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Numbers released May 28, 2025, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) showed a steady start to 2025 by Wisconsin banks. Residential real estate lending (8.67%), farm lending (8.95%), and commercial lending (5.00%) all increased over the prior year. Deposits increased year over year (5.63%). The Q1 2025 net interest margin increased (3.33%) from the prior quarter (3.22%) and prior year (3.10%). Wisconsin banks remain well capitalized.
Notable indicators include:
- Farm lending increased quarter over quarter (8.78%) which extended the pace year over year (8.95%) as banks continue to help farmers with their operational needs.
- Commercial lending slowed in growth slightly quarter over quarter (2.43%) from the year over year (5.00%) increase as commercial customers adjust to impacts of global economic challenges.
- Residential real estate loans increased year over year (8.67%) yet decreased quarter over quarter (-16.05%) as inventory remains limited and the marketplace competitive from non-traditional lenders.
- Assets in nonaccrual status increased both quarter over quarter (8.74%) and year over year (2.20%) as ongoing inflation and the high cost of living impact borrowers.
Statement on the release of first-quarter 2025 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) numbers from Rose Oswald Poels, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Bankers Association:
“The first-quarter FDIC numbers reflect that 2025 has started off steady for Wisconsin Banks with all areas of lending increasing year over year. The increase in farm and commercial lending continued through the first quarter. The data also reflects that Wisconsin’s residential real estate market continues to be competitive. Across all categories of lending, banks continue to monitor credit quality and work with struggling borrowers as Wisconsin banks remain well positioned to continue to help meet the needs of their customers and communities.”
FDIC-Reported Wisconsin Numbers (Dollar Figures in Thousands)
| 03/31/2025 | 12/31/2024 | QoQ Change | 03/31/2024 | YoY Change | |
| Net loans and leases | $115,784,161 | $114,571,863 | 1.06% | $110,786,153 | 4.51% |
| Total deposits | $129,733,193 | $128,607,041 | 0.88% | $122,823,065 | 5.63% |
| Commercial and industrial loans | $18,947,428 | $18,497,687 | 2.43% | $18,044,391 | 5.00% |
| Residential real estate loans | $32,798,394 | $39,070,601 | -16.05% | $30,180,575 | 8.67% |
| Farm loans | $4,465,311 | $4,104,912 | 8.78% | $4,098,653 | 8.95% |
| Total assets | $160,833,420 | $159,392,728 | 0.90% | $153,075,799 | 5.07% |
| Assets in nonaccrual status | $630,718 | $580,044 | 8.74% | $617,124 | 2.20% |
The Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) is pleased to announce three bankers as 2025 Wisconsin Woman of Impact Award winners. The awards were presented at WBA’s 19th Annual Women in Banking Conference.
Pictured (left to right) are: Wisconsin Bankers Association President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels; Susan T. Doyle, senior vice president – retail banking, North Shore Bank; Rose Petitte, director of business development, Horicon Bank; Theresa Wiese, managing director of risk and compliance, First Business Bank; and WBA Board Chair Al Araque, senior vice president, director of consumer, private and business banking, Johnson Financial Group.
“I am thrilled for Susan, Rose, and Theresa to have received this award in recognition of their years of dedication to their colleagues, the banking industry and their communities,” said Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO. “Each exemplifies the skills, knowledge, and character of what it means to be a woman of impact.”
Susan T. Doyle, senior vice president – retail banking, North Shore Bank, Brookfield
Susan T., Doyle
With 41 years of banking experience, Susan has driven innovation and growth at North Shore Bank, embracing new technology and transforming the financial industry. She spearheaded the installation of Wisconsin’s first Interactive Teller Machine, offering customers seven-day banking service while creating a more efficient staffing model. She also optimized the bank’s distribution network, aligning branch moves and remodels with customer preferences for digital and in-person banking. Her strategies led to cost savings, improved production by more than 10%, and supported as much as 100% customer growth in targeted markets.
Susan is a dedicated advocate for community engagement. She serves on the boards of the Milwaukee Zoological Society and Riverworks Development Corporation, helping revitalize Milwaukee’s northeast industrial corridor. For 20 years, she has supported Next Door Milwaukee, helping under-resourced children receive a strong start, as a Program Committee member, past board member, and Books for Kids volunteer. She also helped establish bank partnerships with the Latino Chamber of Commerce, the Historic King Drive BID, and ELEVATE Wisconsin to expand financial literacy and small business support.
Susan is a committed mentor and advocate for women in banking. As a past TEMPO Envision president, she helped develop female executives, including bank employees. A member of Professional Dimensions, she connects women at the bank with networking opportunities that foster leadership growth. She is an executive co-sponsor of the bank’s Emerging Leaders Group, 75% of which are women, and supports professional development, executive exposure, networking, and more. She also engages
members in WBA programs like Capitol Day, helping cultivate the next generation of banking leaders.
Rose Petitte, director of business development, Horicon Bank, Horicon
Rose Petitte
Rose began her career with Horicon Bank in 2011 as branch manager and business banker in West Bend where the bank had $41M in deposits and 3.87% market share. Today, the bank has $132M in deposits and 10.34% market share thanks to Rose’s commitment to growing customer relationships. Rose has led the bank’s retail network (growing the total branch count from 14 to 21), helped launch an ITM network, transitioned to ITM-only grocery store locations, and spearheaded customer adoption of e-statements (from a 42% adoption rate to 70%), among other valuable initiatives. Rose has 44 years of banking experience, is a Graduate School of Banking at University Wisconsin-Madison graduate and has served on the WBA’s Retail Banking Committee.
Horicon Bank staff share that Rose praises generously, listens actively, and cares deeply. Rose supports employees as people first as she advocates for the careers and personal development of staff.
Rose is also deeply involved and dedicated to the West Bend community. She serves as president for the WB COLUMNS Scholarship Foundation (and has served this organization for 11 years); is a Board Member for The Threshold, Inc. in West Bend (and has served this organization for 14 years); is an active member of West Bend Noon Kiwanis for over 14 years (and has served as president of the organization); has previously served as a West Bend Chamber Ambassador; co-chaired the United Way Washington County Campaign; and volunteers for Junior Achievement.
Theresa Wiese, managing director of risk and compliance, First Business Bank, Madison
Theresa Wiese
Theresa has been a pivotal employee since joining First Business Bank 32 years ago when it was $50MM ($3.7B today) and has led the areas of client services, branch operations, deposit operations, IT, facilities management, loan review, risk, and compliance. Theresa has also served as the bank’s security, compliance, and BSA officers and has led external audits, loan reviews, and regulatory exams for over 15 years. Theresa currently leads the bank’s compliance oversight and senior management risk committees and engages regularly with the bank’s board of directors to ensure strong risk and compliance oversight.
Theresa is a long-time active participant of the WBA Government Relations Committee and has attended bi-annual trips to Washington, D.C. to meet with regulators and congressional leaders since 2011. Theresa is also active with ABA working groups relating to risk and compliance.
Theresa has served as a peer mentor at First Business Bank to many new employees. In this role, she has helped many women learn the culture of the bank and how to navigate the organization to be successful. Theresa is a founding member of the bank’s Women in Leadership Committee, which was responsible for various educational opportunities for women and is an advocate for career development for women. Over her 32 years with the bank, 50-75% of the employees under Theresa’s leadership were women and all were provided opportunities for development and learning, and countless were promoted.
Theresa supports her community as a parish board member and member of the finance committee for over 10 years at Our Lady Queen of Peace; an American Red Cross donor for over 10 years; a finance committee member and financial literacy volunteer for the Catholic Muti-cultural Center; and a volunteer at Second Harvest Foodbank and the Lussier Community Education Center & Middleton Outreach Center since 2020.
The WBA Woman of Impact Award has been established to celebrate WBA members who have made significant contributions and positive impacts in their organizations, communities, and the banking industry.
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.
By WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels
In signing the state budget today, Governor Tony Evers supported a historic tax law change approved by the state Legislature that builds on the state’s success in attracting and investing in Wisconsin businesses. Beginning this year, the new law will promote further economic development by providing banks with an income tax exclusion on income earned from commercial loans for business or agricultural purposes of $5 million or less where the borrower resides, or is located, in the state of Wisconsin.
Ultimately, this state tax law change directly supports economic growth as Wisconsin banks continue to work with their Main Street small businesses and farmers. The Wisconsin Bankers Association wishes to thank Governor Evers and his Administration, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, Speaker Robin Vos, Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairs Sen. Howard Marklein and Rep. Mark Born, and all Joint Finance Committee members, including Rep. Terry Katsma and Sens. Mary Felzkowski and Pat Testin, for their collective leadership in support of Wisconsin’s banking industry.
By Wisconsin Bankers Association President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels
The public can rest assured that the banking system overall and Wisconsin banks are safe, sound, and resilient. Wisconsin banks do not operate in the manner that caused the failure of Silicon Valley Bank in Santa Clara, California and Signature Bank in New York, New York. The customer base of Wisconsin banks is much more diversified and the overall balance sheet management of Wisconsin banks is significantly different. Regulators acted swiftly and decisively, which protected customers of the failed banks and prevented further pain across the banking system. As recent data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation show, Wisconsin banks are well capitalized and remain on solid footing. Consumers can remain at ease knowing that their money is safe in an FDIC-insured bank in Wisconsin.
For further information on FDIC deposit insurance coverage, please refer to FDIC’s Understanding Deposit Insurance resource, Deposit Insurance FAQs, and SVB FAQs.
Wisconsin banks finished 2022 in a strong financial position. Fourth-quarter data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) show consumers paying down debt and putting money into savings at the bank. The housing market remained active as home prices cooled slightly, the agricultural industry had a favorable year, and businesses continued to grow throughout 2022. While the economy is experiencing ongoing inflationary pressure and geopolitical concern, Wisconsin banks remain well capitalized and serve as trusted partners to help their customers achieve their financial goals.
Notable indicators include:
- Residential loans continued to grow, both quarter over quarter (3.09%) and year over year (13.71%). With low inventory, homes continue to sell quickly. Despite recent interest rate increases, rates remain relatively low in historical context.
- Commercial lending increased year over year (11.09%) but slowed toward the end of the year as business owners held off on borrowing due to concerns of recession in 2023.
- Farm loans decreased 20% quarter over quarter yet remain up 8.12% year over year. While farmland values remain strong, sharp interest rate increases have resulted in the softening of some farm loan demand. An increase in farm income toward the end of 2022 also led to an increase in loan repayments.
- Credit quality continued to be strong as borrowers kept up to date on their payments. Loans and leases 90 or more days past due decreased 19.74% year over year and decreased 1.40% quarter over quarter.
- Deposits continued to grow, albeit at a slower pace as inflation limited the amount consumers were able to put into savings.
Statement on the release of fourth-quarter 2022 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) numbers from Rose Oswald Poels, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Bankers Association:
“The fourth-quarter FDIC numbers show Wisconsin’s banking industry in a solid position. While inflation persists in driving up expenses for households and businesses, the overall picture shows that more borrowers are keeping current on their loans and consumers are putting money into savings at their bank.”
