We’re incredibly excited to welcome Waunakee Community Bank as the presenting sponsor of this year’s Waunakee Kids Triathlon. This amazing team came to us and wanted to make an immediate and profound impact on their new neighbors, and their generosity and enthusiasm has made planning this year’s race even more fun! We sat down with Elyse Smithback, Vice President of Treasury Management and Private Banking (who’s also a mom of three junior triathletes AND training for Ironman Wisconsin in September), to learn more about this new face in the Village.
Why did Oregon Community Bank decide to open a location in Waunakee?
The bank had been wanting to expand, and we felt Waunakee matched our banking philosophy and values, and that the community would welcome us as a partner. It helped that we had a lot of existing customers in Waunakee, so this growth allowed us to serve them while building new relationships with Waunakee residents.
What has been the initial response from the village and community?
The response has been overwhelmingly positive! Everyone we have interacted with has been very welcoming and are eager to establish a relationship with WCB.
How have you gotten involved in the community so far?
We’ve made being active members of the village a top priority. This is a cornerstone for who we are as a community bank. For example, Ann Becker, one of our mortgage loan officers, is serving on the Board of Directions for the Waunakee Area Chamber of Commerce.
Our other biggest priority is investing in community-based events and programs, especially centered around kids. We made a $20,000 donation to the High School’s Innovation Center, which promotes innovation, ingenuity, and creativity for students, staff, and community members. And of course, we signed on this year as the presenting sponsor for the Waunakee kids triathlon!
Speaking of that exciting news, why did you decide to partner with Tri 4 Schools and the Waunakee kids tri?
We know that this event is a community-builder with a great reputation. It also shares our value of supporting our schools and the next generation. Finally, healthy and active lifestyles are a big priority for us. As the presenting sponsor of the Oregon Kids triathlon, we felt that the Tri 4 Schools Waunakee kids triathlon was a great way to continue that message.
What are you most looking forward to about the race?
This will be the first big community event where we will have physical presence, so we can’t wait to see it come to life! We will be hosting packet pick-up on Friday and welcoming the community to our “home,” as well as volunteering at the finish line. Seeing kids getting their WCB medals will be such a thrill for us, especially since my own kids will be participating, too!
If I’m looking to make a change or start working with a bank, why should I select WCB for my personal or business banking needs?
We are a relationship-based bank, and want to make this a partnership in every sense of the word. By coming to your place of business or home for meetings, we try to make things convenient for you. We are available when you need us! We pride ourselves on being a modern, progressive, forward-thinking bank, and want to help you succeed in your future financial goals.
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