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Business Wire
18-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Congressman Scott Fitzgerald Tours Former Grade School Transformed Into Housing, Leads Discussion on Challenges for Seniors and Our Workforce
MUSKEGO, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--U.S. Representative Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) joined with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) and local leaders today for a discussion of the housing affordability challenges facing communities across Wisconsin. Following a tour of a former Muskego grade school that has been redeveloped into low-cost housing, the roundtable discussion brought together representatives from Associated Bank, the Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development, Inc. and Commonwealth Development Corporation of America to share their insights and explore solutions to the rising cost of housing statewide. The tour highlighted the success of the Muskego School Apartments, a former grade school redeveloped into affordable housing units by the Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development, Inc. and Commonwealth Development Corporation of America. The project received a $510,000 grant from FHLBank Chicago's Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund, sponsored by its member Associated Bank. The project is an example of the unique adaptive reuse of an empty school into a place to call home for area seniors, families, and individuals with disabilities. 'Today's roundtable was an important opportunity to hear directly from the people working every day to expand access to working family housing in the greater Milwaukee area,' said Congressman Scott Fitzgerald. 'Meeting these housing needs requires more than just funding; it takes collaboration to ensure every Wisconsinite has a safe, stable place to call home. Thanks to local partners like FHLBank Chicago, Associated Bank, and the Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development, Inc., we're solving housing issues right here in Muskego.' Located just one block from Little Muskego Lake, the apartment project expands access to affordable housing in a community where economic disparities and aging housing stock have resulted in limited availability of residential homes and buildings. This development is especially vital for senior residents living on fixed incomes, offering them housing designed for ease and independence. 'Reusing existing buildings like the former Muskego Elementary School for affordable housing in Milwaukee is a powerful investment in the city's resilience and future,' said Todd Mandel, Executive Director, Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development, Inc. 'The AHP funding from FHLBank Chicago helped create homes that offer residents a peaceful setting, modern amenities, and close access to the community and downtown.' 'Our partnership with Associated Bank and community partners exemplifies how collaboration and innovation can transform communities through improving access to housing,' said Michael Ericson, President and CEO, FHLBank Chicago. 'Affordable housing is the cornerstone of resilient communities, and our AHP grants are helping to solve critical housing issues in areas with the highest need.' 'Associated Bank is proud to play an active role in helping our communities grow and prosper," said Stefanie Bachrach, Senior Vice President with Associated Community Development, LLC, the bank's community development corporation. 'Strategic partnerships between the housing leaders gathered here today show that we have a shared vision to create opportunities for individuals and families to share the rewards of building economic and housing stability in our communities.' For additional information about FHLBank Chicago's AHP General Fund, please visit About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago FHLBank Chicago is a regional bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. FHLBanks are government-sponsored enterprises created by Congress to ensure access to low-cost funding for their member financial institutions, with a focus on providing solutions that support the housing and community development needs of members' customers. FHLBank Chicago is a self-capitalizing cooperative, owned by its Illinois and Wisconsin members, including commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, savings institutions and community development financial institutions. To learn more about FHLBank Chicago, please visit About Associated Banc-Corp Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $43 billion and is the largest bank holding company based in Wisconsin. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from nearly 200 banking locations serving more than 100 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri. The company also operates loan production offices in Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at About Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development, Inc. The Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development, Inc. is committed to housing for everyone because it's essential for building healthy communities. We build effective public-private partnerships to expand access to affordable housing options. We do this by directly developing quality housing and by consulting with local groups to provide them with the expertise and capacity to expand affordable housing in their communities. About Commonwealth Development Corporation of America Commonwealth Development Corporation of America (CDC) is a leading, majority woman-owned national developer of affordable, workforce, and senior housing. Committed to creating high-quality housing that strengthens neighborhoods and communities, CDC has developed more than 125 projects and over 8,000 units since its founding in 2001. The firm is consistently ranked among the top affordable housing developers in the country.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Associated Bank launches AI Academy, a summer youth education program
In partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and Milky Way Tech Hub, Associated Bank AI Academy will boost digital skills and financial literacy among Milwaukee youth MILWAUKEE, June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) ("Associated") today announced a dynamic pilot program aimed at empowering Milwaukee youth with essential skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and financial literacy: Associated Bank AI Academy. Associated Bank AI Academy is a six-week curriculum designed for local youths to help them learn critical life skills. Led by Terry L. Williams, chief information officer at Associated Bank, the new initiative will launch this summer as part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee's curriculum. The program is designed for sixth through eighth grade students and will focus on artificial intelligence, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship—including hands-on instruction in prompt engineering using platforms like ChatGPT and learning fundamentals of data science. "Supporting innovation in youth education is a core part of Associated Bank's commitment to the community," said Williams. "This program blends financial literacy with emerging technology to give young minds a head start in understanding how artificial intelligence will shape their ongoing education and future—and we're proud to partner with Boys and Girls Club and Milky Way Tech Hub to bring it to Milwaukee." Each week, Associated Bank AI Academy will focus on a new topic, building each week's learning off each other to build a wholistic view of how AI will shape the future. Students will earn "Associated Bank Bucks," a co-branded incentive system to recognize their participation and performance in the program. These "bucks" can be exchanged for Associated Bank merchandise and other exclusive rewards, making the learning experience both meaningful and fun. Milky Way Tech Hub will help facilitate the classes and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee will host and manage the pilot and class operations at one of their Milwaukee-area locations. "This partnership embodies what Milky Way Tech Hub stands for—equity, education and empowering future innovators," said Nadiyah Johnson, founder and CEO of Milky Way Tech Hub. "We're thrilled to work alongside Associated Bank to provide young people with tools to build wealth and navigate the future of tech." Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee will announce additional details, including how parents can register their children for AI Academy. "Our youth development work at the Boys & Girls Clubs will rise or fall on our ability to innovate. Our offerings must be engaging, fun, relevant, and genuinely life changing. Otherwise, kids vote with their feet, and we lose them," said Jeff Snell, president and CEO, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee. "Associated Bank's AI Academy available to our members—the first such AI learning experience as a career pathway for Boys & Girls Clubs members in Wisconsin—is a perfect example, capturing young imaginations, providing a context to aspire, and then equipping them in new ways to be productive, responsible, caring citizens. We are very grateful." The program will begin July 7 and will start with a cohort of 15–20 students. Sessions will be delivered by Milky Way Tech Hub facilitators in partnership with employee volunteers from Associated Bank supporting the hands-on youth training. The program will culminate with a celebration hosted at the Associated Bank River Center. Planning is already underway to expand the program once a successful pilot is complete. Associated Bank and Milky Way Tech Hub are also collaborating on a series of co-branded materials to promote the initiative across the city. For more information on Milky Way Tech Hub's programs and partnerships, visit For more information on the Boys & Girls Clubs of Great Milwaukee, visit: ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORPAssociated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $43 billion and is the largest bank holding company based in Wisconsin. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from nearly 200 banking locations serving more than 100 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri. The company also operates loan production offices in Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at Media Contacts:Leia Ferrari Traner, Milky Way Tech Hub (leia@ Andrea Kozek, Associated Bank ( Norwood, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee ( View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Associated Banc-Corp Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Associated Bank sees new hires driving commercial growth
This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter. Having added new bankers and lending verticals, Associated Bank is chasing growth in its commercial bank, even as economic uncertainty lingers. Green Bay, Wisconsin-based Associated recently hired three relationship managers for its commercial banking team in Kansas City, Missouri. All three come from super-regional U.S. Bank, where Phil Trier, the bank's head of corporate and commercial banking, spent more than two decades before he joined Associated 15 months ago. 'I knew all three of them very well from my predecessor bank, and how talented they are, and really excited about the impact that they're already making in a relatively short period of time,' Trier said. Phil Trier, Associated Bank's head of corporate and commercial banking Those three bankers will cover Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas for the $43 billion-asset lender. 'We're going to pause there a little bit, get the level of execution up, and then over time, I could see us growing that team, as well as looking at a more adjacent state kind of hiring strategy,' Trier said. More broadly, the bank has hired 25 relationship managers across its core footprint in the last two years, who have come from large national, regional and community banks, he said. 'A lot of what we do is driven by talent,' he said. 'Talent is going to lead where we go and help drive those decisions.' The Midwest lender has completed planned investments in technology and people in its corporate and commercial segment, which serves companies with revenues of $25 million or more and includes specialty businesses such as equipment finance and treasury management. As part of his strategy, Trier also introduced a new deposit-centric vertical with a national scope, focusing on title and escrow companies, property management firms and some fintech businesses. The banker hired to lead that endeavor, Rick Bruhn, is also a U.S. Bank veteran. Now, the bank is focused on execution, strengthening Associated's core business in the Midwest and expanding in newer markets. That growth is fundamental to the bank's strategy: Expanding the commercial bank is geared toward diversifying the bank's balance sheet, as Associated rebalances from being more focused on lower-yielding consumer mortgages and consumer debt, to growing its commercial business and enhancing the products and services it offers those customers, Trier said. That's ultimately designed to bolster profitability. Especially in what Trier referred to as a 'hyper-competitive market,' talent wins 'can make a material difference,' he said.
Business Journals
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Associated Bank opens first Missouri branch in Dellwood, near St. Louis
By submitting your information you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and User Agreement . Join the Milwaukee Business Journal to unlock even more insights! Associated Bank now has nine branches in the St. Louis area, with all of its previously existing locations on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River. AT A GLANCE Associated Bank opened its first Missouri branch The Green Bay-based bank now has nine branches in the St. Louis metro area. All of Associated's previously existing locations were on the Illinois side of the Mississippi. GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY Find Local Events Near You Connect with a community of local professionals. Explore All Events Wisconsin's largest state-based bank has opened its first branch in Missouri, which is its ninth in the St. Louis metro area. Green Bay-based Associated Bank built out a nearly 6,000-square-foot space at 10044 W. Florissant Ave. in the Delwood Crossing shopping center. The bank chose Dellwood after forming an advisory council that identified the need for a branch and a Community Advocacy Center in the Dellwood-Ferguson area, said Shawn McCutcheon, Associated Bank's St. Louis-Metro East president. The Community Advocacy Center is a space where events can be held to cover issues including financial literacy, hosting seminars for first-time homebuyers, and helping seniors with concerns about elder abuse and fraud, McCutcheon said. McCutcheon declined to say how much the bank spent to convert the vacant space into the branch or details of the long-term lease. The branch has seven employees: a manager, a relationship banker, a universal banker, a teller, two affordable mortgage lenders and a community accountability officer. expand Shawn McCutcheon, Associated Bank's St. Louis-Metro East president Associated Bank The branch gives Associated a presence in four states. The bank also operates in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. In 1997, Associated Bank entered the St. Louis market through the acquisition by its parent company, Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB), of First Financial Corp. Associated also added branches with the 2020 purchase of First National Bank in Staunton, Illinois. Before Monday's opening in Dellwood, all of Associated's St. Louis-area branches were on the Illinois side of the Mississippi, known as Metro East. Associated Bank ranked as the 54th fastest-growing bank in the St. Louis area, based on year-over-year percentage change increase in total deposits at 4.21%, according to St. Louis Business Journal research published on April 11. These are the 112 fastest-growing banks in the St. Louis region Year-over-year change (%) Rank Prior Rank Company name 1 1 1st Advantage Bank 2 2 Bank & Trust Co. 3 3 The Bank of Old Monroe View this list Largest Milwaukee-area banks Local deposits 6-30-24 Rank Prior Rank Business name 1 1 U.S. Bank NA 2 2 BMO Bank NA 3 3 JPMorgan Chase Bank NA View this list
Business Journals
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Expect M&A to help fuel fast-growing Associated Bank's growth in KC
Wisconsin-based Associated Bank is starting small in Kansas City (loan production office), but expect it to get a lot bigger, including by acquisition: It has made six since 2000.
