Coulee Courier

At Coulee Bank, our core values are the guiding principles that shape our decisions, actions, and interactions with our customers, co-workers, and the community. These values are integral to our identity and success, ensuring that we remain a trusted and respected financial partner. Our core values spell out the acronym S.C.A.R.F. Each year, we select one employee who exemplifies each core value. This individual is given an award at our annual holiday party, so our co-workers can acknowledge and celebrate them.

Our core values are as follows:

“S” stands for Serve. We are committed to serving the needs of our employees and communities by making intentional decisions to benefit others.

The “C” stands for Care. We treat our clients and coworkers with kindness and respect, always being eager to help.

Always Improving is the “A” in S.C.A.R.F. We strive to be better every day and seek innovative, efficient, and thoughtful solutions.

The “R” stands for Responsive. We respond to requests with timeliness, thoroughness, and efficiency.

The “F” stands for Flexibility. We are willing to be agile in our response to changing conditions and expectations.

Announcing the winners each year is very special to me. We often spend more time with our colleagues than members of our family. Ultimately, we sometimes feel like family here at Coulee Bank. These individuals show up and exhibit their best every single day. What more could a CEO ask for.

This year, the Serve Award went to Sarah E. Sarah goes above and beyond in representing our “Serve” core value through the ways she interacts with both our customers and internal colleagues. Our customers appreciate her willingness to spend time thoroughly explaining the process and products which allows them to truly understand all their options. Sarah has also been a huge help with multiple internal projects this year.

Thank you for serving our customers, Sarah! We are so happy to have you on board.

The Care Award went out to Brianna K. Brianna goes above and beyond in representing our “Care” core value daily. Brianna is involved in our FUN Committee, and leads our Recognition Committee, making sure that co-workers are acknowledged in everything, and she is always sure to wish everyone a “Happy Friday Jr”.

Brianna is also one of the first to get involved with our volunteering opportunities, including getting her whole family involved in our Grand Old Day parade and annual Shred Event. We are incredibly grateful for her willingness to help and care for others. We are so glad you work at Coulee Bank.

For Always Improving, our colleague Melissa M. was given the award. Melissa is always thinking 5 steps ahead when working through an issue. She is proactive about identifying any potential problems and uses her problem-solving abilities to consistently improve our processes and procedures here at Coulee Bank.

She has a deep level of knowledge and keen attention to detail, and she is willing to help our customers and internal colleagues with that skill set. Melissa regularly views challenges as opportunities for improvement and inspires others to work collectively to find the best outcome for the Bank. Thank you, Melissa, for all you do to improve Coulee Bank.

The award for Responsive went to Joshua H. Joshua was promoted this year due to his eagerness to learn, positive attitude, and flexibility. Joshua jumps on opportunities to help and grow his skill set. Over the past year, he has been the co-host of Coulee Bank’s podcast, Financially Free Gen-Z. He also regularly responded to requests outside of his normal work responsibilities.

Each day, Joshua is a ray of sunshine at the St. Paul branch and someone who consistently responds to the needs of those around him. Thank you, Joshua. We are so glad you are here!

At Coulee Bank, we value individuals like Annie P., who exemplify our core values. This year, she received the Flexibility Award for her outstanding adaptability and teamwork. Annie is always ready to assist her colleagues, especially during busy times. Her proactive support during the FDIC exam preparations highlights her dedication to the bank's success.

Beyond her work, Annie completed the Leadership Greater Rochester program, contributing to a project that installed Communication Station signs at Pine Island Middle School. This reflects her commitment to personal growth and community impact.

Thank you, Annie, for your unwavering commitment and flexibility!

 I feel so honored and privileged to work alongside these individuals. Thank you for contributing to our outstanding work culture. I am so excited for the year ahead.

  ~Dirk Gasterland, CEO

Take the Stress out of Managing Your Merchant Processing Accounts

Evolve Payment designed a checklist to help you stay organized, optimize your operations, and prepare for ongoing success in your business. Click the button to give you peace of mind for preparing tax documents.

Tips from IT

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. 

Big shoutout to our amazing Rochester employees who brought the holiday spirit to life by volunteering for the Salvation Army! They spread joy by bell ringing and collecting donations. Every penny counts!

What an amazing day! Our Twin Cities team had a blast volunteering at the Toys for Tots warehouse, sorting toys and fulfilling orders to spread holiday cheer! Great work!

Exciting news! Coulee Bank recently hosted a fundraiser and toy drive for Toys for Tots, raising $2,500! A huge shoutout to Rachel Munger, our PR Manager, and our Twin Cities team for braving the cold and presenting the check to this worthy cause.

Coulee Bank in La Crosse participated in the Joy of Sharing this year. This fundraiser benefits the Hunger Task Force, the Salvation Army of La Crosse, and Toys for Tots. Our SVP, Business Banking Officer, Jodi Ehrenberger, talked with WKBT about the Joy of Sharing campaign.

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 are recognizing Kolten Pingeon from our St. Paul branch.

Kolten Pingeon was born in New Ulm, Minnesota but had the opportunity to live in Louisiana, Washington, and Kentucky! At eight, his family moved back to Fairfax, Minnesota. He attended Minnesota State University in Mankato and studied Corporate Finance. Pingeon graduated in 2018.

“I was hired as a Portfolio Banker in Coulee Bank’s St. Paul branch. My background is diverse and includes many types of business banking. I’ve worked in commercial real estate, C&I Lending, cash flow lending, and I have experience with SBA banking programs,” says Pingeon.

Currently, he lives in Minneapolis with his trusted basset hound, Murph. When he isn’t hanging out at home with Murph, he keeps a packed schedule. He enjoys golfing, lifting weights, playing slow-pitch softball, and attending live music events with friends. He also frequents the restaurant Smack Shack and orders his favorite dish, lobster mac and cheese! As if he isn’t busy enough, he loves to go to the Twins, Vikings, and Timberwolves games! “My dad and I have been going to Vikings home games together since 2009. It’s become a bit of a tradition,” he says.

Someday, he would like to take time out from his busy schedule to visit Banff National Park. Pingeon is a bit of an outdoor enthusiast and says it’s his dream destination because it offers lots of beautiful scenery!

Kolten we are grateful you chose Coulee Bank and wish you much success as a Portfolio Banker!

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 join us in welcoming Maureen Stark, our new Universal Banker in La Crosse!

We are so excited to welcome Maureen Stark to Coulee Bank! She is originally from Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. She attended Southwest Technical College in Fennimore, Wisconsin, and received an associate’s degree in accounting.

Stark is well-rounded and has found herself working in many customer service roles. She has worked at Holiday Gas Station, Kwik Trip, Walmart, managing a movie theater, and running her own catering business. She was recently hired as a Universal Banker at Coulee Bank in La Crosse. The many years of customer service experience coupled with her genuine desire to help everyone she meets sets her apart from all the rest.

After chatting with Stark about all her many roles in customer service, she reflected on her days as a food truck owner and operator. Her food truck was known as a ‘roach coach’ which simply means a food truck that serves quick and inexpensive meals to factory and construction workers.  “Factory workers would come out and greet us and make their selection. I offered breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos, pizza slices, chili dogs, burgers, and a daily special of either a casserole or a meat and potatoes dish.” Her truck had eight morning stops and four lunch stops.

When Stark isn’t working, she appreciates hanging out with her grandchildren, motorcycling, and wine tasting! Though it may be a tossup of which one she likes more! She says, “I love semi-sweet to sweeter wines, and I gravitate towards red wine. My favorite wine is a jalapeno wine from the Meadery because I love all things spicy!” She also loves to be out on the motorcycle for hours at a time soaking up the sunshine.

Welcome, Maureen! We are so grateful you chose Coulee Bank. We wish you much success as a Universal Banker.

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 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!

Introducing Matt Kraus, owner of Weather Shield Home Experts based in Rochester, Minnesota. “The company was initially established by Justin Steck, and I took over after it was rebranded in 2024,” shares Kraus.

Weather Shield operates out of offices in Rochester, Minnesota, as well as in Iowa and Wisconsin. They are relocating their Rochester office to a larger facility on North Broadway, which will feature showrooms. “Although we don’t have satellite offices in the Faribault and Owatonna area, we have a dedicated sales team that serves those regions as well.

Additionally, his team collaborates with management companies for multi-family homes, residential homes, and they carry out inspections, particularly following storms. Kraus says the team primarily focuses on roofing, siding, windows, doors, gutters, and interior projects.

Even though Kraus is a roofer by trade, he is passionate about transforming properties. “I truly enjoy seeing the before and after results while taking pride in quality craftsmanship.” He and his team provide function and aesthetics to accommodate any customer's budget. He genuinely loves connecting with couples to help them realize their vision. He says, “The husband usually represents function, while the wife embodies aesthetics. My job is to achieve harmony using premium products.”

Kraus first came to the Rochester branch because he was attracted to the competitive money market rates. He believes the team at Coulee Bank in Rochester is always friendly and helpful. Kraus says, "What began as a referral for a money market account has now transitioned into all our banking being done with Coulee. The teamwork between Matt, Eric, and the Coulee Bank staff has significantly contributed to our growth in checking accounts, savings, and mortgage services. They truly simplify the management process."

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.