GREEN BAY, Wis., Feb. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Associated Bank
announced today that as part of its commitment to communities and
businesses across Wisconsin, it
has invested $1 million in The
Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)'s
'Putting Dreams To Work' Loan Opportunity fund.
The investment, which will support micro and small business
loans for women- and minority-owned companies throughout
Wisconsin, was given through
Associated Bank's Associated Community Development program and
furthers the bank's ongoing community-focused commitments and
initiatives. Loans distributed as part of the investment will help
businesses purchase equipment, make improvements to their stores or
locations, stock inventory and supplement start-up costs.
"As a company, we have a rich tradition of always striving to
support businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the communities in
which we live and do business," said John
Utz, executive vice president, head of Corporate Banking and
Milwaukee market president,
Associated Bank. "By investing in the work WWBIC does throughout
Wisconsin, we're able to help
small business owners across the state achieve success."
In addition to the investment, Associated Bank colleagues will
lead 18 financial education sessions in the greater Milwaukee area for WWBIC borrowers. The
sessions, coordinated through the WWBIC, provide insight on topics
such as turning a hobby into a business, identity theft protection,
and budgeting and understanding debt. The sessions further provide
loan recipients with the tools and insights to successfully manage
their small businesses.
"I have seen firsthand the positive impact WWBIC has had on
small business owners across the state," said Utz. "With over
$60 million in loans distributed
since their founding, WWBIC has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs
achieve the dream of owning their own businesses."
For over 30 years WWBIC has helped entrepreneurs and business
owners put their dreams to work. With over $60 million lent, WWBIC has supported nearly
5,000 businesses start, strengthen or expand in Wisconsin. The largest workforce in
Wisconsin and the U.S. are those
working for themselves and creating local jobs and employment for
others.
"WWBIC makes it a point to develop partnerships with financial
institutions that share our commitment to entrepreneurs and small
business owners in Wisconsin,"
said Wendy K. Baumann, WWBIC
president and chief vision officer. "Associated Bank exemplifies
the institutional qualities we look for in our lending partners and
has supported both WWBIC and our borrowers over the past year."
Baumann continued, "We work with all our lending partners to
leverage the organization's time and talent for the benefit of our
borrowers. Associated Bank colleagues have fully committed to that
effort by serving on the WWBIC Loan Committee and the regional
WWBIC Ambassadorial Advisory Councils, as well as providing annual
grants of support for WWBIC that match government and public
funding."
ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $33 billion and is one of the top 50 publicly
traded U.S. bank holding companies. Headquartered in
Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated
is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of
financial products and services from over 200 banking locations
serving more than 100 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, and commercial financial services
in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal
Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More
information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at
www.associatedbank.com.
About WWBIC
WWBIC is a leading, innovative economic development corporation
"Putting Dreams to Work." WWBIC's primary focus is on women, people
of color and low income individuals, providing direct lending and
access to fair and responsible capital, quality business and
financial education coupled with key one-on-one technical
assistance support. WWBIC is a certified Community Development
Financial Institution (CDFI) as well as one of the nation's top SBA
Microlenders and SBA Community Advantage Lenders.
Contact: Jennifer
Kaminski
Vice President | Public Relations Senior Manager
920-491-7576
Jennifer.Kaminski@associatedbank.com
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SOURCE Associated Banc-Corp