Wisconsin Bankers Association

06/02/2026

On the road again, WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels was invited to tour the new Bank of Brodhead branch in Milton last month. Mike Olson, Bank of Brodhead president and CEO, walked Rose around the new building and explained why Milton was chosen as the location for the branch. With a community room, wellness room, and outdoor patio, the Bank of Brodhead team is excited to welcome customers to the building!

06/01/2026

"Bankers will continue to keep a close eye on the global supply chain, geopolitical issues, as well as the Fed’s interest rate decisions going into the rest of the year. Wisconsin consumers and business owners can continue to rely on Wisconsin banks as a consistent source of trusted financial partnership and a safe place to deposit their money." – Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO

Read more on the WBA website:

Wisconsin banks started the new year strong with total assets up 8.69% year over year from March 31, 2025 to March 31, 2026. Banks continue to be a trusted place for consumers and businesses to invest their money as total deposits were up 7.57% for the same period (up 4.17% quarter over quarter).

05/29/2026

Congratulations to several WBA, Inc staff members celebrating work anniversaries this month! Join us in thanking them for their dedication to the banking industry and our members.

Angie Swanson – 3 years of service (start date: May 1, 2023)
Chris McDermid – 10 years of service (start date: May 2, 2016)
Sandy Giese – 12 years of service (start date: May 12, 2014)
Rose Oswald Poels – 35 years of service (start date: May 23, 1991)

05/27/2026

Our staff attorneys are just a phone call away to answer your team's compliance questions! The WBA Legal Call Program can be reached at 608-441-1200.

05/26/2026

WBA recently honored Jerry Luebke, past president and current board member at One Community Bank (OCB), for his impressive 50 years of dedication to the banking industry. Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO, presented Jerry with a 50-Year Club Award last month at OCB’s McFarland branch. Congratulations on this prestigious recognition!

05/25/2026

In honor of Memorial Day, the WBA office will be closed today, Monday, May 25. We are grateful to all the U.S. military personnel who have served our country!

05/22/2026

WBA hosted bankers in the office this week for the final in-person school before summer. Congratulations to the Personal Banker School attendees who completed the program.

Bank CMG
Kamrynn Martin
Maria Villanueva

CCFBank
David Haselwander

Cleveland State Bank
Geneva Blachuta

Coulee Bank - Bank With Confidence
Kiley Clauson
Sarah Evert
Josh Herrman

Fortifi Bank
Ray Butler

Forward Bank
Chase Pankratz

FVSBank
Meghan Smith

Peshtigo National Bank
Karissa Sandlin

State Bank Financial
Hannah Seidel

The Bank of New Glarus
Michelle Larrabee
Hunter Metz

The Peoples Community Bank
Alisha Bollig

Woodford State Bank
Samantha Hendrickson
Mia Jackson

05/21/2026

Last month, after an incredible 47 years in banking, the WBA and Farmers & Merchants State Bank (F&M) recognized and celebrated the career and impact of Dave Stronach by presenting him with the 40-year Lifetime Service Award. Dave's steady leadership and knowledge helped shape the bank's culture and guide the staff. Congratulations and thank you for your outstanding impact!

05/20/2026

That's a wrap on day two of the WBA Human Resources Conference! We started the day with our panel discussion, HR as a Strategic Partner: A CEO’s Perspective, where bank CEOs shared candid insights on what they value most from their HR leaders and how they see the role continuing to evolve within their organizations.

We also heard an informative Employment Law Update from Brian Goodman and Storm Larson of Boardman & Clark Law Firm, covering important updates and key takeaways for HR professionals.

Kim Rogne closed out the conference with a great session on finding balance in our hectic days. The perfect way to end two days of learning, networking, and collaboration.

Thank you to everyone who joined us! We loved connecting with you all and can’t wait to see everyone again next year!

05/19/2026

Day one of the WBA Human Resources Conference is off to a great start! Steve Bench had everyone laughing during his session on managing Gen Z and every other generations in the workplace. Next, Renee Peterson led a great Talent Management Support Group discussion. Between the sessions, there’s been plenty of networking, idea sharing, and great conversations throughout the day.

WBA would also like to thank our event sponsors: The Perk, United Healthcare, and EBC!