Wisconsin Banker September | October 2026
MORE THAN A DAY JOB How the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Fuels Banker Volunteerism and Generosity By Elizabeth Fenton I’ve written articles for Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) publications for a little over a year. In that time, I’ve had the unique privilege of connecting with bankers on a personal level to gather everything from subject matter expertise on fraud and regulatory issues, to the everyday anecdotes about customer relationships. We know, in the general sense, that Wisconsin banks strengthen their communities — they finance small businesses, help families purchase homes, support local organizations, and sponsor community development. However, I believe the broad statements hardly capture the deeply personal and out-of-the-box acts of generosity that bankers show to their neighbors. In past issues of the “Wisconsin Banker,” I’ve had the opportunity to share several of these stories. Chad Achenbach of Peoples State Bank described traveling deep into Amish horse-and-buggy country, where he’s signed loan documents around a family’s kitchen table. Jenna Raisbeck of Community First Bank shared how her team delivers lunches to farmers during harvest season so they can remain in the field during one of the busiest times of the year. Samantha Routheau of The Peshtigo National Bank told me how her bank purchased $600 in Chamber Bucks to give away to customers, encouraging support of businesses affected by road construction. These real, lived experiences — among dozens more I’ve collected over the past year — serve as a testament to the unmatched generosity of the industry. Bankers go above-and-beyond to form warm, personal connections with the people in Continued on pg. 8
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2026 MID-YEAR WISCONSIN BANK CEO ECONOMIC SURVEY REFLECTS GOOD ECONOMIC HEALTH SENTIMENT Ongoing WBA Advocacy Efforts Focus on Solutions to Concerns of Survey Respondents By Heather MacKinnon The Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) recently released the results of its mid-year 2026 Bank CEO Economic Conditions Survey. The results of which are insightful to Wisconsin’s economy as bankers are often among the first to recognize changes in the economy because of how they work directly with families buying homes, farmers planning for the next season, entrepreneurs launching businesses, and employers making hiring decisions. Bankers have the unique ability to provide one of the clearest, boots-on-the-ground pictures of Wisconsin’s economy. The biannual survey includes a set of stagnate questions to collect year-over-year data regarding current and future product demand together with questions nuanced to top-of-mind concerns relative to the timing of the survey. The survey was conducted mid-June through mid-July. This year’s mid-year survey results indicated a steady economic outlook. Nearly 80% of respondents indicated the health of the state’s economy as “good” or “excellent,” and more than 60% expect conditions to Continued on pg. 9
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