Wisconsin bankers are the definition of “community advocates” in all that they do every day to improve their local economy through bank products and services, as well as through generous philanthropy of time and money.
Tom Sattler
“The Community Advocate Spotlight” shares and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and innovation of some of the extraordinary bankers in the state.
The following is a brief interview between WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels and Tom Sattler, president and CEO of The Equitable Bank.
1. How did you first get into the banking industry?
I truly am the “accidental banker.” After college, I hopped on an Amtrak train and headed west to Colorado looking for adventure. I ended up in Aspen and took a job as a teller at a small community bank.
I did not have a grand plan to build a career in banking, but I quickly learned that community banking brought together many things I cared about, including building relationships, helping people reach important goals, and making a real difference in the community. What started as an entry-level job became a career spanning four decades.
2. What is your favorite aspect of your role at the bank?
Without question, my favorite part of banking is the people. Community banking has allowed me to work alongside dedicated coworkers and serve customers during some of the most important moments in their lives.
In 1927, the founding purpose of The Equitable Bank was to help people save money to buy homes. That remains central to who we are. Over time, that purpose has grown to include helping small business owners build their companies, hire employees, and strengthening the communities we serve.
Rose Oswald Poels
What I enjoy most is seeing people succeed. Whether it is helping a family buy a home, watching a boutique marketing firm grow its business and hire employees, or seeing one of our own employees develop into a larger role, those are the moments that define community banking for me.
3. What do you wish the general public understood about the banking industry?
I wish more people understood that community banks make a real difference, and that banks our size need to survive and thrive. Community banks are under constant pressure from digital banks and credit unions.
I wholeheartedly believe community banks are better! We know our customers, we understand local markets, and we are often willing to take the time to understand the story behind the numbers.
In fact, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data over the past year shows higher percentages of denials by both credit unions and independent mortgage banks than banks for both purchases and refinances of homes.
I have seen many examples where an individual, a family, or a business did not fit perfectly into a standard model but have high character and make a compelling case. We can ask more questions, listen more closely, and help find a path forward.
4. Where do you believe the industry’s greatest challenges are in the next three to five years?
One of the greatest challenges will be balancing technology with the personal service customers still value. Customers want digital convenience, but they also want trusted advisors who know
them, understand their goals that lead to decisions.
Another challenge will be attracting and developing the next generation of banking professionals. We need people who understand technology, but also understand service, judgement, accountability, and community commitment.
I also believe advocacy will be more important than ever. Wisconsin community bankers are fortunate to have WBA representing us. Oswald Poels and her team understand the values we hold as
community bankers; they help make sure our voices are heard, and they work every day to protect the ability of banks like ours to serve our customers and communities.
5. Please describe your current role at your bank and share with us one of your more rewarding experiences.
As president and CEO of The Equitable Bank, my role is to help set the strategic direction of the organization while supporting our employees, customers, and communities. At its core, my job is about helping people succeed.
I have been fortunate to have mentors and predecessors here at the Bank who taught me that values matter. They reinforced our mission to help our employees, customers, families, businesses, and the broader community thrive. That belief has shaped how I view leadership and how I believe a community bank should operate.
One of the most rewarding parts of this work is seeing the long-term impact we can have. Behind every loan, deposit account, or financial conversation is a person, a family, or a business working
toward something important. Being a small part of those journeys is what makes this profession, and this bank, so meaningful to me.
