Coulee Courier

As summer rolls in, and your kids are home from school, I encourage you to take this time to teach your children about money. It helps to start at a young age, but if you haven’t done that, now is a great time to start.

Start teaching them the difference between wants and needs. When kids are young, like four or five, teach them the concept of a need which is a fundamental requirement for survival — food, water, shelter, and clothing. Conversely, a want is a desired item that may enhance the quality of life or create a lot of fun. Understanding the difference helps develop their financial literacy and how to be responsible with their money.

When my kids were a little older, my wife and I started introducing the concept of delayed gratification. Prioritizing wants and needs establishes how to save money. For example, there is a big price difference between purchasing a fidget spinner versus a Barbie Dreamhouse. If your child wants the item that is more expensive, it becomes a lesson in learning how to save money until you have enough to purchase the more expensive item.

I recall taking my oldest daughter to Target to look at Littlest Pet Shop toys. She wanted one of the big sets, and I used this opportunity to teach her how to equate the scalability of purchases and to show how the cost of things differs. To illustrate, let’s say the largest toy set was $50. I showed my daughter that she could purchase 10 of the smaller sets that were $4.99 for that same amount of money. Even after this discussion, she wanted the larger set. She didn’t have $50, so I took this opportunity to help her understand she needed to save her money until she had the full amount to purchase the larger toy set.

Once our children were older and held jobs, the lesson was beyond delaying gratification but about keeping a balance so they had enough money for their needs while striving to save for something they wanted. As teenagers, their financial needs became more immediate and direct because if they have a car, they also need to understand that they will need gas, license tabs, and insurance all to make the car go. The older they get, the more complex the conversations become. Not only do you need to set aside money to make your car get from point A to point B, but you also need to put money aside for the proverbial rainy day. It’s a good rule of thumb to teach them to keep six months of living expenses at the ready in case of a job loss, medical bill, car repair, or any other unexpected expense.

When my kids reached adulthood, the conversation was built around living within their means and avoiding debt. Avoiding debt may be a bit of an anti-message from a banker, but my wife and I wanted to ensure they had a healthy relationship with money. If you have a child who takes out student loans, encourage them to live below their means to pay it off quicker. Sometimes, the money lesson can be about sacrifice.

All these lessons were taught in hopes that they would reach adulthood and be responsible for running household expenses. We wanted them to be disciplined with their spending habits. Anyone can have a healthy relationship with money, no matter how much you are making, if you are able to learn how to live within your means.

May your summer be healthy and prosperous.



 ~Dirk Gasterland, CEO

Understanding Escrow: Payments and Loan Closings

Escrow services relate to real estate and the mortgage industry. It’s a method of providing security and structure to transactions. There are two types of escrow: escrow for bank payments and escrow for loan closings. Understanding these can help individuals navigate financial transactions with confidence.

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Reach out to Kris Farwell and her team if you are ready to purchase a home.

Coulee Bank. Bank with Confidence. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS#410835

Coulee Bank has branches in Minnesota and Wisconsin and is excited to offer lending in all 50 states.

Reach out to Kris Farwell and her team if you are ready to purchase a home.

Coulee Bank. Bank with Confidence. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS#410835

Discover Your Money Personality: A Guide to Financial Success

Understanding your money personality can greatly impact how you manage finances. Each personality has its strengths and weaknesses, and recognizing them can help develop a more balanced and effective approach to financial management. The five money personalities are: the Shopper, the Saver, the Big Spender, the Investor, and the Debtor. We talked with a few of our employees to create this 5-part series. Last month, we featured an article about the Shopper Personality. This month, we are featuring the Saver Personality. 

Lori DuMars, HR Generalist, epitomizes the classic Saver Personality. She has a cautious approach to spending and investing. Her lifestyle and financial habits are deeply rooted in principles of frugality and careful money management, learned from her upbringing in a frugal household.

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Banker’s Guide: Safe Banking Practices While Traveling

Traveling is a great way to discover new places, connect with people from diverse backgrounds, and create unforgettable memories. Yet, amid the excitement, take time to prioritize the security of your financial information. Whether you’re setting off on a brief weekend escape or embarking on a month-long journey, ensuring the safety of your cards and accounts should be at the forefront of your travel plans. In this article, we will provide you with strategies to help protect your financial information, ensuring that your travels remain enjoyable and stress-free.



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Tips from IT

Scam of the Month: The Great reCAPTCHA Con

Ah, CAPTCHA - the little security puzzle designed to prove you’re not a robot. You’ve seen it a million times:

•   “Click all the traffic lights.”
•  “Select every image with a bicycle.”
• “Type the wobbly letters that look like a drunk graphic designer designed them.”

Now, cybercriminals have flipped the script, and they’re using reCAPTCHA to scam you.

Let’s get into it.

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Coulee in the Community

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! You can be confident in our efforts to support the community. 

Team Rochester helped Paws and Claws Humane Society prepare for their annual rummage sale coming up May 30th - June 1st! We moved lots of boxes, and our reward was spending time with lots of cute puppies and kitties. Great job, Team Rochester!

What a fantastic day in La Crosse! Our amazing team spent time sorting pallets of juicy oranges and grapefruits, washing windows, walls, and floors at WAFER Food Pantry. Thank you for giving back to the community!

Coulee Bank was recently asked to participate in a food drive for WAFER Food Pantry in La Crosse to show how a community can work together to support an organization in need. And, holy ravioli, folks, we far exceeded expectations!

We were challenged with collecting 100 boxes of pasta for WAFER Food Pantry. Thanks to the amazing generosity of our employees and community members, we collected 1,000 boxes of pasta for WAFER Food Pantry! Thank you to everyone who donated, shared, and supported this drive.

Employee Spotlight

We are incredibly grateful for all of our employees. They work hard and make significant contributions that enrich our company culture. This month, we recognize Kiley Clauson, Customer Service Specialist, La Crosse, WI.

Meet Kiley Clauson, Customer Service Specialist at Coulee Bank. She started at Coulee Bank in September 2023. She says, “My mom, a branch manager at another bank, is my inspiration. Ever since I can remember, she has worked in banking.” Clauson has taken a lot of financial cues from her mom, and in high school, Clauson participated in Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), which taught her about business and banking even more. “I had a desire to follow a path in banking just like my mom,” she says.

Clauson also works at Westview Inn, a supper club in West Salem. She met one of Coulee Bank’s Retail Banking Managers, Audra Jandt, who offered Clauson a position as a part-time Customer Support Specialist in the Call Center, as she attended Western Technical College in La Crosse. Her hard work and dedication ultimately led her to a position at the teller line. Clauson recently graduated with her Associate of Applied Science in Business Management.

Clauson brings flexibility, professionalism, and patience to work with her every day. She says, “It can be challenging troubleshooting issues from customers, and it’s important for me to be positive as we problem solve questions or concerns with each customer over the phone or in person.” She treats our customers the way she would want someone to treat her – with the utmost respect.

When Clauson puts away her customer service hat for the day, she goes home to her new puppy, Ruger, a chocolate lab. She adopted Ruger from a family friend in Bangor, WI, and he keeps her busy. She loves going hiking or taking Ruger for walks after work.

When she isn’t hiking with her new pup, she loves building model cars while listening to country music. She purchases model car kits from Hobby Lobby and has created about 10 so far! The models are now a part of her home décor. “I display each of them on a little shelf at home,” she says.

Kiley Clauson, thank you for choosing to work at Coulee Bank. We appreciate your kindness, professionalism, flexibility, and patience! We wish you much success in your career at Coulee Bank.

New Hire Spotlight

We are thrilled to introduce the newest member of our team, who brings a wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm, and fresh perspectives to our organization. Please welcome Jared Wermager, Mortgage Loan Officer, La Crosse, WI.

We are thrilled to introduce Jared Wermager, a Mortgage Loan Officer, who recently joined Coulee Bank in La Crosse, WI. He is originally from Montevideo, MN, and graduated from high school in 2001. From there, he studied at a community college and worked in sales.

Wermager enlisted in the Navy in 2005 to learn underwater welding and to travel, but an injury during training forced him to work on a ship. Here he learned welding, pipe fitting, repair work, and assisted with damage control on the ship. In time, Wermager managed and trained the damage control team on the firefighting equipment, general combat, and medical response. He was later deployed to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq and was onboard the first US ship to stop piracy off the coast of Somalia. He was honorably discharged in 2007.

After serving in the military, he returned to college and received his bachelor’s in business administration at the Hasan School of Business at Colorado State University (CSU) Pueblo, CO. He met his wife Jessi, who is originally from Montana, during the first week of school in Zoology class. They enjoyed the outdoors together, often fishing for trout on the Arkansas River, where she always out-fished him!

After graduating from college, they moved back to Montana and married a year later. They later moved to Wisconsin. When asked about moving to Wisconsin, Wermager made it evident that his family is his world. He said his 13-year-old daughter wanted to attend a good school. As they did their research, they found Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School in Viroqua. “Jessi and I fell in love with this area. The community, the people, and the school just made us want to be here!” He exclaimed. He said his four-year-old daughter will also attend the school as well.

Wermager is definitely a family man who loves to travel and experience lots of adventure, and he is also very dedicated to the mortgage industry. He loves working with a variety of customers, from first-time homebuyers to seasoned investors. “I love helping people understand their finances and using loans as a tool to restructure their financial picture to help them live their best life!” Exclaimed Wermager.

He also appreciates working and helping fellow veterans use VA loans. “As a person with a real estate development background, I can also understand project scopes and structuring of more complex lending scenarios. I like that all loan applications are unique and offer a chance to optimize customers' goals.”

While Wermager is happy to be at Coulee Bank and loves his job, he continues to settle into a new life in Wisconsin, hoping to create new traditions. One tradition he hopes to continue from his life in Montana is that of the Maypole. He said it’s a northern European tradition to decorate a Maypole and dance around it. The whole day includes a BBQ, music, bonfires, and all his friends and family surrounding him. “It’s so much fun!”

Welcome to Coulee Bank, Jared Wermager! We are so grateful you chose to continue your career with Coulee Bank, and we wish you the best of luck!

Customer Spotlight

Thank you to our AMAZING customers for choosing us for all your banking needs! We are grateful for your loyalty, support, and trust in our products and services. Here's to many more years of building a strong relationship together!

Meet Coulee Bank Customer, Eddy Krogman.

In May 2023, Eddy Krogman embarked on a journey that had been on his mind since middle school: paddling the entire length of the Mississippi River—from Lake Itasca, Minnesota, to the Gulf of Mexico. But this wasn't your typical river expedition. Eddy did it solo on an inflatable stand-up paddleboard, one of the most affordable and compact watercrafts available. With detachable footrests, he used it kayak-style throughout his entire journey.

Eddy set off on May 11, 2023, under the aurora borealis. What began as a solo adventure quickly grew into a community-driven voyage—meeting fellow paddlers, being helped by “River Angels,” and weathering storms, wildlife, and 128 days of uncertainty. He carried essentials in waterproof bags, relied on jerky and tuna packs for meals, and resupplied in towns every 10–15 miles.

With connections to places like La Crosse, St. Paul, and Memphis, the river was deeply personal for Eddy. Along the way, he met Scott, an Army veteran and fellow paddler, and together they navigated treacherous waters, shared stories, and formed a bond.

From seeing black bears in Minnesota to gators in Mississippi, Eddy remained adaptable and alert. Hurricanes, flooding, and the intense barge traffic around St. Louis tested his skills and determination. But with the support of strangers, friends, and family—and a solid audiobook lineup including The Hobbit—he powered through.

After reaching Mile 0 in Venice, Louisiana, Eddy celebrated with bourbon and wild boar stories in Pilot Town. He returned to La Crosse by train, paddleboard in tow, and a heart full of memories.

Eddy had just completed a 50-state quest in 2024 and was chasing that same sense of achievement. The Mississippi called to him—its history, its challenge, and its role in his own upbringing. His journey wasn't just about endurance, but about reclaiming peace, purpose, and perspective. A strict journal and bank statements trace every mile of the trip—evidence he’s submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records as potentially the first person to complete the Mississippi by inflatable watercraft.

Eddy is planning to write a book and become a "River Angel" himself, supporting others on the water. He’s eyeing the Root River and Upper Iowa River for future paddles, maybe even the Missouri River. For Eddy, life is about pushing boundaries and finding meaning in movement.

“There was no coming off the river unless I made it to Mile Zero.”

Rebuilding a Legacy Through Wrestling

In November of 2024, we featured Steve King, co-owner of Niebuhr Plumbing, in our customer newsletter. He was recently awarded the Adult & Youth Award from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse. His passion creates a lasting impact in our communities, and here’s a summary of his efforts.

When Steve King began volunteering with the BGC Youth Wrestling Program in 2014, the future was uncertain. With just 25 kids and limited resources, the program was struggling to survive. But in 2016, King stepped up as Head Coach and Program Director. It was then that everything started changing.

Driven by a deep commitment to the La Crosse wrestling community, King poured his heart into rebuilding the program from the ground up. “It was just me at first,” he says, “but I knew how much our kids and schools needed this.”

His dedication paid off. Today, BGC Wrestling boasts over 100 enrolled athletes—the largest in its history—thanks to the support of passionate parents and dedicated coaches. For over 25 years, King has shaped young athletes across the La Crosse area, including his own son Emerson, who now wrestles at Logan High School.

“This program needed to be there for him and so many others,” he says. “Letting it fade into the sunset was never an option.”

Congratulations, Steve King! Thank you for everything you do for the La Crosse community.

We love a reason to celebrate with our colleagues!

Happy Birthday to all our amazing Coulee Bank co-workers!

Here's to another year of hard work, laughter, and teamwork. Wishing you all the best on your special day. Let's make it a celebration to remember!

Happy Work-i-versary to our amazing colleagues!

It's been an incredible journey with each and every one of you. Your hard work, dedication, and positive energy make our team unstoppable. Here's to many more years of success and growth together!

Customer Testimonials

Financially Free Gen-Z Podcast

Join your hosts, Rachel Munger and Joshua Herrmann, as they discuss the financial questions and topics prevalent to Generation Z. This podcast is brought to you by Coulee Bank. Member FDIC.

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.