompson (PA-15), and House Leadership announced that the week of July 14 will be “Crypto Week.”

Next week, the U.S. House will consider the CLARITY Act, the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, and the Senate’s GENIUS Act. Rep. Steil is quoted as saying the following in the House press release:

“The golden age of digital assets is here, and the U.S. will lead,” said Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-01). “Passing stablecoin and market structure legislation, alongside a CBDC ban, will ensure the U.S. wins the Web3 race. This package encourages the innovation and development of Web3 businesses here in the United States, protects consumers from fraud, and allows us to outcompete our adversaries, ensuring America dominates the future of blockchain technology.”

WBA’s advocacy focused on changes to stablecoin legislation that would protect the banking industry against disintermediation—for example, by requesting that stablecoin issuers be prohibited from holding Federal Reserve Master Accounts, barred from paying interest or other similar rewards on stablecoins, and requiried to comply with anti-money laundering rules. The GENIUS Act establishes a dual licensing system where nonbank issuers exceeding $10B in U.S. Dollars in outstanding issuance must obtain a specialized license from the OCC and will then be regulated by the OCC. Smaller nonbank issuers may opt for state or federal licensing. The Act also prohibits the payment of interest on stablecoins, requires issuers to comply with anti-money laundering rules, and clarifies that nothing in the Act expands or contracts current eligibility for master account access.

The CLARITY Act would establish regulatory jurisdiction over cryptocurrency at the federal level between the SEC and the CFTC. The CLARITY Act also establishes standards for reserve assets, operational risk, and supervisory oversight. At the same time, the OCC will be playing a role as more digital asset firms seek applications for a national trust bank charter. Currently, crypto platform Anchorage Digital is the only digital asset company with a national trust bank charter; however, both Circle and Ripple have also submitted applications.

WBA supports the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, which would prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC directly to individuals.

All three bills are expected to pass the House next week. This action, assuming no amendments, will then send the GENIUS Act directly to the President’s desk as the bill already passed the Senate. The acceptance of stablecoins as a method of payment among U.S. citizens and the practical impact on the banking industry of stablecoins remain to be seen. WBA will continue to be a vocal advocate for the banking industry with legislators and the public reinforcing the critical role that the industry plays in the economy and the fundamental need for bank deposits to fill that role.

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Advocacy Update: The Relevance of Political Advocacy to the Banking Industry

By Lorenzo Cruz

Political advocacy is highly relevant to the banking industry in Wisconsin, as legislative and regulatory decisions significantly impact the operational landscape for banks and other financial institutions. The Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) is a key player in this advocacy, working to protect and advance the interests of its members.

Here are some key areas where WBA’s political advocacy is relevant to banking in Wisconsin.

1. Legislative and Regulatory Issues:
•  Protecting and advancing the industry’s interests: The WBA actively engages in government relations to influence legislative and regulatory actions, safeguarding and promoting the interests of banks, their customers, and communities.
•  Addressing key issues: The WBA advocates on crucial issues like credit card interchange fees, trust code updates, credit union powers, data privacy, and artificial intelligence.
•  Navigating budget deliberations: The WBA participates in discussions regarding the state budget that affects areas relevant to banking like the income tax exemption on commercial loans of $5 M or less which is estimated to save the banking industry over $24 M annually.

2. Supporting Pro-Banking Candidates:
•  Political action committees (PACs): The WBA utilizes PACs like Wisbankpac to support pro-banking candidates.
•  Facilitating conduit contributions: The WBA offers options like the Alliance of Bankers for Wisconsin (ABW) conduit, allowing individual bankers to support candidates of their choice.
•  Building relationships with legislators: WBA’s advocacy efforts aim to build relationships with elected officials who understand and support the banking industry.

3. Managing Political Risk:
•  Continuous engagement: The association recognizes the need for consistent engagement at all levels of government to manage political risks that could negatively impact their operations and revenues.

4. Educating the Public:
•  Issue advocacy fund: The WBA utilizes an issue advocacy fund, allowing banks to contribute corporate dollars that are pooled with other Wisconsin business coalition partners to educate the public about banking and business issues through advertising and public messaging

5. Grassroots Advocacy:
•  Encouraging participation: The WBA encourages bankers to participate in grassroots advocacy activities such as Capitol Day, PAC events, and “Take Your Legislator to Work Day.”
•  Advocacy Officers: Banks may designate Advocacy Officers to coordinate their advocacy efforts and function as liaisons with the WBA.

6. Relevant Issues Highlighted:
•  Interchange fees: Monitoring and influencing possible legislation related to credit card interchange fees.
•  Tax parity: Seeking legislative solutions to create a more level playing field for banks competing with tax-exempt institutions.
•  Data privacy: Working to protect the GLBA exemption for banks and their affiliates in the data privacy bills.
•  Crypto ATM regulations: Protecting consumers against cryptocurrency fraud by providing stronger enforcement provisions and penalties.
•  Elder fraud prevention: Advocating for robust measures to prevent and address elder fraud.
•  Trust Code modernization: Updating the trust code to remain competitive with other states.

In short, political advocacy is a vital component of WBA’s strategy, enabling the association to minimize risks by shaping the legislative and regulatory landscape, addressing critical and relevant issues, and fostering a favorable environment for WBA’s members and customers.

Thank you to the membership for your time and generous support of WBA’s advocacy efforts. Lastly for those bankers still interested in making a personal contribution to the PAC or conduit to help the government relations team meet WBA’s annual fundraising goal of $300,000, please click here. WBA is currently at 35% of the annual goal.

Cruz is WBA vice president – government relations.

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Executive Letter: WBA Advocacy at Work: Reconciliation Bill Reflects Community Banking Needs

From the Desk of Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

Momentum continues in Washington as the Senate moved forward Monday on H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” following key votes on the reconciliation package. The measure includes several tax-related provisions that directly support community banks and the customers we serve. The bill moved to the House for deliberations.

WBA joined forces with the American Bankers Association (ABA) and state associations around the country in sending a letter to Senate and House leaders over the weekend urging support on critical issues that affect our banks. I am encouraged to see the reconciliation bill reflects many of the policies WBA has pushed for, including:
• Enacting a narrow provision of the ACRE Act to expand access to affordable credit for farmers and ranchers
• Making permanent the Section 199A deduction, which supports Wisconsin’s many S-corporation banks
• Extending enhanced estate tax exemptions to protect family-owned banks
• Strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to support affordable housing
• Permanently establishing the New Markets Tax Credit for investments in economically-distressed communities
• Maintaining immediate R&D expensing to promote domestic innovation and entrepreneurship
• Allowing interest deductibility under the EBITDA standard to encourage reinvestment
• Reducing CFPB funding to improve accountability

These important measures help Wisconsin banks remain strong players in local economic growth, job creation, and uplifting our rural communities. WBA will continue to watch the reconciliation bill and advocate for its final passage with these provisions intact.

Thank you to all our members who have stood with us in advancing policies that support our industry and our communities. As always, we encourage you to join us on future advocacy trips to Washington, D.C. Your voice is critical — and your advocacy makes a powerful difference.

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Executive Letter: WBA Advocacy Pays Off as the Trigger Lead Bill and ACRE Advance

From the Desk of Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

This week brought encouraging news from Washington, D.C. as the Senate began taking steps on legislation to end predatory “trigger lead” practices. The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (S. 1467) seeks to prevent credit reporting agencies from selling consumers’ personal information after they apply for a mortgage. The House Financial Services Committee has already advanced an identical version of the bill (H.R. 2808), and with the Senate’s latest action, the measure is gaining strong momentum to move forward.

WBA has served as a persistent advocate for this legislation over the past two congressional sessions. Put simply: The bill champions consumer privacy. The measure aims to prevent credit bureaus from selling loan applicant data without consent, which leads to an influx of invasive solicitations from competing lenders. A mortgage application should be considered private information. Unwanted solicitations fatigue and confuse borrowers, which ultimately erodes trust in the mortgage process.

WBA has lobbied in support of trigger lead reform, and our message remains consistent: Borrowers deserve control over their personal data, and lenders should be able to serve their communities without interference from a relentless barrage of third-party offers.

Additionally, we are pleased to report progress on another top WBA priority: the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act. Yesterday, section 70435 of the Senate’s proposed budget reconciliation bill set forth a federal tax exemption for interest income derived from certain rural and agricultural real estate loans. In general, 25% of interest income earned on qualified real estate loans would be excluded from gross income at the federal level—a powerful step forward in reducing the cost of credit in rural areas.

All to say: ACRE eases the tax burden on interest income, which allows banks to reinvest more directly into rural communities—in turn supporting farmers, small businesses, and economic prosperity across our state.

Both developments mark important wins for Wisconsin banks and the clients we serve. We will continue our efforts to advance policies that protect borrowers. We encourage all members to join us on future advocacy trips to our nation’s capital. Thank you to all the bankers who have joined the chorus of support—your advocacy makes a difference!

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Executive Letter: Banking Wins and Risks in “One Big Beautiful Bill”

From the Desk of Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

The House-passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1) included a few key wins for the banking industry — importantly, a modified version of the ACRE Act that would help to enhance competition with government-backed farm lenders and tax relief for Subchapter S banks.

Now that the bill is in the hands of the Senate, WBA has been advocating publicly and behind the scenes with our U.S. Senators to underscore how vital it is that the Senate version of the bill include at least the same modified version of ACRE as in the House bill. In coalition letters to Senate leadership, we have also requested increases to the tax exemption percentage from that contained in the House version. Finally, we continue to support the inclusion of tax relief for Subchapter S banks.

Additionally, WBA recently learned of a different provision in the House version of the bill that could become burdensome for financial institutions. A provision in the legislation would impose a 3.5% tax on all cross-border remittance transfers made by any non-U.S. citizen — applying not only to individuals remitting money, but also to all bank-to-bank cross border transfers. The language in the House version does not distinguish between remittances sent by non-citizens who are in the U.S. legally or illegally, which means the scope reaches to non-citizen business owners who are in the U.S. legally conducting their business will be subject to the 3.5% excise tax every time they transfer money out of the U.S. Banks will have to verify the citizenship status of the remittance requestor and, if that requestor is not a U.S. citizen, banks will have to collect and remit the tax to the U.S. Treasury.

Finally, the House version creates a new account called the “Trump Account” which would place $1,000 into an investment account for every newborn in the U.S. As written, the funds are placed into stock market index funds, managed by the child’s legal guardians, with the goal of building long-term financial security.

WBA will keep members apprised of these and other relevant developments as the language continues to evolve.

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Executive Letter: More Advocacy in Action

From the Desk of Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

The banking industry has been very active this spring with our legislative advocacy at the state and federal level. I am excited to share that, once again, we had incredibly strong participation from Wisconsin bankers last week when WBA joined with ICBA for their annual Capital Summit in Washington, D.C. This year, 21 Wisconsin bankers, two ICBA staff members, and one person from FHLBank of Chicago joined Daryll and me for Congressional Hill visits on key banking industry legislation. Between our two spring Washington trips, we had 43 bankers (several of whom joined us for the first time) join WBA this year, which is a number we have not seen since pre-COVID years. Thank you all for listening to our requests to increase your personal involvement in these critical advocacy trips!

Like last month, the timing of our Hill visits last week Wednesday was fortuitous as both tax policy and cryptocurrency were hot topics in Washington D.C. As you see in the news, there is a lot of focus on passing the House reconciliation bill, labeled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” and sending it to the Senate. This legislation is certainly not without a lot of controversy; however, when the tax portion was first published by the House Ways and Means Committee, WBA was very excited to see a modified version of the ACRE Act included. This is extremely significant because out of hundreds of requests for new tax law changes, only a handful were included and modified ACRE is one of them. Without significant grassroots involvement from the industry over the last several congressional sessions, I do not think this provision would have been included. I am pleased to share that currently Reps. Steil, Fitzgerald, Van Orden, and Pocan are co-sponsors of the stand-alone ACRE Act legislation.

In addition to discussing tax policy and the ACRE Act, there was a lot of dialogue with each Wisconsin congressional office on cryptocurrency. It is expected that the GENIUS Act in the Senate will be up on the floor for a vote this week, and the STABLE Act is expected to progress further in the House soon. Primarily our message was to mitigate stablecoin risks while protecting against community bank disintermediation. Other topics covered included Section 1071 legislation, Credit Card Competition Act, the Farm Bill, and Trigger Leads.

The Wisconsin bankers who joined Daryll Lund and me on this trip found it to be very educational and productive. Without question, WBA is more impactful when constituent bankers help deliver messages to elected officials. I encourage all of you to consider joining WBA next year for one of our two annual Washington Trips, or later this year when we meet with regulators (not legislators), October 16–17, 2025.

Thank you to the bankers who attended the WBA/ICBA Capital Summit!

  • Justin Adamski, The Pineries Bank, Stevens Point
  • Robin Christian, Premier Community Bank, Marion
  • Brooke Frehse, The Stephenson National Bank & Trust, Marinette
  • Rachael Gadbois, The Pineries Bank, Stevens Point
  • Mike Gargaro, Citizens First Bank, Trempealeau
  • Jeff Gruetzmacher, Royal Bank, Lancaster
  • Dale Hans, Horicon Bank
  • Donna Hoppenjan, Mound City Bank, Platteville
  • Shane Ilstrup, Citizens First Bank, Trempealeau
  • Jimmy Kauffman, Bank of Sun Prairie
  • Sue Loken, Lake Ridge Bank, Middleton
  • Hope Markhardt, Lake Ridge Bank, Madison
  • Josh Marron, Park Bank, Madison
  • Paul Northway, American National Bank Fox Cities, Appleton
  • Mike Olson, The Bank of Brodhead
  • Butch Pomeroy, International Bank of Amherst
  • Lonnie Przybylski, International Bank of Amherst
  • Dan Ravenscroft, Royal Bank, Elroy
  • Julie Redfern, Lake Ridge Bank, Verona
  • Ron Schaaf, The Bank of New Glarus
  • Justin Wroblewski, The Stephenson National Bank and Trust, Marinette

Thanks also to these individuals for joining our group:

  • Dave Feldhaus, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
  • Julie Hanson, ICBA
  • Sean Murphy, ICBA
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Advocacy Update: Advocacy is an Investment in Our Industry’s Future

By Lorenzo Cruz

Minimizing risk, building relationships, investing in communities, and improving lives are the pillars of banking — and the foundation of our approach to advocacy. As bankers, we are entrusted with protecting and growing our customers’ assets. Similarly, through government relations, we work to safeguard and advance the interests of the banking industry in the legislative, regulatory, and judicial arenas.

Advocacy is essential. It helps neutralize threats and seize opportunities that benefit our institutions, customers, and the communities we serve. Just as we manage financial risk, we must also manage political risk — and that requires consistent engagement at all levels of government.

The Wisconsin legislative session is well underway. The WBA government relations team is actively advocating on key issues including credit card fees, trust code updates, ESG regulations, credit union powers, privacy, and artificial intelligence. Budget deliberations are in full swing, with lawmakers weighing tax cuts and funding for K-12 education, higher education, health care, corrections, and transportation. The Joint Finance Committee’s votes are expected in May, with final floor action likely in June. While budgets are usually signed by early July, this year may stretch longer.

Meanwhile, politics remain highstakes. The recent State Supreme Court race was the most expensive nonpartisan judicial contest in U.S. history, with spending exceeding $100 million. These spending levels underscore the ongoing volatility and importance of staying politically engaged.

Bankers play a crucial role in WBA’s advocacy efforts. One of the most impactful ways to contribute is through financial support of Wisbankpac or the Alliance of Bankers Conduit, which fuels our ability to support pro-banking candidates and policies. Our 2025 goal is $300,000, and we need leadership from every corner of the industry to get there.

We urge bank Presidents and CEOs to join the Leadership Circle and ensure their institutions achieve Gold Triangle recognition. Senior management and board members are encouraged to give at the Silver Triangle level. All employees — managers and staff — can make meaningful contributions of $125, $250, $500, or more. Every dollar supports allies who understand and champion our industry in Madison and Washington, D.C.

These investments deliver real results. Thanks to WBA’s advocacy and the support of our legislative partners, Wisconsin enacted the first-ever income tax exemption on commercial loans of $5 million or less — a landmark achievement projected to save banks over $24 million annually. This legislation is now a model for other states, showcasing the power of political engagement.

To maintain this momentum, we must continue building relationships, expanding our influence, and supporting advocacy programs. In addition to giving, consider participating in events like Capitol Day, the Kohler Issue Advocacy Outing, Milford Hills Sporting Clays PAC event, Take Your Legislator to Work Day, or by becoming an Advocacy Officer and working toward BIGG (Bankers Involved in Grassroots Government) recognition.

Your investment in WBA advocacy isn’t just a contribution — it’s a strategic move that protects our future and drives real returns.

Cruz is WBA vice president – government relations.

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Executive Letter: Record-Breaking Capitol Day Demonstrates Power of Unified Industry Voice

From the Desk of Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

I want to extend my sincere thanks to all of the members who helped make our 2025 Capitol Day a resounding success. With over 320 bankers from more than 70 banks across Wisconsin in attendance, this year marked record-breaking participation and sent a powerful message to lawmakers at the State Capitol.

Bankers met with 32 of 33 State Senators and 80 of 99 State Representatives to discuss the critical role banks play in growing local economies and supporting the needs of individuals, families, and businesses. These direct conversations — on topics like state privacy regulations, credit card interchange fees, tax parity, cryptocurrency, and protecting seniors from financial fraud — emphasized how essential strong partnerships are between lawmakers and our industry. The presence of such a large, unified group made a lasting impression on our state’s elected officials.

We heard from key state leaders including Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, and Assembly Assistant Minority Leader Kalan Haywood who participated in a panel moderated by WisPolitics.com President Jeff Mayers. During lunch, remarks were delivered by DFI Secretary-designee Wendy K. Baumann. Their participation reaffirmed the importance of Capitol Day in shaping policies that enable banks to better serve Wisconsin communities.

As we continue our advocacy work in 2025, we are actively working toward our annual fundraising goal of $300,000 through contributions to Wisbankpac and the Alliance for Bankers Conduit. These funds are essential to supporting critical efforts like Capitol Day — which remains free for WBA members — and ensuring the voice of Wisconsin’s banking industry remains strong and effective in the legislative process. If you or others at your bank have not yet participated, I encourage you to consider a personal contribution and help us reach this important goal. If you would like to help spread the word about WBA’s fundraising goal, a sample fundraising letter is in the digital WBA Advocacy Toolkit.

Once again, thank you for your leadership and your commitment to advocacy. Together, we are making a difference in advancing the banking industry and supporting communities across the state.

If you would like to access any of the “leave behind materials” shared at Capitol Day, you can download them from the links below:
•  WBA Issue Papers Summary
•  Issue Summary
•  Impact Brochure

In closing, I’d like to give kudos to WBA’s Government Relations team, Lorenzo Cruz and Tyler Foti, for their hard work in making Capitol Day the success that it was.

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Over 320 Bankers Attend Wisconsin Bankers Association Capitol Day

Over 320 bankers representing more than 70 banks from across Wisconsin attended this year’s Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) Capitol Day. This annual event allows bankers to join together to meet with elected representatives to share how much public policy can impact a bank’s ability to aid the economic growth and vitality of their communities. These critical meetings help illustrate just how integral banks are in keeping their communities thriving.

“I am excited to see how each year brings more and more bankers to this event for the opportunity to both discuss important priorities and develop stronger relationships with legislative representatives,” said Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO. “These meaningful discussions allow for direct dialog between constituents and their elected officials on changes needed to help banks better serve their customers and communities.”

During the meetings bankers shared how each gives back and supports their communities and discussed key issues such as credit card interchange fees, state privacy regulations, tax parity, and the need for further protections of seniors from financial exploitation or fraud.

In a panel discussion led by WisPolitics.com President Jeff Mayers, participants also heard insights and perspectives from legislative leadership which included Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, and Assembly Assistant Minority Leader Kalan Haywood. Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions Secretary-designate Wendy K. Baumann also addressed the attendees over lunch.

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Madison, WI 53718

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