Coulee Courier

The dry air and the cooler temperatures make Fall my favorite season. While I do miss the Minnesota summers and spending time in our pool or on a boat, I have been a Vikings season ticket holder for the past 26 years, and that is consistently my favorite thing about Fall. I have always enjoyed watching football, probably because I also used to play football.

This is also a wonderful time of year for a drive from the Twin Cities to La Crosse. I visit our La Crosse locations every other week, so I like to observe the progression of the leaves changing along the bluffs. Early in the season, it’s fun to catch the first hints of color, with just a few trees starting to turn. As the weeks pass, the colors deepen and spread, transforming the entire landscape.

When my kids were growing up, we loved to go to apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and petting zoos. I enjoyed watching my kids pick their favorite pumpkin or interact with a variety of animals at the petting zoo. We always had such a great time. Then on Halloween, my wife stayed at the house to hand out candy to all the trick-or-treaters, and I took my three kids through the neighborhood to fill up their candy bags.

Even though Fall is my favorite time of year, I don’t have any go-to Fall drinks or food. However, my wife loves a good Squash Goals salad at Crisp and Green. She absolutely looks forward to this every season. I am looking forward to reading some of our employees’ go-to Fall traditions in this edition of the newsletter.

For all of you, enjoy this beautiful time of year. I hope you have the opportunity to spend it with family and friends to create lasting memories.

 ~Dirk Gasterland, CEO

Fall is the time that most employers, Medicare, and the HealthCare Marketplace hold their benefit open enrollment period, during which employees/individuals decide on their benefits for the next 12 months. Open enrollment can often be complicated and overwhelming; here are some tips to help you navigate a successful open enrollment period.

Review Your Current Coverage & Understand Your Upcoming Needs: Review your current benefits and how well they met your needs this past year. Consider things like coverage levels, out-of-pocket costs, and any gaps or issues you’ve experienced in the past year. Identify any changes in your life that might affect your benefits in the upcoming year, such as a new health condition, changes in family status, or changes in your financial situation. This can help you prioritize what’s most important for you.

Compare Plans & Calculate Your Out-of-Pocket Costs: Carefully compare the different plans available to you. Look at premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and coverage specifics. Don’t forget to check the network of providers and whether your current doctors are included. In addition, determine if your plan offers any saving and spending accounts that can reduce your tax liability and help you set aside funds that can be used to cover out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Consider both the monthly premium and the potential out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

Coordinate Deadlines & Enroll on Time: Households with two working adults may have more than one open enrollment period to navigate. Make sure you check open enrollment deadlines for both employers and coordinate. If one open enrollment period is early on, and the other isn’t until later in the season, contact human resources to request open enrollment information early to help you compare options. Pay attention to your deadlines to ensure you don’t miss out on enrolling in or changing your benefits. Changes to insurance during the plan year can only be made with a qualifying life event, so it is important that you complete your enrollment on time. 

Review and Update Beneficiary Information: Now is a good time to review your beneficiary elections for any 401(k), retirement, and/or life insurance/disability insurance plans that you are enrolled in. Update any changes that may have occurred over the past year.  

Check your Resources: If you are enrolled in an employer-sponsored health plan, your employer should have tools and resources to help you compare plans. If you are enrolled in Medicare, you can visit medicare.gov to comparison shop to find a plan that works for your needs. At healthcare.gov, you’ll be able to preview 2025 Marketplace health plans and get pricing estimates prior to the start of the open enrollment period, which starts November 1^st. 

Ask Questions, Seek Professional Advice: If you’re unsure about your benefit options, don’t hesitate to ask your Human Resources department or benefits broker for clarification. They can help explain the differences between plans and answer specific questions. If you are enrolled in Medicare or the Marketplace and you’re overwhelmed, consider consulting a benefits advisor or financial planner. They can provide personalized advice based on your specific situation.

Taking the time to carefully review your options and consider your needs can help you make the most informed choices during Open Enrollment.

What is a Home Appraisal?



Essential information for buyers, sellers, and refinancers

When buying, selling, or refinancing a home, an appraisal of the property is important. When purchasing a property, it validates the acceptability of the purchase price vs. market prices. Banks need appraisals to ensure there is sufficient collateral for the loan and that there are no health and safety issues or repairs needed.  

What is a Home Appraisal? 

Conducted by a licensed real estate professional, this determines the fair market value (FMV) of a property. Simply put, FMV is the price a buyer would pay a seller in an open market. Kris Farwell, Director of Mortgage at Coulee Bank says, “It is important to remember an appraiser is an independent third party who conducts the on-site visit. Lenders order their services through an appraisal management company so there is no outside influence on the appraiser.” 

The appraiser reviews the home’s features, age, size, and condition and reviews comparable homes that have sold recently to ensure timely valuation. Remember, just because a home is close to your property does not mean it’s necessarily comparable (new construction vs. a 20-year-old home that’s the same size). This is typically completed when a home is being sold or refinanced. 

Is An Appraisal Necessary? 

An appraisal is essential. As a seller, an assessment helps determine a realistic asking price, but a real estate agent can also help determine this without paying for an appraisal. As a buyer, it helps protect you from overpaying or buying a home with issues. Farwell says, “Issues could include evidence of termites, mold, leaky roofs, or subpar electrical or plumbing. You definitely want to know about these issues before buying.”  

If you are refinancing your home, you need to get an appraisal because its value may have changed depending on upgrades or how long you have owned it. She says a home needs to appraise at or above the amount you estimate to refinance at a loan to value (loan as a % of the value) that is eligible. As an example, in the housing market crash of the early 2000s, many homes lost significant value, and refinancing became very difficult as homeowners owed more on their homes than they were valued at.  

How Long Does the Appraisal Take? 

The on-site home visit takes anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple of hours. The timing depends upon the size of the property being assessed. After the physical inspection, the appraiser researches the value of similar homes in the neighborhood that have recently sold. 

Farwell states, “After researching other homes, the appraiser compiles the information into a written appraisal report. This can take on average seven to 10 days.” 

Who Pays for an Appraisal? 

This depends on the situation. If you are refinancing your home, you pay for the appraisal. If you are a buyer, you are typically responsible for paying for the appraisal. However, this can be negotiated during the sale of the home.  

What Happens if a House Doesn’t Appraise for its Sale Price? 

Should the appraisal come in lower than the asking price, your mortgage lender may not lend you more than the appraised amount. You have a couple of options, you can either negotiate a lower sale price, pay cash to cover the amount over appraisal, or choose not to move forward with the purchase. 

Understanding the appraisal process can alleviate stress and make the buying or selling experience smoother and more transparent. By being informed and prepared, you can confidently navigate this critical step towards achieving your homebuyer journey. 

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

Building Stronger Communities

Coulee Bank's Partnership with United Way

United Way is a global organization creating stronger, more resilient communities. They work to improve the health, education, and economic mobility of every person in every community they serve. Coulee Bank has participated in an annual fundraiser for the United Way since 1970 because they too are deeply rooted in their communities.

The Impact of Supporting United Way

Rachel Munger, PR Manager, says, “United Way partners with many different organizations to meet the biggest needs of the community they are serving.” The partnerships allow United Way to maximize each donation to its fullest potential. Some organizations the Great Rivers region United Way partners with are the YMCA and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Kicking Off the Campaign

Before kick-off, representatives from Coulee Bank attend a United Way Workplace Champions event. Lori DuMars, HR Generalist, says, “At this event, United Way provides a toolkit for organizations to help with fundraising efforts. Then, a couple of us put together a presentation to show at Unity Day, a day that brings all Coulee Bank locations together, including the La Crosse Wisconsin area, Rochester, MN, and the Twin Cities.” Here is one of the kickoff videos United Way provides in the tool kit: https://youtu.be/_46r7TVs0yw?si=9-lELLc9fRrcY1QF.

Unity Day is also a time to promote team building, community service, and professional development. Participants engage in activities designed to strengthen teamwork, such as collaborative projects and group challenges. The day also emphasizes giving back to the community through various service initiatives, allowing individuals to make a positive impact locally.

DuMars says, “We start the fundraiser with a fun competition called Penny Wars. We have containers for each location at Unity Day, and employees add money to each bucket throughout the day. Coins are positive, dollar bills are negative. For example, one penny is one point whereas one dollar is negative 100 points, and the goal is to have the highest positive number.” Munger goes on to say, other locations try to sabotage other teams’ buckets by adding dollar bills, which acted as negative points. If your team reached their point goal, your whole branch got lunch, so it was a fun way to encourage giving with a bit of competition between the branches!

A Month-long Effort

 “After our kickoff event, our fundraising campaign lasts three weeks to one month. During this time, we host games like trivia, bingo, or spin the wheel. We also host a silent auction and themed dress-up days. All these different events are designed to encourage people to pledge to United Way, whether it is $2 per pay period or $25 per pay period,” says Munger.

While this is the largest fundraising event each year for Coulee Bank, Munger recommends finding a charity that aligns with your values. “There are so many deserving organizations, we cannot possibly give to all of them. Find a charity that you are passionate about!”

Tips from IT

Fall Favorites

Regardless of your feelings about pumpkin spice, it undeniably marks the arrival of fall. We reached out to our employees to gather their favorite autumn traditions and recipes.

Senior Mortgage Loan Underwriter, Tyler Draheim, and his family love Fall! They make a local corn maze, Twin Cities Maze, top priority every year because of all the activities they offer. He says his kiddos love to hunt down the trivia marker inside the maze because they are rewarded with a lollipop for completing the trivia. What's not to love about a lollilop?! Within the corn maze is a giant corn pit where you can sit and relax, pile corn on each other, and jump into the corn." He does recommend removing your jewelry as the corn starch makes them fall off easily.

Another feature of the corn maze is the food trucks. "We typically share cheese curds, mini donuts, kennel corn, apple cider, and corn dogs. Before we leave, we pick out the biggest pumpkins and carve them for Halloween," he says. 

Lori DuMars, HR Generalist submitted a yummy Chai Tea Recipe! She says, "My kids love this drink. We enjoy it during the fall and winter!" One of her kids was home from college recently, so she whipped up a batch for the whole family.

Recipe submitted by Annie Peterson from Allrecipes.com.

Fall is a favorite for Amy Bauer, Chief Human Resources Officer. The perfect Fall day for Amy Bauer, Chief Human Resources Officer, is a scenic drive along the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. Both rivers offer an incredible blend of natural beauty and charming small towns. Each year feels like a new adventure because of the hidden gems along the way.

She loves traveling along The Great River Road (Hwy 35) and visiting Prescott, Diamond Bluff, Pepin, Stockholm, and Maiden Rock because each town features unique charms and hidden gems worth exploring. 

Bauer says, "Swede Pickings, the most magical fruit orchard & vineyard situated on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River." It's a family fruit farm atop the bluffs near Bay City, WI. If you want to pick fresh fruit, they offer grapes and apples. It's perfect for winemakers too!

Amy Bauer submitted Apple Pie Bars

Roasted pumpkin seeds are a favorite in Kayla Stuhr's home. She says they have a family pumpkin carving contest each year, making it easy to prepare this delicious snack!

If you like acorn squash, you'll love Kayla Stuhr's favorite Fall soup. Try this delicious recipe with lots of yummy Fall ingredients!

EQUIPMENT:

Vitamix Blender

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 medium acorn squash, about 3 pounds
• 3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more for sprinkling
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, plus more for garnish
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Pepitas, for garnish, optional
• Microgreens, for garnish, optional

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Slice the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Drizzle the squash halves with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on the baking sheet. Wrap the garlic cloves in a piece of foil with a drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt and place on the baking sheet. Roast for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
• When cool enough to handle, peel the garlic cloves and discard the papers. Scoop the soft squash flesh out of the skin and measure 2½ cups. Discard the squash skins and save the remaining flesh for another use.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 8 minutes, or until softened. Stir in the nutmeg, cayenne, and several grinds of pepper, then add the 2½ cups roasted squash, the garlic, broth, and thyme leaves. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
• Allow the soup to cool slightly, then transfer to a blender with the lemon juice and maple syrup and blend until smooth. Work in batches if necessary. Season to taste.
• Portion into bowls and serve with a drizzle of olive oil, fresh thyme leaves, pepitas, and microgreens for garnish.

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 sponsored this year's Children's Festival in La Crosse, WI! The event welcomed a record number of families from all across the community, and they were all able to make lasting memories. The day brought joy, play, and connection to so many families.

Putting our artistic skills to work for a good cause! Team Coulee Bank in Rochester had a blast volunteering at Ability Building Community and adding some color to a new employee's office.

Another successful Shred Event is in the books! 42 cars rolled through and together we shredded a whopping 1,000 lbs. of paper! Thanks to everyone who came out to the Rochester event and who helped protect the environment!

Employee Spotlight

Meet our newest employee Kalie Keil. Keil loved growing up in the quaint little town of Volga, South Dakota. She recalls living a few blocks from the pool and spending her summers basking in the sun and splashing in the water. Interestingly, that pool provided a snowy escape in the winter. They left a gigantic mound of snow in the parking lot for kids to play in.

While Keil loved Volga, she knew she wasn’t meant for small-town life. She attended college at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, where she earned a degree in Consumer Affairs with a Family Financial Management Specialization.

After graduation, her longing for a larger city led her to Minneapolis. She says, “Minneapolis was the closest city to my family. That was important to me.” Keil knew she made the right choice coming to Minneapolis when she spontaneously went to a concert at First Avenue and saw a giant Prince mural illuminated by the snowfall. “In that moment, I just felt excitement for my future.”

It wasn’t just the Prince mural that excited her about her future. It was time for the next step in her banking career. In her first role in banking, she gained a passion for the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Fraud. Keil says, “When I saw the opportunity to work as a BSA Retail Specialist at Coulee Bank, I jumped at the opportunity!” She says she is excited to continue her retail role within the bank and get her start as a BSA Specialist.

While Keil enjoys her work in banking, she is also passionate about costume-making. She received a sewing machine for Christmas while in middle school, and it ended up being incredibly meaningful. She still uses that same sewing machine today. Keil says, “I’ve won multiple awards for costume creation, and I am well on my way to finishing this year’s Halloween costume!”

We are so excited to have you at Coulee Bank! We cannot wait to see what your Halloween costume looks like!

We are so excited to celebrate Gabe Cooley's fifth work anniversary with Coulee Bank!

Cooley serves as an Internal Audit Officer. His typical day begins with a cheerful greeting to his colleagues, who bring him great joy! Cooley shares, "Checking my calendar and reading emails is my top priority, as it helps me plan my day." Following that, he dedicates his time to planning, executing, and communicating different audits or quality control reviews. He firmly believes that the audits he conducts throughout the day add significant value. His keen attention to detail is essential for his role.

"One aspect I truly admire about Coulee Bank is their dedication to servant leadership. The culture here is not only positive and supportive, but everyone is also eager to help others," he shares. Coulee Bank provides employees with opportunities to volunteer for charities they care about. Additionally, throughout the year, they host various fundraisers to support local non-profits in each community.

On a personal note, Cooley was recently invited to lead the young adult ministry at his church, allowing him to serve others in a new capacity. He keeps himself busy with a variety of activities, including reading, writing, studying the Bible, playing disc golf, tending to his yard, enjoying long drives through the countryside, and engaging in church ministry work. His reading preferences include the Bible, biographies, theology, historical fiction, general fiction, and homesteading topics. When it comes to movies, he particularly enjoys "The Lord of the Rings" series and the classic Steve McQueen western series "Wanted Dead or Alive."

His top food choices include pizza, potato hotdish, and Calico Beans. You might wonder, what exactly are Calico Beans? They are a delicious mix of black, kidney, white, and pinto beans, combined with onions, ground beef, and bacon, all simmered together for a hearty dish!

Congratulations Gabe! We are happy to celebrate your five years of service!

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!

Customer Testimonials

Financially Free Gen-Z Podcast

Tune in to the newest episode featuring Joshua and Rachel as they delve into 'The Craft of Compound Interest.' This episode offers insights from Cal Christensen, SVP, Business Banking Officer, on optimizing your finances.

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.