Editorial: Don’t Blame Community Banks

“Wisconsin’s community banks are stable members of their communities; they continue to finance businesses; and they’ve not gotten caught up in the financial gizmos created by the too-big-to-fail investment banks. So, they ask, why are we suffering for the sins of the Wall Street bankers and others whose credit default swaps, collateralized debt obligations and other risky behavior brought us to the brink of economic collapse? It’s a fair question,” writes the La Crosse Tribune in an editorial. Read more.

Community Bank & Trust Announces Promotion

Community Bank & Trust has promoted Toni Reed to president at the Elkhart Lake office. Reed has been with Community Bank & Trust for five years and has a total of more than 18 years in the banking industry, the Sheboygan Press reported.

The newspaper also reported that Tom Steinhaus, manager of credit underwriting/government guaranteed loans for Heartland Business Bank, has been named an officer of the bank.