Tag Archive for: Member News

Associated Bank provided a $250K grant to Golden House, a domestic violence program serving victims in Brown County for its On the Rise capital campaign.

Golden House On the Rise capital campaign kicked off to raise money for a new facility and support services. The campaign supports greater Green Bay needs in providing safety and support for victims of domestic abuse while leading efforts to end domestic violence in the community. The grant also supports the growing need to shelter traumatized families and children, enhance security and privacy, and adapt to changing care needs due to the pandemic. Golden House has a goal of raising $9.5 million and is currently at $7 million.

“Associated Bank supports Golden House and their efforts to end domestic violence in our community,” said Angie DeWitt, executive president, chief human resources officer, Associated Bank, current member of Golden House capital campaign cabinet and former Golden House board of director member.

In observation of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, Associated Bank’s Women’s Colleague Resource Group (CRG) will be offering colleagues opportunities to increase their awareness of domestic violence and support those in need. This includes an educational workshop in collaboration with Golden House, in-person and virtual collection drives for domestic violence centers across the bank’s footprint (Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota), and volunteer opportunities to assemble tie blankets for local shelters.

“The safety and well-being of our colleagues is of the upmost importance. As a business leader, we need to recognize the warning signs of domestic violence, start the conversation and be educated on community resources,” said DeWitt.

Associated Bank’s grant will help Golden House:

• Align with the mission of Golden House, to provide safety, support, and healing to victims of domestic abuse.
• Serve more people and serve them better. Golden House will meet the growing need to shelter traumatized families and children by doubling its capacity.
• Adapt to changing care needs due to the pandemic, including emergency off site shelter, advocacy and addressing health and safety needs with interim facility accommodations.
• Increase outreach office space, which will provide more opportunity for advocacy and mental-health services, collaborative wellness and educational opportunities, prevention activities for children experiencing domestic violence, and survivor-driven supportive programming.

“Golden House is appreciative of Associated Bank’s commitment to support hundreds of people every year with counseling, advocacy, emergency shelter, and other services as clients begin their journey of healing,” said Dina Borremans, development director, Golden House.

Pictured (left to right) are: Ami Myrland, Justin Hart, and Ken Thompson.

The Board of Directors of Capitol Bank has announced an expansion of the bank’s leadership team. Justin Hart has been promoted to president and Ami Myrland to executive vice president. Ken Thompson will remain as CEO and chairman of the Board.

Hart has been with Capitol Bank since 2007 and most recently held the title of senior vice president – senior lender. As president, Hart will provide organizational leadership in all areas of the bank, with an emphasis on lending and commercial banking. Hart holds a B.S. in finance from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and an MBA from Edgewood College. He currently serves on the board of directors for American Family Children’s Hospital and Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. Hart is a 2021 recipient of the Independent Community Bankers of America 40 Under 40 award. Following Jim Dolister and Ken Thompson’s leadership, Hart will be just the third person in the history of Capitol Bank to hold the title of president.

Myrland joined Capitol Bank as senior vice president – chief financial officer (CFO) in 2019 and has more than 20 years of banking experience. In her role as executive vice president, Myrland will retain the role of CFO and focus on the areas of retail, finance, marketing, technology, and human resources. Myrland holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Edgewood College. She currently serves on the FHLB of Chicago member advisory committee and also on the boards of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation. Myrland is also a 2022 recipient of the Independent Community Bankers of America 40 Under 40 award.

“With the growth Capitol Bank has experienced this year, reaching $520 million in assets and opening a third location, an expansion of the leadership team was in the bank’s best interest,” said Thompson. “Strong leadership that invests in our community while driving a customer-focused approach to banking is key to the future success of Capitol Bank. I’m honored to expand Justin and Ami’s roles within the bank and look forward to the positive impact these changes will have for our customers, employees, and shareholders”.

Matt Fischer

Waukesha State Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Matt Fischer to bank manager of its Sussex office and Tracy Moehle to bank manager of its Mukwonago office.

In their new positions, Fischer and Moehle will be responsible for all aspects of daily operations — including business development, personnel management, customer service, lending, relationship management, and community involvement at their respective offices.

“We applaud Matt and Tracy’s commitment and enthusiasm for taking on leadership roles in key markets we serve,” stated Devon Arnold, Waukesha State Bank senior vice president – retail banking manager. “These promotions are well deserved and reflective of the commitment they both make to their respective customers.”

Tracy Moehle

Fischer started his career with Waukesha State Bank in 2016 as a teller at the Oconomowoc office. In May of 2018, his exceptional customer service and teamwork earned him promotions to customer service representative and assistant team supervisor. Later that same year, he transferred to the bank’s Prairie Trust division as a trust associate, supporting Prairie’s personal trust administrators. In May of 2020, Fischer returned to the retail side of the bank, and in 2021 he was promoted to personal banker of the E. Main Street office in Waukesha.

Fischer earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is active in the community serving as board chair for Waukesha State Bank’s internal volunteer group, Helping Hearts. Through the group, he organizes various volunteer projects and community service opportunities throughout the year. Fischer currently resides in Oconomowoc.

Moehle joined Waukesha State Bank in September of 2021 as a personal banker at the Downtown Waukesha office. She brought with her over 12 years of banking experience, including a year of Waukesha State Bank personal banking and loan servicing experience from 2018. She and her family currently reside in Greendale.

Pictured (left to right): Back – Cherie Lenz and Bobbi Taylor, Prevail Bank professionals. Front – Landon and Dakotah Patrie.

4-H-ers have to be in 3rd grade to sell their prize winning livestock from the Price County Fair at the “Market Animal Auction”. Dakotah and Landon Patrie knew this as they watched the older children parade their animals in the market ring. Cherie Lenz noticed their sad faces and witnessed the interaction between them and their grandmother as she explained the rules and said, “Someday you will be able to show your animals in the ring.” That comment prompted Lenz to step forward, politely introduce herself, and extend an offer to purchase Dakotah’s and Landon’s sheep for $1,000. Lenz, who was representing Prevail Bank that day, turned heartache to happiness.

But Prevail Bank didn’t stop there. The bank donated the 126 lbs. of lamb chops, burger, steaks, and roasts to St Vincent DePaul’s Food Pantry in Phillips to help provide a reprieve for the 211 households who struggle to make ends meet.

Pictured (left to right) are: Patricia Melby, St Vincent DePaul’s Food Pantry, and Bobbi Taylor, Prevail Bank professional.

“We are excited to support so many people through one action,” said Lenz, Prevail Bank branch manager. “We (Prevail Bank) supported two future farmers or young entrepreneurs through the purchase of their sheep; in addition to providing fresh meat for hundreds of people who are hungry in Price County. Solving problems, fulfilling dreams — that’s what we do at Prevail.”

Prevail Bank has heart and compassion,” said Kendal Patrie, mother of Dakotah and Landon. “It’s hard to put into words how much Cherie’s actions affected our family that day. It will always be remembered.”

Prevail Bank’s core values are: Put people first; be a solution seeker; do the right thing; take ownership. Cherie Lenz fulfilled all four of those philosophies on Friday, August 26.

Wisconsin bankers prepare for forthcoming legislation, guidance

By Hannah Flanders

An increasing number of Wisconsinites are growing concerned about climate change and its effects on the state’s key economic sectors — agriculture and forest product, fisheries, and outdoor tourism and recreation. Each year, these sectors continue to be negatively impacted as a result of increasing temperature, humidity, precipitation, and extreme weather events.

In an effort to preserve America’s unique, natural resources, promote public health and safety, and extend the positive growth in our economies, regulators across the country have turned their focus to understanding climate-related financial risks. In January 2021, President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order relating to protecting public health and the environment. As a result, many key banking regulators and Wisconsin officials have announced advisories, statements, and proposals of their own to aid banks and other industries in mitigating the effects of climate change on the economy.

Ensuring Consistency

As sectors and jurisdictions in the financial system become increasingly more intertwined and supervisory and regulatory authorities continue to assess climate-related financial risks, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) has published draft recommendations in an effort to promote consistency throughout the financial system as well as to assist financial institutions in managing and mitigating climate-related risks. Final recommendations from the FSB are expected in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), in addition to establishing the Climate-related Financial Risk Committee (CFRC) which assists in identifying, assessing, and mitigating climate-related risks to the financial system and developing common approaches and standards, the Council has recently released recommendations to FSOC members — including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), and the Federal Housing Financing Agency (FHFA) — regarding their action on climate change data, disclosure, and scenario analysis.

While several agencies, including SEC and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), have already acted on risks related to climate change, Acting Director of the FHFA Sandra L. Thompson said in a statement released in December 2021 that FHLBanks are encouraged to designate climate change as a priority and actively consider its effects in their decision
making. The FHFA also created a new Conservatorship Scorecard which assesses Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Common Securitization Solutions on their ability to promote sustainable and equitable access to affordable housing while operating in a safe and sound matter.

Proposed Federal Legislation

Both the OCC and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) have issued draft principles that provide framework for the management of climate-related financial risks by banks with more than $100 billion in total consolidated assets.

Although either draft has yet to be finalized, the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) issued a comment letter in June to members of the FDIC warning of the potential negative impact this draft may unintentionally have on smaller, community banks and the communities they serve.

In addition to commenting on the FDIC’s draft principles, WBA joined the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and several state banking associations from around the country in expressing concerns related to the FDIC’s proposed statement of principles highlighting the effects of large financial institutions being pressured or required to “de-risk” their loan portfolios. The ruling in its current state has the potential of excluding lawful but climate disfavored customers or industries from the financial system.

This year, the SEC has also proposed two climate-related disclosure rulings that Wisconsin bankers should consider for investment purposes. The first proposal — the Enhancement and Standardization of Climate- Related Disclosures for Investors — focuses specifically on requiring registrants to include certain climate-related disclosures in their registration statements and periodic reports.

While the approach to release climate-related disclosures through existing SEC requirements is appreciated, in its comments, WBA highlighted that Wisconsin’s financial institutions, publicly traded or not, have successfully managed credit-based risk for decades and that this proposal is primary built on supplying non-financial information that many businesses do not have the resources to provide.

In addition to recommending that SEC repeal said proposal in its own comments, the Association joined nearly 100 supporting groups in signing onto the House Small Business Committee’s Republican-led letter to SEC demanding the rescission of the proposed ruling.

The second — Enhanced Disclosures by Certain Investment Advisers and Investment Companies About Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investment Practices — amended the ruling and forms under the Investment Advisors Act and the Investment Company Act. This would require certain advisers, investment companies, and business development companies to provide additional information regarding their ESG investment practices. Comments on this ruling were due August 2022.

Wisconsin-Specific Efforts

In Wisconsin, Governor Tony Evers has highlighted combatting climate change is a key priority for the administration. Earlier this year, the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change — a coalition of representatives from industries and communities across the state — recommended the creation of the Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Administration (DOA).

The Office, supported by the first state-level chief resilience officer (CRO) in the Midwest — now serves as the state’s principal office in coordinating agency frameworks, strategies, and policymaking to ensure state action does not have an adverse or disparate environmental effect on under-resourced communities.

Additionally, the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has so far only released an ESG investing advisory which includes an overview of its effects and what investors should consider. However, as climate-related risk becomes an increasing concern for industries and communities across the state, Wisconsin bankers should expect that state-level advisories, guidance, or legislation may be forthcoming.

While no hard and fast ruling yet stands for banks related to climate-related risk disclosures either at the federal or state levels, WBA advises bankers to be aware of the potential for upcoming regulation on the topic.

View WBA’s recent comment letters by visiting wisbank.com/CommentLetters. For questions on legal developments or regulations related to climate change or other compliance matters, please reach out to WBA legal at wbalegal@wisbank.com or 608-441-1200.