MADISON, Wis. – On Thursday morning, 23 Wisconsin bankers and 11 banks were honored by the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) for their efforts in promoting financial literacy to Wisconsin’s consumers. WBF is the nonprofit arm of the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) whose mission is to promote financial literacy and financial capability to the public and to broaden consumer empowerment in the financial services industry through research, education, grants, and scholarships.
For the second year in a row, Sue Krause of Fox Valley Savings Bank in Fond du Lac was awarded the prestigious Financial Literacy Banker of the Year Award. The Financial Literacy Banker Award was presented to Joshua Pauling of Farmers State Bank of Waupaca.
In addition to the esteemed recognition, Krause and Pauling were also honored with the Certificate of Excellence alongside Pam Blattner, Bank of Sun Prairie, and Jenean Friedland Paige Hyer of Royal Bank, Elroy, for exceeding 20 financial education presentations in their local communities during the Foundation’s 2021–2022 fiscal year.
Eighteen individuals received a Certificate of Recognition completing at least five financial education presentations. This year’s recipients are Dena Hineline and Pamela Sanderson, Bank of Sun Prairie; Christine Buckman, Hilari Henke, Deann LaValley, Erik Thompson, and Dawn Whipple, First Bank of Baldwin; Emily Bennig, Katie Dillon, and Tami Miller, First National Bank of River Falls; Katlein Detloff, Ladysmith Federal Savings & Loan; Karri Oelke, National Exchange Bank & Trust, Fond du Lac; Beth Durow, Lisa Hower, Alyssa Manley, and Alicia Schneider, The Stephenson National Bank & Trust, Marinette; as well as Kaylee Fellom and Matteson Mahlum, Union State Bank, West Salem.
The WBF Excellence in Financial Education Award was presented to 11 WBA-member banks for their bank-wide dedication to financial education during the 2021–2022 fiscal year, which encouraged over 130 bankers to get involved for the wellbeing of their communities. The banks awarded include Bank of Sun Prairie; Farmers State Bank of Waupaca; First Bank of Baldwin; First National Bank of River Falls; Ladysmith Federal Savings and Loan Association; National Exchange Bank & Trust, Fond du Lac; Premier Community Bank, Marion; PremierBank, Fort Atkinson; The Stephenson National Bank & Trust, Marinette; Union State Bank, West Salem; and Waumandee State Bank.
The outstanding efforts of all honorees were celebrated at the recent WBA LEAD360 Conference held in Wisconsin Dells. During the 2021–2022 fiscal year, these 23 individuals and 11 banks helped WBF expand its financial education to reach nearly 11,000 people throughout the state.
“Each year, I am amazed by the incredible efforts of bankers across our state as they make their way into classrooms, community centers, and retirement facilities to ensure access to invaluable financial education,” said Rose Oswald Poels, chair of the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Board. “Bankers throughout the state continue to prove their commitment to their communities through outstanding efforts to support the financial wellness of consumers.”
Pictured (left to right) are: Financial Literacy Banker Award recipient Joshua Pauling of Farmers State Bank of Waupaca and Cassandra Krause, Wisconsin Bankers Foundation executive director.
Sue Krause of Fox Valley Saving Bank in Fond du Lac (right), who was unable to attend this year’s ceremony, receives the Financial Literacy Banker of the Year Award from Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Chair Rose Oswald Poels (left) during the 2020–2021 recognition program last fall. This year was her second consecutive year receiving the prestigious honor.
Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Executive Director Cassandra Krause (center, black) celebrates award recipients at the Wisconsin Bankers Association annual LEAD360 Conference.
