Wisconsin Bankers Advocate at State Capitol

Annual Capitol Day event brings diverse banking voices to policymakers

Mar. 12, 2026 at 9:23pm

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The Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) hosted its annual Capitol Day event, where over 250 bankers from across the state traveled to Madison to meet with state legislators and advocate on key industry priorities. Bankers shared firsthand stories about how legislative decisions impact financial access, fraud prevention, housing, and economic growth in their local communities.

Why it matters

Capitol Day provides an invaluable opportunity for legislators to hear directly from banking professionals about the real-world implications of public policy. By bringing together bankers of all roles and tenures, WBA ensures policymakers understand the full scope of how their decisions affect customers, small businesses, and communities statewide.

The details

Bankers met with 31 State Senate offices and 71 State Assembly offices, discussing issues like fraud prevention, the regulation of cryptocurrency kiosks, and the banking industry's economic impact. WBA prepared attendees with morning briefings on legislative priorities and talking points, empowering bankers to share personal anecdotes about the customers and communities they serve.

  • The annual Capitol Day event took place on a cold February morning in Madison.
  • Bankers convened at Monona Terrace before heading to the State Capitol for meetings with legislators throughout the afternoon.

The players

Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA)

The trade association representing the Wisconsin banking industry, which organized the Capitol Day event to facilitate advocacy efforts with state policymakers.

Matthew Peterson

Branch Manager at Horicon Bank, who testified to the seamless organization of the Capitol Day event and felt empowered to share his perspective despite being relatively new to the banking industry.

Alex Swanson

WBA BOLT board member, who emphasized the importance of bankers sharing real-world stories about fraud prevention and customer protection with legislators.

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What they’re saying

“I was a little nervous going in — meeting with members of our state legislature and having only about three-and-a-half years in banking made it feel a bit intimidating at first. WBA did an outstanding job organizing the day and preparing us for every step.”

— Matthew Peterson, Branch Manager, Horicon Bank (wisbank.com)

“Much of what WBA and bankers across the state are focused on relates to fraud prevention and protecting our customers. We have firsthand experience and many stories of fraud impacting our communities.”

— Alex Swanson, WBA BOLT Board Member (wisbank.com)

What’s next

The Wisconsin Bankers Association plans to host Capitol Day again next year, continuing to provide a platform for banking professionals to advocate on industry priorities with state legislators.

The takeaway

Capitol Day demonstrates the power of collective advocacy, as bankers of all roles and tenures came together to share real-world stories that humanize the impact of public policy. By elevating diverse perspectives, the Wisconsin banking industry ensures policymakers understand how their decisions affect financial access, consumer protection, and economic growth across the state.