Wisconsin Bank & Trust Recognized as a Forbes Best Bank in America For 2017

Wisconsin Bank & Trust Recognized as a Forbes Best Bank in America For 2017

Wisconsin Bank & Trust’s Parent Company, Heartland Financial USA, Inc., Recognized Among America’s Leading Financial Institutions                                                                                  

Madison, WI, May 9, 2017 — Wisconsin Bank & Trust, a subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:HTLF), has been named a “Forbes Best Bank 2017.”

In its annual review of the largest publicly traded banks and thrifts, Forbes ranked Heartland Financial USA, Inc. 44^th among a nationwide group of 100 leading banking organizations with assets ranging from under $8 billion to over $2.5 trillion.

“We are proud to be named among the best banks in America for 2017,” said Kevin Tenpas, Chairman and CEO of Wisconsin Bank & Trust. “As a community bank, what sets us apart is our strong commitment to our customers, combined with access to ‘big-bank’ products and services as part of Heartland. The Forbes ranking underscores the benefits of our unique structure—the strength and capabilities of a big bank, combined with the personal touch and local decision-making of a community bank.”

To compile the rankings, Forbes used data collected by S&P Global Market Intelligence through the third quarter of 2016 on the country’s largest publicly traded banks and thrifts. The data covered 10 metrics related to growth, profitability, capital adequacy and asset quality. Metrics included return on average tangible equity, return on average assets, net interest margin, efficiency ratio and net charge-offs as a percent of total loans. Nonperforming assets as a percent of assets, risk-based capital ratio and reserves as a percent of nonperforming assets were also factored in.

“We attribute our strong performance to both our loyal and satisfied customers and our disciplined financial management,” said Tenpas.

In 2016, Heartland’s net income increased by 35 percent over 2015, with earnings per share growing by 14 percent. That strong shared success provides Wisconsin Bank & Trust with an outstanding platform for continued growth.

About Wisconsin Bank & Trust
Wisconsin Bank & Trust (WBT), a subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc., (NASDAQ: HTLF), is a business-focused community bank with assets of more than $1 billion. With eighteen banking centers and two mortgage origination offices, Wisconsin Bank & Trust serves customers in the Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Sheboygan, Monroe and southwest areas of Wisconsin. WBT offers a wide range of personal and business banking, private client and mortgage lending services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinbankandtrust.com or call 608.203.1214. Wisconsin Bank & Trust is a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

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David Sedaris Returns to Overture Center

For immediate release: Monday, May 8, 2017
Contact: Sarah Knab | 608.258.4438
Click here for photos.

Best-Selling Author, Humorist and Contributor to This American Life Live at Overture Center

Madison, Wis. – Overture Center presents David Sedaris, author of the previous bestsellers Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and regular National Public Radio contributor will be appearing for one night only in Overture Hall on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. following the release of his newest book, Theft By Finding Diaries (1977 – 2002).  His new book is a collection of diaries that will be released on May 30, 2017.

Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, June 2 at 11 a.m. at overture.org, in person at 201 State Street or by phone at 608.258.4141.

This is a unique opportunity to see the best-selling humorist in an intimate setting. As always, Sedaris will be offering a selection of all-new readings and recollections, as well as a Q&A session and post-show book signing.

Tweaking the familiar until it warps, David Sedaris mines poignant comedy from his peculiar childhood in North Carolina, his bizarre career path, and his move with his lover to France. Including his recent releases, the New York Times’ bestselling books When You Are Engulfed in Flames and Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, David Sedaris’ wickedly witty observations of the ordinary-bizarre are always sure to deliver insights and laughs. One of six children in a second-generation Greek family, he grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina.  In 1977, he dropped out of Kent State University to hitchhike around the country.  Aside from working as an elf, Sedaris has worked a number of charmingly quirky jobs such as a house painter, an apple picker, an aide in a mental hospital, a creative writing teacher at the Art Institute of Chicago, and an apartment cleaner.

Sedaris made his comic debut recounting his strange-but-true experiences of being a Macy’s elf, reading his Santaland Diaries on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition in 1992.  His sardonic humor and incisive social critique have made him one of NPR’s most popular and humorous commentators. In 2001, he was named Humorist of the Year by Time magazine and received the Thurber Prize for American Humor.

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OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS in Madison, Wisconsin features seven state-of-the-art performance spaces and five galleries where national and international touring artists, ten resident companies and hundreds of local artists engage people in over half a million educational and artistic experiences each year. Overture.org

Savant Capital Management CEO is Sought-After Speaker on Business Succession Planning and M&A for Financial Advisory Firms

Brodeski Speaks at Barron’s and Forbes Events

Following the successful acquisition and integration of five financial advisory firms during the past five years, Savant Capital Management CEO Brent Brodeski has become a recognized thought leader and sought-after speaker in the area of business succession planning and mergers and acquisitions for the RIA industry.

Headquartered in Rockford, IL, with 12 offices in three states, including Madison and Park Falls, Savant, a nationally recognized wealth management firm, recently hit another important milestone in the firm’s 30-year history by reaching $5 billion in assets under management (AUM). Savant set a goal to achieve $5 billion in AUM 10 years ago, when the firm reached the $1 billion milestone. The firm accomplished that goal by growing 400 percent over the past 10 years.

Additionally, Brodeski led the initiative to raise more than $50 million plus additional future capital commitments to address shareholder liquidity needs and create a capital structure and investor group to support future M&A opportunities.  The new capital structure positions the firm to remain independent now, and into the future.

Those accomplishments have further put Savant and Brodeski on national radar as a leading authority for RIAs seeking to grow or to acquire/merge or become acquired.

Recently, Brodeski shared his insight when he spoke at the Barron’s Top Independent Advisors Summitand the Forbes-SHOOK Top Advisor Summit. Both are exclusive, invitation-only events for the nation’s top independent financial advisors and industry leaders.

On March 16, Brodeski co-facilitated the “Succession Planning and M&A” session at the Forbes-SHOOK Top Advisor Summit at the Wynn in Las Vegas, NV. He spoke about the challenges and opportunities related to positioning advisory firms for future success and growth, the drivers of firm valuation, how to obtain good terms in a sale transaction and how to assure that owners of advisory firms optimally protect their investment and also protect their clients and team.

He also participated in a panel discussion during the “Succession, Continuity Planning and Next Generation Talent” session at the Barron’s Top Independent Advisors Summit on March 23 at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, FL. He spoke about key trends in advisory firm M&A, how to pick the best outside capital partner, creating a great company culture, scaling business to greater profits, and human capital strategies designed to build firm value and provide an advisory firm with long-term viability.

Savant employs more than 145 team members. Headquartered in Rockford, IL, Savant also has offices in the following locations: Chicago, IL; Freeport, IL; Geneva, IL; Hoffman Estates, IL; Naperville, IL; Peoria, IL; Sterling, IL; Wilmette, IL; McLean, VA; Madison, WI; and Park Falls, WI. For more information, visit savantcapital.com. 

About Savant Capital Management
Savant Capital Management is a leading independent, nationally-recognized, fee-only firm, serving clients for 30 years with $5 billion in assets under management. As a trusted advisor, Savant Capital Management offers investment management, financial planning, retirement plan and family office services to financially established individuals and institutions. Savant also offers corporate accounting, tax preparation, payroll and consulting through its affiliate, Savant Tax & Consulting.

Savant is regularly recognized among the top wealth managers in the United States. Savant was the recipient of the 2015 Best-in-Business IMPACT Award™, part of Schwab’s IMPACT Awards® program to recognize excellence in the business of independent financial advice. Savant has consistently received other industry recognitions including recently being included on the Forbes top 200 financial advisors list, the Barron’s top 20 independent advisory firms list, being named the #9 rated RIA firm by Financial Planning magazine, and included in additional top advisors lists by Financial Advisor magazine and InvestmentNews.

Savant Capital Management is a Registered Investment Advisor. Savant’s marketing material should not be construed by any existing or prospective client as a guarantee that they will experience a certain level of results if they engage Savant’s services and may include lists or rankings published by magazines and other sources which are generally based exclusively on information prepared and submitted by the recognized advisor. For more information about Savant or to view our Important Disclosures, go to www.savantcapital.com.

Savant Capital Management and its employees are independent of and are not employees or agents of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”). Schwab does not prepare, verify or endorse information distributed by Savant Capital Management. The Best-in-Business IMPACT Award™ is not an endorsement, testimonial endorsement, recommendation or referral to Savant Capital Management with respect to its investment advisory and other services.

Former NGL Chairman, President & CEO John D. Larson appointed Chairman Emeritus

Attorney David G. Walsh becomes NGL Chairman

At National Guardian Life Insurance Company’s (NGL) annual meeting of the Board of Directors on April 28, Chairman and former NGL President & CEO John D. Larson stepped down from his role as Chairman of the Board. Larson served on the Board of Directors since May 1974 and was Chairman since 2004. He remains a Board Director and was appointed Chairman Emeritus.

Larson has served NGL for over 48 years since joining the company in April 1969. Larson became President of NGL in 1974 and Chief Executive Officer in January 1989. He retired from NGL in 2012 and continued to serve as Chairman until he stepped down on April 28.

Replacing Larson as Chairman is David G. Walsh, a longtime NGL Board member and former Vice Chairman. Walsh is an attorney and retired partner with Foley & Lardner LLP.

About NGL

Since 1910, National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL), a mutual insurance company, has been located in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products including specialty and student insurance. Additional information about NGL can be found at www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company

National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.

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First Business Capital Corp. Announces Closed Deal

Contact:
Jen Braico
Senior Copywriter & Content Strategist
First Business Financial Services, Inc.
608-232-5773, jbraico@firstbusiness.com

First Business Capital Corp. Announces Closed Deal

MADISON, WI, May 3, 2017 – Chuck Batson, President and CEO, announced today that First Business Capital Corp. recently closed and funded a $6,185,000 credit facility including a revolving line of credit and equipment term loan for a specialty paper products manufacturer in the Pacific Northwest. First Business Capital Corp. is a part of First Business Financial Services, Inc.(Nasdaq:FBIZ).

About First Business Capital Corp.
First Business Capital Corp. is a bank-owned specialty lender providing asset-based loans and factoring services to privately held businesses with revenues of up to $75,000,000 and financing requirements of up to $10,000,000. First Business Capital Corp. provides funding to companies in transition to accomplish a turnaround, restructuring, acquisition, recapitalization, or rapid growth opportunity.

About First Business
First Business Financial Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: FBIZ) is a Wisconsin-based bank holding company, focused on the unique needs of businesses, business executives, and high net worth individuals. First Business offers commercial banking, specialty finance, and private wealth management solutions, and because of its niche focus, is able to provide its clients with unmatched expertise, accessibility, and responsiveness. For additional information, visit www.firstbusiness.com or call 608-238-8008.

Member FDIC, First Business’s corporate headquarters are at 401 Charmany Drive in Madison, WI. For additional information, visitwww.firstbusiness.com or call 608-238-8008.

The First Business logo is available at http://www.firstbusiness.com/logo/.

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