Contact: Deb Krebs, Marketing Manager
608-837-4511
Deb.Krebs@bankofsunprairie.com
Sun Prairie, WI – After 48 years at the bank, Alice Hensen, President of Bank of Sun Prairie, will retire on December 31, 2014.
Hensen became president at Bank of Sun Prairie in 2006. At the time of her appointment, she was the only woman leading a bank in Dane County and one of the few ever to do so in the state.
Hensen, 68, is a native of Cottage Grove. She started her banking career at the age of 20, working in the back room proofing transactions. Hensen learned on the job and took training courses that led her to customer-facing roles as a teller and head teller, to eventually learning mortgage and commercial lending, which opened the door to the executive level.
“I am very fortunate to have been given so many great opportunities here at Bank of Sun Prairie,” said Alice Hensen. “I give credit to the people around me who saw my potential early on and my desire to learn. Today, I give all the credit to everyone at Bank of Sun Prairie. I truly couldn’t have done this without their dedication to making this the best community bank.”
Hensen led Bank of Sun Prairie through the economic downturn and the banking crisis.
“Given the climate of the economy, which has been horrible, Alice and her team have done a masterful job,” said Herman Kraus, a Sun Prairie developer and realtor. “Any bank that has weathered this horrendous economy is doing something right. Alice has a great sense of what needs to be done and is able to give the support to help businesses grow. I know she leaves the bank well-positioned for the future.”
Hensen has been very active in the community and the banking industry. She was on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Bankers Association and the American Institute of Banking, on the board of trustees for the Sun Prairie Library and co-chair of the campaign to build a new library. Hensen also served on the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce, the Community Development Authority for the city of Sun Prairie, and was most recently chair of the Wisconsin Bankers Association Bank Executive Committee for the 2014 conference.
“I am a firm believer that you should be involved in your community,” Hensen said. “Many of the staff have taken that baton and found ways to give back. I hope that the bank never loses that drive for volunteerism.”
Hensen looks forward to spending more time with family and traveling when she retires. She also hopes to join a choir. “I love music and I think I could fit in as a chorus singer, as long as I don’t have to be that good,” Hensen says with a laugh.
“I will miss the people the most,” said Hensen. “I consider everyone at the bank family and I couldn’t have asked for better communities to serve. I am honored and thank everyone for their support through the years.”
A national search for a new president of Bank of Sun Prairie has been launched.
About Bank of Sun Prairie
Bank of Sun Prairie is a locally owned community bank with over 100 years of service to their customers and communities. Bank of Sun Prairie is a full-service institution with four branches; 228 East Main Street, 550 Broadway Drive, 119 Wilburn Road in Sun Prairie, and 419 West Cottage Grove Road in Cottage Grove. Member FDIC.
