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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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Ravenscroft Elected to ICBA Federal Delegate Board for 2024–2025

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) has announced that Dan Ravenscroft, president and CEO of Royal Bank in Elroy was elected to the ICBA Federal Delegate Board. ICBA is the nation’s voice for community banks. Ravenscroft replaces Tom Reil of Waldo State Bank.

“It’s an honor to be elected to represent the community banking industry and shine a light on the invaluable work community banks across the nation do to strengthen and build more resilient communities,” Ravenscroft said. “I look forward to leveraging my experience as a local community banker to ensure advocacy in Washington reflects the needs of our local economy and community and engaging with my fellow community bankers from across the country to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish.”

In addition to helping shape and advocate ICBA’s national policy positions and programs, Ravenscroft’s duties include engaging in grassroots activities in Wisconsin and serving as a liaison between independent community bankers and ICBA staff and leadership in Washington, D.C. He will also work to recruit new members to ICBA.

ICBA is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to promoting the interests of locally operated community banks and savings institutions. With trusted financial expertise and high-quality customer service as their hallmarks, community banks offer the best financial services option for millions of consumers, small businesses and agricultural enterprises.

“Dan is a respected member of his community and a dedicated advocate for our industry,” said ICBA Chairman Derek B. Williams, president and CEO of Century Bank & Trust in Milledgeville, Ga. “We are fortunate to have Dan serve as a volunteer and contribute his valuable experience and unique perspective for the benefit of our industry, as well as the customers and communities we serve.”

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Executive Letter: Take Action: Advancing the Association’s Advocacy Initiatives

Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

This April, nearly 200 bankers from throughout Wisconsin gathered in Madison to address their elected officials on topics impacting our industry and communities. As part of the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s (WBA) efforts to advocate and assist members in positively impacting their local communities, the Association annually hosts Capitol Day to provide bankers with the opportunity to establish relationships and share experiences with their legislators. This year’s record attendance not only underscores the dedication WBA-member bankers have for their industry but highlights the desire bankers have to get involved.

During this legislative session, WBA will be working to guard against harmful credit union expansion and credit card swipe fees (interchange) as well as pass legislation that will help prevent elder financial exploitation, provide greater tax fairness, and support banking modernization, among many other key issues. In addition to familiar faces, we were happy to see many first-time attendees at the 2023 Capitol Day. Now is the time to keep the momentum going; attending Capitol Day is just one of the many ways bankers in Wisconsin can get engaged to support the banking industry and the Association’s advocacy initiatives.

Lead 

First and foremost, all banks should ensure that they have named an Advocacy Officer. As an Advocacy Officer, WBA members help coordinate regulatory, legislative, and community advocacy efforts in their bank, and beyond. This volunteer position serves as the point person between the WBA Advocacy Team and your bank. The Advocacy Officer shares key updates and opportunities to ensure your bank is up to speed on issues impacting your institution and your community.

In addition, your bank’s Advocacy Officer can help coordinate, in conjunction with WBA staff, Take Your Legislator to Work Days — an outreach program that provides lawmakers with the opportunity to learn more about the state’s banking industry by visiting a community bank. In addition, your bank’s Advocacy Officer can help coordinate or participate in trips to the State Capitol, Washington, D.C., and in-district offices to meet with state and federal elected officials and regulators.

Fundraise 

As we look ahead to the 2024 Election, engagement in all areas of the Association’s advocacy infrastructure is critical. Of course, active participation in events that help connect bankers with their elected officials is important. However, in order to proactively support the pro-banking legislators and candidates who stand behind our industry, fundraising continues to be one of the most significant components in our role as advocates.

While donations of any amount to Wisbankpac, Alliance for Bankers Conduit (ABW), and the Association’s issue advocacy fund greatly impact the work we do on the industry’s behalf, I encourage bankers to consider joining WBA’s Silver Triangle Club, Gold Triangle Club, Leadership Circle, and/or the Hall of Fame.

  • Silver Triangle: Minimum personal donation of $1,000 by an individual banker.
  • Leadership Circle: Minimum personal donation of $3,000 by an individual banker.
  • Hall of Fame: Minimum aggregate lifetime personal donations of $25,000 by an individual banker.
  • Gold Triangle: Aggregate personal donation, based on bank-asset size, from officers, directors, and employees.

These efforts to unify the voices of bankers in Wisconsin and shape our industry for the betterment of our communities are impossible to do alone. Annually, WBA also recognizes the individual banks that go above and beyond in their overall advocacy efforts with the BIGG (Bankers Involved with Grassroots and Government) Award.

With such an impressive turnout at this year’s Capitol Day, I look forward to seeing the energy and enthusiasm continue to take WBA’s advocacy efforts to new levels.

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Executive Letter: Ask Your Member of Congress to Stop CFPB’s Section 1071 Rule From Taking Effect

Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

As I have previously reported, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB) released its final rule, which will require nearly all of Wisconsin’s banks to collect and report data regarding their small business customers who seek credit.

CFPB’s Section 1071 rule will require banks who make at least 100 business loans in each of the two preceding calendar years to collect and report 21 data points for each credit requested by businesses that have $5 million or less in gross annual review.

Despite several Wisconsin bankers, and myself, speaking directly with Director Chopra regarding our grave concerns of the negative impact an overly broad rule will have — including concerns of data privacy for small business customers — CFPB finalized a rule, which largely disregarded our concerns.

I urge you to share this information among staff and ACT NOW to ask your member of Congress to support Joint Resolution H.J. 50 to express disapproval of CFPB’s final rule and ask that such a rule should have no force or effect. You may use the ABA or ICBA action tools below to make such request.

ABA’s Take Action Tool ICBA’s Take Action Tool
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Executive Letter: Opportunities to Advocate This Spring

Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

With the transition into the new year, so too begins the 2023–24 legislative session. As the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) looks ahead to further engaging with our elected officials and acting on several key priorities including credit unions, regulatory modernization, and elder fraud in 2023, WBA members are also encouraged to make the most of the various opportunities offered by the Association to make their voices heard.

This spring, bankers from across the state are invited to join the WBA Government Relations team in Madison for the 2023 WBA Capitol Day as well as two WBA Washington Trips to meet with our congressional delegation — one in conjunction with the American Bankers Association (ABA) Washington Summit and the other in conjunction with the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) Capital Summit.

Our 2023 Capitol Day, which will be held on Thursday, May 11*, provides Wisconsin bankers with the invaluable opportunity to meet face-to-face with their representatives and demonstrate how public policy impacts a bank’s ability to aid in the economic growth and vitality of their community.

Annually, over 100 bankers and WBA Advocacy Officers are in attendance to receive updates from state Assembly and Senate leaders as well as assist the Association in conveying the role and value of our industry. Registration is open now, and more information will be provided for attendees as the event nears.

Additionally, the WBA will be in Washington, D.C. March 20–22 (bankers are encouraged to schedule late flights on the 22nd or stay until the 23rd given the House Republican schedule that week) for the WBA/ABA Washington Summit as well as May 14–17 for the WBA/ICBA Capital Summit. During these two trips, bankers can expect to hear from a variety of speakers as well as make trips to Capitol Hill to visit with those in our congressional delegation. Please note that during the WBA/ABA Washington Summit, Hill visits will likely occur both on March 21 and through mid-afternoon on Wednesday, March 22 given that the House Republicans will not be in office until Wednesday of that week.

All WBA members, regardless of their membership to either national trade group, are welcome and invited to join WBA’s Washington Trip on either date. Please let WBA know if you are interested in attending one of these two key summits at your earliest convenience. You may register now for the WBA/ABA Washington Summit.

Grassroots advocacy is a fundamental aspect of WBA’s efforts in supporting the industry, and your involvement is critical to the success of our advocacy priorities. Although very few legislators have experience in banking, bankers are looked upon as trusted members of the communities our elected officials represent and are essential in reinforcing the impact legislative proposals will have on your community, bank, and industry.

Thank you for your continued grassroots involvement for the betterment of the banking industry, and I hope to see you and/or other members of your team this spring either at the State Capitol in Madison or on the Hill in D.C.

*WBA’s 2023 Capitol Day is now scheduled for April 26.

2023 WBA Capitol Day WBA/ABA Washington Summit WBA/ICBA Capital Summit (Opening Soon!)
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Madison, WI 53718

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