Coulee Courier

At Coulee Bank, we believe trust is one of the greatest gifts we can share with our clients and our communities. That trust empowers us to make a meaningful impact, whether by building relationships, volunteering our time, or supporting local nonprofits financially.


This October, we celebrated that spirit of giving through our annual United Way fundraiser. Our employees joined in with games, a silent auction, candygrams for coworkers, and new pledge commitments, all in support of an organization that truly reflects the needs of the communities we serve.


Additionally, we have ties to many organizations in the communities we serve. My father, Dirk L. Gasterland, was part of the origin of Rotary Lights in La Crosse. His contributions as a board member helped make the fundraising possible, and this event has grown significantly since its inception.


It’s a true give-and-take relationship with the people in the communities we serve. They trust us to provide sound financial guidance and to build meaningful, lasting relationships. We know everyone has a choice in where they place their money, and we consider it a gift when they choose to work with us.


We have a long history in Wisconsin of being a bank of choice for many in the community, and more recently, we’re proud to serve customers in Rochester, St. Paul, and Minnetonka. I am truly grateful for the trust our clients place in us every day for their lending and deposit needs. We consider your business a gift and are honored to serve you. From all of us at Coulee Bank, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season.


 ~Dirk Gasterland, CEO

Dan Roberts: A Leader in Business Banking at Coulee Bank


Meet Dan Roberts, VP Business Banking Officer in Minnetonka. He is one of the trusted faces behind our business banking team at Coulee Bank. With a passion for helping local businesses thrive, Roberts brings expertise, insight, and dedication to every client relationship.  

ATM Security: Tips for Staying Safe


Criminals are always coming up with new tricks to target ATMs, from sneaky digital hacks to hidden gadgets designed to grab your card information.


This article provides ways to stay protected.

Coulee Bank’s Top Mortgage FAQs of the Year


Real questions from real customers — answered by our mortgage team.



As we wrap up another year of helping our neighbors buy, build, and refinance their homes, we took a look at the most common mortgage questions we heard in 2025. Whether you're a first-time buyer or planning ahead for a future move, here are the answers our lending team shared most often.

Homebuyer Grant Alert!


Thinking about buying a home? You may qualify for up to $𝟭𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 toward your down payment and closing costs through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago’s Downpayment Plus (DPP®) Program!


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

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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 Janel Garrick, BSA Officer, St. Paul, MN.


At Coulee Bank, our team is at the heart of everything we do. This month, we’re excited to shine a spotlight on Janel Garrick, BSA Officer in St. Paul, whose dedication, expertise, and positive spirit make a difference for our customers and the Coulee Bank team every day.


New Hire Spotlight

We’re excited to welcome Joe Oelfke to our Rochester team! His talents and fresh perspective will be a great addition to our Coulee Bank family.


Customer Spotlight

A big thank-you to our amazing customers for trusting us with your banking needs! We’re so grateful for your loyalty and support—here’s to many more years of growing together!

At Coulee Bank, our customers are truly a gift. Your trust allows us to give back to our communities and build lasting relationships, and it’s been such a joy this year to spotlight many of you in our newsletter. Sharing your stories and celebrating your successes reminds us why we do what we do. We’re grateful for your support and wish you a happy and safe holiday season.


Video of our customer spotlights throughout 2025

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. 


Coulee Bank was proud to be part of the UW–La Crosse Career Panel this week!

One of our La Crosse team members had the opportunity to share career advice and industry insights with students preparing to launch their professional journeys.

A big thank you to UW–La Crosse for hosting and to the students for such great engagement and thoughtful questions — the future is bright!


🎄✨ Coulee Bank in Rochester joined in the fun this year with an “80s Holiday Rewind” themed tree for the Hiawatha Homes Festival of Trees. They designed and decorated the tree and attended the gala to support Hiawatha Homes’ fundraiser.

Any reason to celebrate with our team is a good one!

Happy Birthday to our amazing Coulee Bank team members!


Here’s to another year filled with success, laughter, and great teamwork. Wishing you all the best on your special day—let’s celebrate!

Happy Workiversary to our amazing teammates!


It’s been an incredible journey with each of you. Your dedication, teamwork, and positive energy make all the difference. Here’s to many more years of success and growth together!

Upcoming Events & Fundraisers



Be Part of the Action: Join Us for Upcoming Community Events & Fundraisers and Make a Difference!

Toys for Tots is Back!


Coulee Bank is proud to support children in need this holiday season! Our 𝗟𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲/𝗢𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗮 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝟭𝟬/𝟮𝟰, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗦𝘁. 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗮 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟭/𝟯.



Bring a new, unwrapped toy to your local branch and help us make the season brighter for kids in our communities.

Catch Our Very Own Joshua Herrmann on Stage!


Our talented team member, Joshua, is taking the stage as Bob Cratchit in an imaginative twist on A Christmas Carol. In this production, performed in the playful style of a Dr. Seuss book, Bob Cratchit embodies the warmth and spirit of the Christmas season—even as Scrooge tries to squeeze it out of him. The show is full of fun and festive cheer, and tickets are going fast (one performance is already sold out!).


This show runs from December 5th to December 20th. You can purchase tickets here.


🍂 November Gratitude Challenge🍁


Last month, our bank branches filled their Gratitude Trees with heartfelt notes — each leaf representing a moment, a person, or a simple joy worth celebrating.

Take a look at how each tree grew. Thank you to everyone who took a moment to reflect, write, and add a little more gratitude to our branches this season. 💛

Here’s to carrying that spirit into the rest of the year.

Video of orange gratitude trees displaying Coulee Bank employees’ handwritten notes of thanks.

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.


Listen Here!

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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.