Join Us in Honoring Our Outstanding Team!

Coulee Courier

As we welcome the new year, it’s a great time to reflect on 2025 and the people who made it exceptional. At Coulee Bank, our core values guide how we serve our customers, support each other, and strengthen our communities. I’m proud to recognize a group of employees who brought these values to life in meaningful ways and made a lasting impact throughout the year.

Serve – Tim Oliver embodies putting people first. His quick response, helpful nature, and key role in the Treasury Management conversion positively impacted hundreds of accounts, consistently elevating the work he does.

Care – Megan Selden leads with kindness, respect, and support. She goes above and beyond to make coworkers and clients feel valued, and her teamwork and dedication leave a lasting impression.

Always Improving – Annie Bertram exemplifies our commitment to smarter, more thoughtful solutions. Her leadership on the Treasury Conversion Project ensured a seamless experience for our customers and set a high standard for innovation and excellence.

Responsive – Rochelle Stoltz consistently demonstrates timeliness, thoroughness, and efficiency. Her ability to act quickly, think creatively, and deliver thoughtful solutions makes her a true model of being responsive.

Flexibility – Angela Erdenberger has shown remarkable agility this year, managing a demanding workload while keeping our underwriting pipeline moving smoothly. Her adaptability and commitment to excellence reflect the essence of this value.

Please join me in congratulating Tim, Megan, Annie, Rochelle, and Angela on their well-deserved recognition. Their dedication, leadership, and embodiment of our core values make Coulee Bank stronger every day, and I am grateful for all they do to serve our customers and our team.

~Dirk Gasterland, CEO

Meet Your Mortgage Matchmaker in La Crosse

Buying your first, second, or third home can be exciting and stressful. Our La Crosse mortgage loan officer is here to help turn your homeownership dreams into reality—without the stress. With a passion for guiding customers through every step of the mortgage process, Jared Wermager combines expertise, personalized service, and a genuine commitment to the community. Learn more about how he can help you achieve your homeownership goals in 2026.

Suspect Fraud? Here’s What to Do First

Fraud can happen fast, and what you do in the first few minutes can make a big difference in limiting damage and protecting your accounts.

Whether it’s a suspicious email, an unexpected phone call, or unusual activity on your account, here are the first steps to take if you think you may be a victim of fraud.

Click here for more fraud resources.

Tools to Help Your Business Stay on Top of Income and Expenses

Managing your cash flow is easier with Coulee Bank’s Treasury Management tools. Our Treasury platform, launched in January 2023, continues to be enhanced to help you track activity, monitor balances, and stay organized.

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 Julia Patek, Deposit Operations Specialist, La Crosse, WI.

At Coulee Bank, our people are at the heart of everything we do. This month, we’re pleased to introduce one of the dedicated team members from our Deposit Operations team. From the nitty-gritty details of processing checks to her monthly volunteer opportunities at the WAFER Food Pantry in La Crosse, we’re excited to introduce Julia Patek, Deposit Operations Specialist.

New Hire Spotlight

We’re excited to welcome Maeghan Roberson to our La Crosse team! As a Universal Teller at Coulee Bank, Maeghan brings her enthusiasm and dedication to helping customers with all their banking needs.

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!

Tumbling Toward Success: How Kathy Nelson Built KAATS Gymnastics

Kathy Nelson, owner of KAATS Gymnastics in Pine Island, Minnesota, began her gymnastics journey at the age of five. She continued competing through college, where her dedication and hard work earned her four All-American honors—two at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul and two at Winona State University. Nelson is also a five-time Hall of Fame inductee at Winona State University.

She believes competing as a gymnast builds confidence, discipline, and self-esteem, which inspired her to open KAATS Gymnastics. Her business model is unique in that she serves athletes of all ages, from preschool through high school. Nelson says her students are grateful for the opportunity to participate in her gym because it feels like home. “My students have been to other gyms, but what makes me so happy is that I’ve built something truly meaningful for them,” she says.

Nelson shares a memorable success story: one of her students is now competing in some of the same events she did at Winona State. “It’s one of my favorite stories because this student is following in my footsteps,” she says.

One of the most challenging times for Nelson’s business was during COVID. “My business was shut down for 180 days. I thank God for Coulee Bank because they guided me through the entire experience—even though Matt Nigbur, Coulee Bank President in Rochester, said I did all the work,” she says. “I simply couldn’t have done it without their guidance.”

KAATS Gymnastics employs two full-time coaches, including Nelson and Shaun Magar, and 11 part-time staff. They also renovated their location and increased the size. The building went from 110 square feet to 170 square feet. “My clients have a lot more room to practice and can’t even remember how small it used to be!” Exclaims Nelson.

Kathy Nelson, thank you for trusting us with your business. We are so proud of the work you do for the community and your students!

Employee Recommendations

Crock-Pot Recipe Recommendations from Our Employees

Snow-covered landscapes, subzero temperatures, and short days can make January hard to endure, but our employees teamed up to give you some delish Crock-Pot recipes to help embrace the cold.

Special thanks to contributors: Scott Leo, Cassie Wettleson, Annie Peterson, Megan Selden, Kayla Stuhr, Brianna Kane, Rachel Munger, and Nicole Czarnomski for sharing their recipes.

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.

Our Toys for Tots drive has ended, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Thanks to the generosity of our customers, employees, and community members, we were able to help bring joy to local children this holiday season. Every toy donated helped make a difference, and we’re proud to be part of a community that shows up when it matters most.

Thank you for helping us spread holiday cheer!

Throughout December, our La Crosse and Rochester teams bundled up, grabbed their bells, and joined The Salvation Army in spreading holiday cheer.

On 12/04/2025, our La Crosse team’s kettle raised $250.15 to support The Salvation Army’s programs and services.

On 12/17/2025, our Rochester team’s kettle raised $395.11 to support The Salvation Army’s programs and services.

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!

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.