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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!
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 Rose Oswald Poels
As chair of the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF), I am happy to report that the second annual WBF Gala held on September 12 at the Wisconsin Historical Society was not just a fundraising success but was also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the important work being done by the Foundation.
The mission of WBF, the non-profit arm of the WBA created in 2015, is to promote financial literacy and capability through education, scholarships, grants, and research. Some of the ways that mission is being achieved are through the popular Reading Raises Interest Kits distributed statewide in conjunction with National Teach Children to Save Day, higher ed scholarships for students attending Wisconsin institutions, Banconomics reports that provide key data to banks in the Midwest, and grants made to other non-profit organizations aligning with our mission.
Leaders from non-profit organizations which received 2024 WBF grants were present at the Gala, and it was wonderful to see their financial literacy work being recognized by the attendees. Those non-profits are:
• 6:8, Inc – Circles Sauk Prairie program inspiring and equipping families and the community to resolve poverty and thrive
• Asset Builders – Statewide high school Finance and Investment Challenge Bowl competition
• Eastbrook Academy – Empowering educators for financial education excellence
• Economics Wisconsin – Statewide middle and high school stock market game
Attendees also heard an inspiring speech from Cole Hicken who was a 2021 WBF Spring Scholarship recipient. Hicken impressed us all with his reflections on the impact his scholarship had on his trajectory, his current success in the industry, and his goals for the future.
The festive event started off on the terrace of the Historical Society overlooking the UW-Madison Library Mall before moving to the elegant library space where guests enjoyed delicious food, good company, and the fun, fast-paced live auction.
I want to sincerely thank the incredibly generous attendees, sponsors, and donors who supported the WBF through multiple ways including presence at the Gala, event sponsorships, table sponsorships, donating silent and live auction items, and generous auction bidding. I am proud to reveal that the Gala raised a net profit of $23,000. We could not have achieved this success without the big-hearted and impactful support of WBA members and their guests.
Champion Sponsor:
FHLBank Chicago
Advocate Sponsors:
Bell Bank, Capitol Bank, Johnson Financial Group, and FIPCO’s ShareFI
In-Kind Donors:
4imprint
American National Bank – Fox Cities
American Players Theatre
Associated Bank, Green Bay
Bank of Kaukauna
Bankers’ Bank, Madison
Bell Bank, Eau Claire
BOK Financial Capital Markets
DoubleTree by Hilton Madison East
Mary and Kyle Engelke
Findorff
Fiserv
Food Fight Restaurant Group
Godfrey & Kahn
Green Bay Packers Foundation
Donna Hoppenjan
Ironwood
Mark Koehl
Cassandra Krause and Pierre Rideau
Lake Ridge Bank, Middleton
Ami Myrland
Rose Oswald Poels
Park Bank, Madison
Peoples State Bank, Wausau
The Edgewater Hotel
The Equitable Bank, Wauwatosa
Wilderness Resorts
Wisconsin Bankers Association
By Rose Oswald Poels
As chair of the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation, I am looking forward to the return of our Gala event for a second year. The event is coming up in just over a month on Thursday, September 12 from 5:30–9:30 p.m. at the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison. Last year’s inaugural gala was a fantastic event and a festive way to both celebrate and support the work being done by the Foundation.
The Foundation, which was established in 2015, is the non-profit arm of the Wisconsin Bankers Association and is dedicated to promoting financial literacy and capability through education, scholarships, and research. Its programming includes the beloved Reading Raises Interest Kits distributed statewide in conjunction with National Teach Children to Save Day, higher ed scholarships for students attending Wisconsin institutions, Banconomics reports, and grants to other non-profit organizations aligning with its mission.
The gala is open to the public, and I encourage you to attend and invite clients, family, and friends.
The Wisconsin Historical Society is an ideal venue for this year’s Gala; it is both elegant and welcoming with impressive views of Library Mall and Memorial Union. Semi-formal attire is encouraged, but if you are coming straight from work there is no need to worry about your business attire.
If you are not sure what to expect, Blue Plate catering will be providing an enticing array of heavy appetizers, desserts, and beverages and Geoffrey Sandler with Celebrations Entertainment will again serve as DJ, auctioneer, and all-around party host. Last year it was fun to see Geoffrey put attendees in a celebratory mood while ramping up the energy (and generosity) in the room, particularly during the live auction.
Once again there will be an appealing variety of both silent and live auction items to bid on. You can feel good about giving generously because your winning bid helps to actualize a stronger financial future for Wisconsinites. I recently reflected in an Executive Letter that WBA is fortunate to have dedicated bankers who are working every day to carry out our long-standing industry commitment to financial literacy and capability. This Gala provides an ideal way to celebrate that commitment and reflect on the impact of the foundation and our industry.
In addition to ample opportunities to network and enjoy the food and beverages while taking in the ambience, attendees will hear firsthand about the positive effect of WBF grants and scholarships. Representatives from the four very deserving non-profit organizations receiving 2024 WBF Grants will be recognized at the event. Additionally, a former WBF Scholarship recipient will share about the impact of the scholarship program on his education and career path.
I invite you to take an active role in this event by sponsoring the Gala or donating items for the auction. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (FEIN 46-3791061), your sponsorship payments to WBF are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by IRS rules.
For sponsorship opportunities or to donate auction items, please contact Nick Loppnow at nloppnow@wisbank.com or Cassandra Krause at ckrause@wisbank.com.
I feel confident that if you attend this year’s Gala that you’ll look forward to the event every year!
Check out this short video to get a sense of how beautiful the venue is and an overview of the fun that attendees had at last year’s inaugural event.
By Rose Oswald Poels
We know that bankers throughout Wisconsin are working every day to help customers build a strong financial foundation and achieve their future goals. Bankers often do this work under the radar, but shining a light on these efforts and achievements can inspire others working in the industry and underscores how banks empower customers and community members to make sound financial decisions. WBA is fortunate to have dedicated bankers that proudly and consistently work to carry out this long-standing industry commitment to financial literacy.
The 2023–2024 WBF Financial Education Summary Forms recognize the achievements of both banks and their individual team members for their financial education presentations and activities from June 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024. These activities typically include volunteer hours with Junior Achievement, Teach Children to Save presentations, coaching teams of students for the Finance and Investment Challenge Bowl, and financial outreach or seminars that assist community members in managing or understanding their personal finances.
Individual bankers who have volunteered their time and insights through a visit, presentation, or other types of financial literacy-focused events complete the ‘Individual Summary Form.’ Submissions are compiled to highlight the number of presenters and participants, as well as the financial literacy topics covered, each fiscal year. Based on the number of presentations, bankers may also be selected to receive the Financial Literacy Banker of the Year Award, Financial Literacy Banker Award, or a certificate of excellence or recognition.
The bank-wide form captures information related to the bank’s financial education initiatives. Based on the level of a bank’s total activity, member banks may earn the Excellence in Financial Education Award, presented at the award ceremony at the WBA FLEX Retail & Marketing Summit on November 21, 2024.
Additionally, the Foundation’s highest honor, the Financial Education Innovation Award, is awarded to one bank that showcases an innovative, comprehensive financial education initiative or program. A separate ceremony honoring the Financial Education Innovation Award is held during the WBA’s annual Bank Executives Conference in February.
By documenting your bank’s endeavors in the realm of financial literacy, you are assisting the team at WBA as we work to share the impactful stories about Wisconsin banks and emphasize the value of the banking industry by:
• spotlighting the outstanding efforts of bankers in Wisconsin to increase the financial literacy and capability of their community members,
• celebrating financial education and the achievements of hundreds of bankers, and
• providing insight to Foundation staff on topics, tools, and demographics that can be incorporated into future resources.
This is why I encourage bankers not to be shy about sharing information about volunteer efforts. Make your efforts known by submitting the forms! I extend a heartfelt thank you to the bankers who have dedicated hours of their time and expertise to engage individuals of every age in financial education. This work is improving the futures of individuals and communities across Wisconsin.
The Foundation is genuinely honored to recognize and celebrate the wonderful and innovative efforts of the WBA membership. I urge all members — even those who do not seek recognition — to submit the two forms located on the Foundation’s website by Wednesday, July 31.
By Rose Oswald Poels
For banks, promoting financial literacy and capability is a long-standing, year-round tradition. These efforts are especially amplified throughout April, Financial Literacy Month. It is during this time that our industry showcases our ongoing commitment to supporting the financial wellness of our local community members.
With a mission to promote financial literacy and capability to the public and to broaden consumer empowerment in the financial services industry, the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation is proud to partner with banks across the state to aid in the effort to equip individuals of all ages with the knowledge and skills essential for making informed financial choices. In addition to scholarships offered annually to Wisconsin students and research published on Banconomics.com, education remains a significant priority. As such, the Foundation has curated a list of digital resources bankers may leverage in their efforts to promote financial well-being. These resources are free to use in April and throughout the year.
In addition to promoting these efforts in conjunction with your team’s participation in WBA’s Power of Community Week, I ask that your team also complete the Foundation’s 2023–2024 Financial Education Summary Forms to capture and celebrate the numerous ways bankers volunteer their time and expertise to foster financial literacy. While many bankers do not seek recognition for their outstanding service to Wisconsinites, reporting the financial education-focused activities your bank is involved with helps inform the efforts of WBA and WBF staff and is compiled for elected officials and members of our communities to highlight our collective efforts.
As economic uncertainties linger, personal finance and financial stability remain top of mind for communities throughout the country. In Wisconsin, it is evident that bankers remain dedicated to building a stronger and more resilient financial future for all. Thank you for your continued commitment.
The Wisconsin Bankers Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Wisconsin Bankers Association, has awarded Chad Achenbach and Taylor Lindsay with the 2023 Agricultural Banking Scholarship. Demonstrating the Foundation’s commitment to cultivating the next generation of agricultural bankers in Wisconsin, the Agricultural Banking Scholarship is offered annually in the fall. Two $1,500 scholarships are awarded to students attending an accredited public or private, non-profit college, university, or technical college who demonstrate in their application a strong understanding of the importance of financial literacy and are actively pursuing a career in agricultural finance.
Pictured (left to right) are: Cassandra Krause, executive director, Wisconsin Bankers Foundation; Chad Achenbach, 2023 WBF Agricultural Banking Scholarship recipient; and Cody Kirschbaum, vice president – ag relationship manager, Peoples State Bank.
Chad Achenbach is a declared double major in agribusiness and animal science expected to graduate from UW–Platteville in May 2025. Active throughout the agricultural community, Achenbach grew up on a hobby farm in Eastman, Wis. and was involved with 4-H and FFA through high school. In 2020, Achenbach became an inaugural member of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s (DATCP) Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council, where he gained insight on state agricultural policy development and tools available to support Wisconsin farmers. At UW–Platteville, Achenbach is involved in Alpha Gamma Rho (Beta Gamma chapter), Block & Bridle, and the Pioneer Dairy Club. He also serves as an ambassador for the UW–Platteville School of Agriculture. During the summer of 2023, Achenbach interned at Peoples State Bank in Prairie du Chien, Wis. as an ag loan officer.
Pictured (left to right) are: Michael DeLong, vice president – commercial/agriculture loan officer, Pillar Bank; Cassandra Krause, executive director, Wisconsin Bankers Foundation; Jenny Jereczek, director of agriculture banking & market president – Durand, Security Financial Bank; Taylor Lindsay, 2023 WBF Agricultural Banking Scholarship recipient; Dr. Brenda Boetel, professor and Agricultural Economics department chair, University of Wisconsin – River Falls; and Tony Betley, vice president – senior agricultural banking officer, Nicolet National Bank.
Taylor Lindsay is a declared agricultural business major and animal science minor expected to graduate from UW–River Falls in May 2025. Growing up on her family’s beef farm in Boyd, Wis., Lindsay has been around agriculture her entire life. Involved in 4-H and FFA throughout high school, Lindsay is pursuing an agribusiness career to not only remain active in the agricultural industry but also to help make a difference in her community. At UW–River Falls, Lindsay is a member of the Agricultural Business and Marketing Society, Agribusiness Leadership Team, Block and Bridle, Collegiate Farm Bureau, and Collegiate Livestock Judging Team. During the summer of 2023, Lindsay interned as an agriculture credit analyst at Nicolet National Bank in Eau Claire, Wis.
“In awarding the Agricultural Banking Scholarship to two deserving individuals, the Foundation aims to support and encourage the growth of talent in the agricultural finance sector,” said Foundation Chair Rose Oswald Poels. “I am pleased to recognize Chad and Taylor for their achievements and outstanding commitment to Wisconsin’s agricultural industry and wish them the very best in their future agribusiness careers.”
To learn more about the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation and its current scholarship opportunities, please visit wisbankfoundation.org.
By Rose Oswald Poels
Promoting financial capability is a long-standing tradition throughout the banking industry. Bankers are continuously promoting and empowering Wisconsinites to make informed decisions in many ways, from hosting financial education-focused workshops and seminars to offering personalized guidance.
To support the work of bankers committed to ensuring the economic well-being of their communities, the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation was established in 2015 to further the public’s financial literacy and capability and to broaden consumer empowerment in the financial services industry. Through education, scholarships, grants, and research, the Foundation has seen great success in connecting with students and adults across Wisconsin.
Due in part to the support and involvement garnered from bankers across the state, the Foundation has made significant strides since its inception to advance financial literacy and capability in Wisconsin. In 2023, the Foundation saw a more than 120% year-over-year increase in the number of elementary school ‘Teach Children to Save’ presentations given with our Reading Raises Interest Kits, and a more than 130% year-over-year increase in the number of applicants for our Spring Scholarships. Other notable Foundation programs include:
- Awarding scholarships to students in Wisconsin pursuing a career in agricultural banking,
- Offering comprehensive and comparative banking industry data on Banconomics.com,
- Curating digital financial education resources,
- Supporting outstanding non-profit financial education programs across the state through grants, and
- Honoring bankers and industry leaders with Excellence in Financial Education Awards for their engagement with financial literacy.
WBF’s annual Silent Auction is the easiest way to help support the Foundation. Taking place now through Friday, February 9, 2024, at 11 a.m., this year’s Auction features a range of items generously donated by individuals, banks, and organizations, with all proceeds directly benefiting the Foundation’s initiatives. The Silent Auction is open to all WBA-member bankers, Associate Members, and friends. Donations made above the item’s fair market value may be tax deductible.
Additionally, the Foundation is now accepting applications for our 2024 Spring Scholarship program. This $2,000 Scholarship — awarded to four students — is available to Wisconsin high school seniors, employees of a WBA-member bank, or dependents of a WBA-member bank employee who will be enrolled in an accredited Wisconsin public or private, non-profit college, university, or technical college in Fall 2024. Bankers are encouraged to share these details widely in their communities prior to the March 15, 2024, application deadline.
As a critical element of economic stability, financial literacy is central to empowering individuals, families, and Wisconsin communities. With your generosity, the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation can continue arming Wisconsinites of all ages with the knowledge and tools they need for a secure and prosperous future.
By Rose Oswald Poels
Bankers are known for supporting their communities in a wide variety of ways — yet if there is one cause that is central to our industry, it is financial literacy. WBA-member bank leaders were recently sent a letter in the mail asking you to consider supporting the impactful financial education efforts of the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF), the non-profit arm of the Wisconsin Bankers Association. This Giving Tuesday, I am repeating this request for your generosity.
A recent study by Edward Jones and Morning Consult showed that nearly half of respondents (44%) were 25 years or older when they gained the majority of their personal finance education, and only 20% of respondents reported learning about financial education in school. The need for financial education is clear, and the good news is that bankers have been coming together for years through the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation to make a meaningful impact. Please see the Year in Review for programming highlights from WBF.
We are proud to report a more than 120% year-over-year increase in the number of elementary school ‘Teach Children to Save’ presentations given with our Reading Raises Interest Kits, and a more than 130% year-over-year increase in the number of applicants for our Spring Scholarships. To keep this strong momentum going, we rely on the generosity of donors like you. Because of WBF’s public charity status, donations may be tax deductible. Our goal is to raise $70,000 for the 2023–2024 fiscal year, and there are three easy ways for you to contribute:
- Send a check to the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation, 4721 South Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718,
- Donate online at wisbankfoundation.org/donate, and/or
- Use the pledge form to donate an item for our silent auction, which will be held online as well as in person at the WBA Bank Executives Conference, February 7–9, 2024.
Your contribution will enable us to continue to:
- Provide complimentary Reading Raises Interest Kits to teach the importance of saving money at a young age,
- Award scholarships to current and upcoming college students with interests in the banking industry,
- Provide comprehensive and comparative data on the banking industry through Banconomics.com,
- Honor bankers and industry leaders for their engagement with financial literacy, and
- Offer grants to support outstanding non-profit financial education programs across the state.
Thank you in advance for considering adding your name to the list of our supporters or renewing your commitment. Your contribution — of any size — is not just an investment in financial literacy; it is a commitment to empowering individuals, families, and Wisconsin communities with the knowledge and tools they need for a secure and prosperous future.
