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Wolf River Community Bank Named 2025 WBF Financial Education Innovation Award Winner

Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Recognizes Financial Education Initiative of Wolf River Community Bank

Spencer, the face of Wolf River Community Bank’s Spencer’s 2¢ financial education video series (holding award), along with colleagues from Wolf River Community Bank, accept the 2025 Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Financial Education Innovation Award from Rose Oswald Poels, WBF chair, treasurer, and executive director; and Paul Northway, WBA chair.

The Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) has named Wolf River Community Bank the recipient of the 2025 WBF Financial Education Innovation Award, recognizing the bank’s humorous and highly effective fraud education video series, Spencer’s 2¢. The award was presented February 5, 2026 during the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) Bank Executives Conference in Wisconsin Dells.

“Innovation in financial education is all about how well people remember and act on information,” said Rose Oswald Poels, WBF chair, treasurer, and executive director. “Wolf River Community Bank found a creative way to break through the noise by using humor and storytelling to help people recognize scams.”

At the center of the program is Spencer’s 2¢, a short-form video series led by a Wolf River Community Bank electronic banking specialist who delivers fraud prevention tips through deadpan humor, cartoon visuals, and quippy storytelling. Each episode focuses on a single scam — including phishing, spoofing, and catfishing — using playful props and imagery to simplify fraud tactics without minimizing the devastation they can cause. Spencer’s straight-faced delivery, practical tips, and signature line — “And that’s my two cents!” — resonate with fellow 20-somethings and senior customers alike.

The WBF Financial Education Innovation Award is a prestigious category of the WBF Excellence in Financial Education Awards. Submissions for the 2025 WBF Excellence in Financial Education Awards encompassed over 1,340 financial education presentations — including Teach Children to Save Day presentations, homeownership workshops, and elder financial abuse prevention seminars, among other initiatives — given by more than 450 Wisconsin bank employees, reaching approximately 40,000 Wisconsin community members.

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Over 40,000 Wisconsinites Reached by Banks’ Financial Education Efforts

Excellence in Financial Education award recipients were recognized during the WBA FLEX Retail & Marketing Summit in Wisconsin Dells.

Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Recognizes Volunteer Service of Bank Employees

On Thursday, November 20, 114 Wisconsin bankers and 25 banks were honored by the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) for their efforts in promoting financial literacy to Wisconsin’s community members. WBF is the charitable arm of the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) whose mission is to promote financial literacy and financial capability to the public and to broaden consumer empowerment in the financial services industry through research, education, grants, and scholarships.

The outstanding efforts of all honorees were celebrated at the recent WBA FLEX Retail and Marketing Summit held in Wisconsin Dells on November 19–20, 2025. During the 2024–2025 fiscal year, the individual and bank-level WBF Excellence in Financial Education award winners helped WBF expand its financial education to reach over 40,000 people throughout the state. These efforts included giving presentations in local classrooms to teach children about saving and managing money, leading homeownership workshops, and hosting fraud prevention seminars, among many other initiatives.

“Wisconsin bankers want to help their communities to thrive,” said Rose Oswald Poels, chair, treasurer, and executive director of the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Board. “We are glad to recognize the remarkable work of these individuals and banks who help Wisconsinites build brighter financial futures.”

This year, Sue Krause of Fox Valley Savings Bank in Fond du Lac was awarded the prestigious Financial Literacy Banker of the Year Award. Krause completed 133 financial education presentations over the year. Jen Yager, of Royal Bank in Elroy, was recognized with the Financial Literacy Banker Award for completing 66 financial education presentations.

Pictured (from left to right): Elizabeth Fenton, WBA communications coordinator, presents the Financial Literacy Banker Award to Jen Yager of Royal Bank in Elroy.

In addition, Krause and Yager were honored with the Certificate of Excellence alongside Sharilyn Zimmerman and Peter Schleicher, Bank of Lake Mills; Sam Reierson, Bank of Sun Prairie; Ann Cooley, Community First Bank; Rachael Ehrenberg, Farmers State Bank of Waupaca; Amy Weiss, The First National Bank of River Falls; Tammy Tongusi, Forte Bank;  Mary Albrecht and Lisa Pauly, Port Washington State Bank; Jenean Friedl, Ashley Lombard, and Paige Vieth, Royal Bank; and Michelle Friemoth, Unity Bank for exceeding 20 financial education presentations in their local communities during WBF’s 2024–2025 fiscal year.

Ninety-nine individuals received a Certificate of Recognition completing at least five financial education presentations. This year’s recipients are Christian Del Aguila, Shane Moen, Katelyn Hodel, Ty Neupert, and Jay Smith, Bank of Lake Mills; Lisa Schwalen, Sue Neuzil, Laurie Janowski, Heather Kadletz, Ashley Bley, and Brian Vogeltanz, Bank of Luxemburg; Dena Hineline, Pam Blattner, Pamela Sanderson, Hector Solis, Stephanie Wallom, and Ryley Mondragon, Bank of Sun Prairie; Scott Rockwell, Bank of Wisconsin Dells; Cassy Diercks, Emily Powers, and Molli Hundt, Citizens First Bank; Kim Rabska, Community First Bank; Sam Klein, Deb Ihm, Deanna Hinderman, Kim Schmelz, and Shari Zenz, Community First Bank; Tami Miller, Dave Hirstein, Melissa Godden, Rachael Danielson, and Gabby Magin, The First National Bank of River Falls; Aaron Mork, FNC Bank; Bryana Williams, Fortifi Bank; Rochley Gross, Forward Bank; Kirsten Quam and Katie Schuff, Fox Valley Savings Bank; Jason Scherer, Darlene Kurtz, Alerris Alexander, and Whitney Brunn, Horicon Bank; Kat Detloff and Skye Neidermann, Ladysmith Federal Savings & Loan Association; Courtney Pickel, Amanda McWilliams, Sarah Frisch, and Tammy Christ, Mound City Bank; JoNell Empereur, Amanda Schultz, Karri Oelke, Lauren VanLoo, Betsy Reigle, Karen Beck, and Kari De Smith, National Exchange Bank & Trust; Tracy Odegaard, Felicia Kaltenberg, Jace Gustafson, Hannah Corning, and Nona Havey, One Community Bank; Lindsay Monacelli, Peoples State Bank Wausau; Tony Meyers, Lisa Lyon, Erik Thompson, Christine Buckman, and Julie Powers, Pillar Bank; Meghan Menke, Angie Regnitz, Lisa Barrows, Chanel Schmidt, Linda Chay, and Tracy Foss, Port Washington State Bank; Tammy Daebler, Tara Knaack, and Payton Zblewski, Premier Community Bank; Connie Zueleger, Prevail Bank; Carter Uppena, Michelle Hancock, Morgan DeGuire, Beth Shaw, Michael Starks, Ashley Phillips, Courtney Dean, Cassandra Noble, Lauri Schroeder, Brant Gille, and Luke Manke, Royal Bank; Veron Gray and Mario Monterrey, The Equitable Bank, SSB; Mondi Hernandez, Emily Kaeppel, Jose Velez, Juliet Martinez, and Nicole Tindall, Waukesha State Bank; Jenni Badtke, Eric Hopfensperger, Spencer Bloxham, Traci Chisholm, Miranda Schultz, and Brandon Conger, Wolf River Community Bank.

Elizabeth Fenton congratulates the 114 Wisconsin bankers who were honored.

The WBF Excellence in Financial Education Award was presented to 25 WBA-member banks for their bank-wide dedication to financial education: Abby Bank, Bank of Lake Mills, Bank of Luxemburg, Bank of New Glarus, Bank of Prairie Du Sac, Bank of Sun Prairie, Community First Bank, Farmers Savings Bank, Farmers & Merchants State Bank, The First National Bank of River Falls, FNC Bank, Forte Bank, Ladysmith Federal Savings & Loan Association, National Exchange Bank & Trust, One Community Bank, Pillar Bank, Port Washington State Bank, Premier Community Bank, PremierBank, Royal Bank, Security Bank, The Stephenson National Bank & Trust, Waukesha State Bank, Waumandee State Bank, and Wolf River Community Bank.

WBF would like to extend a warm congratulations and thank all honorees for their outstanding efforts in promoting financial literacy in capability across Wisconsin.

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Executive Letter: Celebrating the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation’s Impact

From the Desk of Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

The Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) promotes financial responsibility through education, scholarships, and research across our state. We deliver on our mission through philanthropic programming made possible through the generosity of Wisconsin bankers. In the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the Foundation:

  • Awarded seven grants to non-profit organizations that are making a difference in housing, financial literacy, and economic development in Wisconsin.

  • Awarded six scholarships, including two $1,500 awards for students pursuing agricultural banking degrees and four $2,000 awards for students demonstrating outstanding academic achievement and financial literacy.

  • More than 100 member banks distributed Reading Raises Interest Kits to schools across Wisconsin in support of National Teach Children to Save Day. The 2025 kit featured Rock, Brock, and the Savings Shock by Sheila Bair, helping bankers across Wisconsin teach young learners the value of saving and financial responsibility.

  • Provided nearly 100 Banconomics reports as a free tool for bankers, policymakers, and the public.

  • Presented Excellence in Financial Education Awards to more than 400 bankers who shared financial education presentations in their communities.

  • Partnered with Economics Wisconsin to sponsor the Stock Market Game, enabling banking professionals to mentor students in grades 4–12 and help them build real-world financial decision-making skills.

We will recognize the seven non-profit organizations that received Foundation grants in 2025 at the WBF gala today, Thursday, September 25 in Madison. Attendees will hear directly from the non-profit recipients about the projects these grants supported. If you cannot join us at the gala, you can still support the Foundation by virtually bidding in our silent auction until 7:30 p.m.  tonight, or making a general donation on the Foundation’s website.

We look forward to another year of building strong financial capability across Wisconsin and showcasing the great work bankers do every day. Thank you for your continued generous support of our industry’s charitable Foundation!

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Executive Letter: Celebrate Financial Literacy at the Third Annual Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Gala

From the Desk of Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

I am pleased to announce the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Gala will be returning for its third year! The event will take place on Thursday, September 25th from 5:30-8:30 at the Goodman Community Center Brassworks Building in Madison. The event is open to the public, and I cordially invite you to be a part of this elegant and exciting evening.

The gala is hosted by the charitable arm of the Wisconsin Bankers Association. The event celebrates the impactful work of the Foundation and the many bankers across Wisconsin who work to promote financial literacy.

Those who attended last year’s gala know what a lively night it can be! We’re bringing back emcee Geoffrey Sandler with Celebrations Entertainment who will serve as the DJ, auctioneer, and high-energy party host. Attendees will enjoy a delicious array of heavy appetizers, desserts, and an open bar.

There will be silent and live auctions featuring a range of items and experiences — your winning bid will support the Foundation’s statewide grants, scholarships, and financial education programs. We’ll also take time to recognize the non-profit grant recipients and the important work they do every day.

This year’s venue — the historic Brassworks Building — offers a warm, elegant atmosphere. Attire can range from business to semi-formal. Come as you are, or dress up and make a night of it! Tickets are $150 per individual or $1000 for a group of eight — a great option for bringing colleagues, clients, and friends along.

The Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) has been committed to promoting financial literacy across our state through education, scholarships, and research since its founding in 2015. WBF’s ongoing efforts include the Reading Raises Interest kits distributed on Teach Children to Save Day, free access to Banconomics data reports, and grants to nonprofit organizations whose missions align with ours. The Foundation also supports students directly by awarding scholarships to young people pursuing agricultural banking programs in Wisconsin and to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding financial literacy achievement.

I invite you to take an active role in this important event by attending, sponsoring the gala, and/or donating items for auction. Your sponsorship payments to WBF as a 501(c)3 public charitable organization are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the IRS rules. Please contact me, Nick Loppnow (nloppnow@wisbank.com) or Elizabeth Fenton (efenton@wisbank.com) to sponsor the event or donate auction items.

Please join us for an elegant evening of food, music, networking, and generosity. I look forward to seeing you at one of my favorite events of the year!

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Asset Builders Holds Annual Finance and Investment Challenge Bowl State Championship

Wisconsin Bankers Foundation grant recipient Asset Builders held their annual Finance and Investment Challenge Bowl (FICB) state championship tournament on Wednesday May 21, 2025, in Madison. FICB is an interactive educational game designed to help promote financial literacy and awareness among high school students.

Using a quiz bowl format, high school students representing schools from across the state face off as they are tested on their knowledge about personal finance, business, economics, and current events. Two teams make their way through the competitive brackets to battle for the FIBC “cup.”

 

This year’s results:

  • First Place – State Champion: Nicolet High School
  • Second Place: Northland Pines High School
  • Final Four: Oshkosh West High School
  • Final Four: Rhinelander High School
  • Consolation Champion: Menomonie High School

Asset Builders Executive Director Richard Entenmann and FICB final round quizmaster Matt Moore with US Bank, Milwaukee congratulated the teams from Northland Pines High School and Nicolet High School on making it to the championship round.

If you’re interested in getting involved as a volunteer for FICB, visit www.ficbonline.org or contact Asset Builders’ co-founder and executive director Richard Entenmann. There are numerous opportunities to volunteer at 14 regional competitions held throughout Wisconsin during the school year leading up to the state championship in the spring.

Kudos to the financial industry volunteers and donors who supported FICB this year!

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Executive Letter: Celebrating the Power of Community and the Impact of Wisconsin’s Bankers

From the Desk of Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

April is always an action-packed month. I am proud to reflect on the conclusion of another successful Community Banking Month, Financial Literacy Month, WBA Power of Community Week, and Teach Children to Save Day. Each year, these initiatives remind me just how deeply rooted our member banks are in the communities they serve—not only as financial institutions but as active participants in making Wisconsin stronger.

During Power of Community week, WBA staff also rolled up their sleeves and volunteered at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center and Habitat ReStore of Dane County, contributing to projects that help preserve our environment and support affordable housing. In addition, our team organized a bake sale, raising over $300 for Second Harvest Foodbank, and collected much-needed items for The Road Home to assist families experiencing housing insecurity. With additional money from WBA, donations totaling $500 were made to The Road Home and Second Harvest Foodbank. These efforts reflect the same generous spirit of service we see across the state from member banks and their employees.

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Bankers with rakes and pitchforks spreading fresh wood chips across Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Bankers wearing Power of Community shirts at Habitat for Humanity ReStore of Dane County
Four women posing with various hygiene and cleaning products

While I take this opportunity to celebrate WBA staff contributions and volunteerism, I also want to extend my thanks and congratulations to all the banks across Wisconsin that participated in Power of Community Week — and to those that give back year-round. Whether it’s through supporting local nonprofits, hosting community events, or offering your expertise to help customers thrive, your commitment makes a tangible difference.

Always a popular and impactful initiative is Teach Children to Save Day, which saw increased engagement from bankers this year as they helped students develop lifelong financial skills. A record number of banks requested WBA’s Reading Raises Interest kits in 2025. This year’s featured book, “Rock, Brock and the Savings Shock,” was a hit with elementary students statewide and served as a fun and engaging way to introduce savings concepts at an early age.

As we look ahead, I encourage every bank that participates in financial education initiatives to complete the Financial Education Summary Forms available through the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF). In order to capture and celebrate the many ways bankers volunteer their time and expertise to foster financial literacy, the Foundation collects this information annually. These summaries help guide the work of both WBA and WBF staff, and importantly, they are shared with elected officials and community members to highlight the collective contributions of our industry. If your bank employees hosted a financial education presentation (between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025) encourage them to submit the forms by July 31.

By reporting your efforts, you help ensure that the value of financial education — and the essential role that bankers play in delivering it — is widely recognized and supported. Additionally, individual employees and your bank may be eligible for the Financial Education Awards from the Foundation.

Thank you again for your partnership and your commitment to powering communities throughout our state.

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Prevail Bank Teaches Children Valuable Saving Skills

Bankers teach children valuable saving skills by reading together

David Johns, Prevail Bank Chief Retail Officer, reading to a 2nd grade classroom at Sam Davey Elementary School in Eau Claire.

During the month of April – National Financial Literacy Month – seven Prevail Bank professionals volunteered and taught, in collaboration with the classroom teachers, approximately 234 kids the value of saving. They facilitated money-related activities and read a book entitled, “Rock, Brock, and the Savings Shock” by Sheila Barr.

Kim Aguilar, Prevail Bank’s SVP – Loan Operations, reading to 3rd graders at Altoona Elementary School.

In the story Rock and Brock are very different twins. Their grandpa offered them each one dollar every Saturday during the summer. For every dollar they saved, Gramps matched it. Rock was excited and spent his money, while Brock kept his money and watched it grow. The book’s lesson served as a launching point for broader discussions about the importance of setting money aside at an early age.

Participating in National Teach Children to Save Day reflects Prevail Bank’s commitment to improving financial literacy in the communities it serves.

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Executive Letter: Strengthening Financial Literacy in Our Communities

From the Desk of Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

For banks, promoting financial literacy has always been a focus and a year-round responsibility. Every April, during Financial Literacy Month, these efforts take center stage as our industry highlights its role in supporting the financial well-being of individuals and businesses in our communities.

Promoting financial literacy and capability to the public is the mission of the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF), and WBF proudly partners with banks statewide to expand financial education to people of all ages and increase consumer empowerment in the financial services industry. WBF’s annual scholarships for Wisconsin students and the valuable research on Banconomics.com are just a few of WBF’s impactful programs.

To underscore WBF’s commitment to education and equipping individuals with the knowledge needed to make informed financial decisions, a curated collection of digital financial education resources are available on the WBF website for bankers to leverage in their efforts to assist customers and community members. These digital resources are available for use not only in April, but year-round.

Another key financial education resource, produced as a collaboration by WBF and WBA, is the extensive library of downloadable consumer content PDFs with engaging infographics and timely tips. Member banks are encouraged to share this content with customers on topics ranging from smart shopping ideas to avoiding mail-related check fraud.

WBF also provides banks with complimentary Reading Raises Interest Kits, which include a book along with supporting documents and a reference to additional resources available online to use as part of Teach Children to Save Day (April 24). This year’s book, “Rock, Brock, and the Savings Shock” written by former FDIC Chair Sheila Barr, is geared toward elementary school classrooms.

Both ABA and ICBA also offer online resources to support your bank’s financial literacy efforts.

As your team engages in financial literacy initiatives—whether through classroom visits, community outreach, or participation in WBA’s Power of Community Week (April 21–26)—I encourage you to document these efforts by completing the 2024–2025 Financial Education Summary Forms (due May 31, 2025). While many bankers contribute their time and expertise without seeking recognition, compiling this information helps WBA and WBF advocate on behalf of the industry, demonstrating to policymakers and the public the essential role banks play in financial education.

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Bank of Sun Prairie representatives receiving 2024 Financial Education Innovation Award
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Bank of Sun Prairie Named 2024 WBF Financial Education Innovation Award Winner

Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Recognizes Initiative of Bank of Sun Prairie and St. Vincent de Paul 

Jimmy Kauffman, Bank of Sun Prairie president and CEO (holding award); and colleagues accept the 2024 Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Financial Education Innovation Award from Rose Oswald Poels, Wisconsin Bankers Association president and CEO and WBF chair and treasurer; and Alvaro Araque, WBA chair.

The Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) is pleased to announce that Bank of Sun Prairie has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Financial Education Innovation Award. The award was presented on February 6, 2025, at the largest banking industry event in the state, the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) Bank Executives Conference, in Milwaukee.

“It is important to raise awareness that when unexpected expenses hit, banks offer much better alternatives to high-interest payday loans,” said Rose Oswald Poels, WBF chair and WBA president and CEO. “Bank of Sun Prairie’s partnership with St. Vincent de Paul is an outstanding program that connects people who are experiencing financial hardship with resources to get them back on solid financial footing.”

Bank of Sun Prairie has created a unique partnership with St. Vincent de Paul in Madison to provide microloans of around $500–$2,500. The program not only helps borrowers avoid costly payday or title loans, it also comes with financial literacy support. Participants are coached each month to help them find ways to make the minimum payment. One recipient, Terri, was able to pay off her car title loan and secure a low-interest loan with the bank. Terri’s monthly payment dropped from $437/month at 305% interest to $74/month at 5% interest, and she could afford to stay in her new apartment rather than become unhoused. The program also connects people with the bank’s Fresh Start Checking Accounts, which can help those who have had challenges with using and keeping a checking account in the past to move forward.

The WBF Financial Education Innovation Award is a prestigious category of the WBF Excellence in Financial Education Awards. Submissions for the 2024 WBF Excellence in Financial Education Awards encompassed over 900 financial education presentations — including Teach Children to Save Day presentations, homeownership workshops, and elder financial abuse prevention seminars, among other initiatives — given by more than 400 Wisconsin bank employees, reaching approximately 30,000 Wisconsin community members.

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