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One of the best parts of living in Minnesota is getting to enjoy the changing seasons. While I prefer colder temperatures and winter weather, late spring and summer provide a bit of respite from our winter hibernation. In the summertime, we can spend more time outdoors with our friends and families. I want to encourage you to take advantage of Minnesota’s beautiful summertime weather.
Each year, we host our extended family for a pool party and grill out in our backyard for the Fourth of July. I enjoy the gathering because it fosters togetherness and connection. There are usually over 30 people who attend, which means there is a lot of grilling to be done!
One of my recommendations for grilling for such a large group is to get a variety of options. We like to grill burgers, hot dogs, and brats from Hy-Vee. They offer a variety of brat flavors, including pineapple, which is my least favorite but a favorite among my family, brown sugar, cheddar, and more creative options like wild rice and jalapeño.
With all the meat options, the grill is usually packed and doesn’t get finished at the same time, so I recommend having a variety of side dishes and appetizers. This guarantees that everyone can enjoy their meal together, even if the main courses do not arrive at the same time.
And no grill out is complete without a bit of friendly competition, so my last piece of advice for your summertime grill outs would be to organize a game of cornhole. It’s an easy game to play, and it keeps everyone entertained before and after a hearty meal. And that is usually where memories are made.
I hope you have a wonderful summer, and take note of some of our employee barbecue recommendations in our May newsletter.
~Dirk R. Gasterland, CEO
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Our tellers are often the first and most frequent connection customers have with Coulee Bank. This feature highlights the people behind the counter who make every interaction count. Executive VP and Market President, Jodi Ehrenberger and her team, says this about Onalaska Customer Support Specialist,
Kiley C.
Kiley handles whatever comes her way with confidence and ease. She seamlessly juggles customers, phone calls, and daily tasks, making it all look effortless. She’s friendly, approachable, and easy to talk to – qualities our customers truly appreciate. There isn’t a week that goes by where she doesn’t get a customer complement.
Recently, a customer called in and spoke with another team member to request printed statements for pick up. When the customer arrived, Kiley immediately recognized them and had everything ready to go. They were truly impressed by how prepared and attentive she was. I also overheard another customer share with her that he consistently receives the best customer service here and truly appreciates it. His typical visits include depositing a stack of checks along with asking a few questions about his account and balances. Kiley always ensures he’s taken care of thoroughly and efficiently.
Build a banking relationship with the team in Onalaska.
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👀 Keep an eye out!
There’s a little Easter Egg 🥚 hidden in this month’s newsletter. Find it, and you could win a mini speaker that's perfect for home or the office.
To enter the drawing for the mini speaker, email marketing@couleebank.net, and let us know which article you found the Easter Egg in. One winner will be selected and notified via email on 5/13/2026.
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The Financial Advice You Grew Up On
In this feature, we're sharing real-life financial advice inspired by the lessons moms have passed down for generations. From saving smart to spending wisely, these timeless tips remind us that the best money habits often start at home.
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Empowering Small Businesses
As Small Business Week approaches, it is an opportune time to learn the perspective of our credit analysts and the role they play in assessing the financial health of small businesses. This evaluation process ensures that small businesses receive the tailored financial support they need to thrive within our community.
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The Little Costs of Homeownership No One Talks About
When you're ready to buy a home, most of us prepare for down payments, mortgage insurance, property taxes, homeowners' insurance, appraisals, and any immediate repairs the home may need. But there are other puzzle pieces to consider when budgeting for homeownership. In this two-part series, we’ll put those overlooked pieces together so you can feel more prepared for the full picture of homeownership.
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A Mother’s Day Reminder: Help Protect the Moms We Love
Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the incredible women who have cared for us, supported us, and taught us so much. It’s also a great opportunity to return the favor by helping protect them from something that’s becoming far too common, fraud and scams targeting seniors.
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| | Organizational Announcement | | We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Calvin Koep to Senior Credit Analyst, recognizing his outstanding contributions and dedication to our team! | | Calvin says, "I’m grateful for this opportunity and appreciate the guidance and support I’ve received from the credit team and colleagues at Coulee Bank." He says it means a lot to work for a company where you feel valued and share core principles. He looks forward to continuing to serve Coulee Bank, our lenders, and local communities. | | | | | |
Chelsey began her career as a hairstylist at one of Rochester’s premier salons, where she spent 10 years building relationships and serving clients. She later transitioned into roles in sales, retention, and billing, eventually running her own call center. From there, moving into banking felt like a natural next step, as it allowed her to continue doing what she enjoys most—working with people.
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Celebrate National BBQ Week with Us!
In honor of National BBQ Week this May, we are excited to feature delicious barbecue recommendations from our very own employees. Join us as we explore mouthwatering local spots and secret family recipes, ensuring you have the perfect culinary guide for a week of tasty summertime meals.
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Customer Spotlight: Bandi Group, LLC
For Sankar and his wife, Aruna Bandi, success has always been about more than just career growth—it has been about building something meaningful for their family and community.
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Coulee Bank commits to workplace excellence and nurtures growth and support within the communities we consider home. We volunteer, empowered by the belief that we can create positive change! | | |
These fantastic ladies had a wonderful time at Spring Fling, a day to mix, mingle, dine, and shop in support of women and girls in the Greater La Crosse area.
Our very own Jodi Ehrenberger, Market President in La Crosse, serves as board president and spoke on behalf of the Women's Fund, welcoming attendees to this inspiring event. Spring Fling helps fund grants focused on literacy, violence prevention, health, education, and economic stability, causes that strengthen our entire community.
We're proud to support opportunities that help women and girls thrive.
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Two of our Rochester employees attended the Day at the Capitol with the Rochester Chamber of Commerce. They were welcomed by multiple government officials and sat in on talks discussing key legislative priorities, including our workforce, infrastructure, and general business.
They had the distinct pleasure of meeting House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Sen. Mark Johnson, Sen. Liz Boldon, Sen. Steve Drazkowski, Sen. Nick Frentz, Sen. Carla Nelson, Rep. Greg Davids, and Rep. Andy Smith. Their engagement helps ensure the voices of our local businesses are heard by our elected officials in St. Paul.
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These amazing women attended the 2026 Women in Banking Conference in Minneapolis last week!
From conversations about bridging generational differences in the workplace to building strong, supportive teams and prioritizing self-care throughout the work week, our team returned inspired and energized.
Investing in our people means investing in our community, and we love seeing our employees grow, learn, and bring fresh ideas back to the bank.
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We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to our recent Food Drive at our Minnesota locations. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to support Neighbors, Inc. in Dakota County and the Rochester Women’s Shelter with much-needed food items like pancake mix, masa flour, canned meat, crackers, pudding cups, and more.
Thank you to all who dropped off donations and helped spread the word.
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In honor of Earth Day, our dedicated Coulee Bank team came together on April 22nd to make a positive impact in our communities! Employees from our Minnetonka, St. Paul, Rochester, and La Crosse branches cleaned up local parks, downtown areas, and neighborhoods, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to the communities we serve.
We’re proud to contribute to a cleaner, greener future for everyone. Thank you to all our team members for their hard work!
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Recently, these Coulee Bank top-performing women attended the Wisconsin Women in Banking Conference in the Wisconsin Dells. They benefited from over three hours of presentations, networking opportunities, and engaging conversations.
Proud to support and celebrate their growth!
| | This month, we take a moment to celebrate the dedicated individuals who make Coulee Bank a wonderful place to work. We are thrilled to wish a very happy birthday to our colleagues who are turning a year older this month. | | At Coulee Bank, we believe in celebrating the dedication and hard work of our team members. Their commitment to serving our customers with excellence and care is what defines us. Today, we are thrilled to acknowledge and celebrate the workiversaries of some of our valued colleagues. | | Disclaimer - All content contained in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon to make any financial, accounting, tax, legal or other related decisions. Each person must consider his or her objectives, risk tolerances and level of comfort when making financial decisions and should consult a competent professional advisor prior to making any such decisions. Any opinions expressed through the content in this newsletter are the opinions of the particular author only. | | | | |
