Is your bank doing more than just processing transactions?

In Part 2 of this episode, we spotlight how Horicon Bank’s “heart” sets it apart, fueling community transformation, supporting arts and education, and championing a CARE-driven mission. Community impact isn’t a talking point here; it’s woven into every decision, from building athletic fields and supporting hospitals, to empowering staff for 40 hours of volunteer service a year.

Ever wondered why some local banks become the glue that holds communities together? Hear stories that reveal more than just business success—they showcase a legacy of partnership and trust.

Tune in to hear from Fred C. Schwartfeger, Frederick F. Schwertfeger, and Alex Solanki as they unpack what truly makes Horicon Bank “The Natural Choice” for over 130 years.

Episode Highlights

01:06 – We're trying to be a community bank that participates in a meaningful way in each community. I would like to say, Becki, that one of our kind of mnemonics that we work toward at Horicon Bank is our CARE mission. Our CARE mission is defined as having an interest in our communities. And we use this word CARE and build it out to communities who value our presence, associates who are getting growing in their skills and success, and relationships that we have with customers who trust us. And then we have expectations to meet with regulators and shareholders and all that. And so that care mission is one reason why we think customers should bank with us. Someone asked me, a consultant asked me a number of years ago, well, why would I want to bank with you? And so it's quite easy to explain. We have a care mission.

07:14 – I would say that the fact that we empower our bankers to make the local decisions, it means we're making business decisions quicker than perhaps a bigger bank that has to go up the ladder of this approval process. But also, we invest in our communities, but we do that also with time. We allow every employee to have 40 hours of volunteer time to give back to their communities. So I think that's another sort of testament that we're making to our communities.

22:28 – And I think I have a good example of that one with a customer I started in his own business in probably the late '90s or the early '90s. And he started a manufacturing company in Horicon. And went on to sell it for a nice price. But along the way, I had an opportunity to, especially in retirement, to work with him and tell him the good news about the gospel, really, that Jesus died for his sins and he could trust in Jesus because he was ill, Eric, at that time, and he was in the Beaver Dam Hospital. He contributed to the new hospital that I talked about earlier, and I was invited to be the officiant at his funeral. So talk about from inception to grave kind of banking care.

Connect with Becki Schimpf

LinkedIn

Connect with Erik Waisanen

LinkedIn

Connect with Frederick F. Schwertfeger

LinkedIn

Connect with Fred C. Schwertfeger

LinkedIn

Connect with Alex Solanki

LinkedIn

Some banks chase profits; Horicon Bank builds legacies.

Erik Waisanen and Becki Schimpf sit down with Horicon Bank’s Chairman & CEO Fred F. Schwertfeger, President Fred C. Schwertfeger, and Strategic Financial Analyst Solanki for a deep dive into 130 years of community banking, resilience, and forward-thinking leadership. Fred shares powerful family anecdotes, pivotal milestones, and timeless values that continue to shape both the bank and the region it serves.

From surviving industry upheavals and economic downturns to expanding into the Milwaukee area, Horicon Bank’s story is one of adaptability, visionary risk-taking, and authentic local engagement. The team also explores how fun—yes, inspired by river otters—drives innovation and purpose at Horicon.

Episode Highlights:

01:17 - Fred F. Schwertfeger: “I'm here with my son and my daughter, and we're really blessed to be part of Horicon Horicon Bank over these years. I've been with Horicon Bank coming on 50 years. Can you imagine that? And my son's been with us since the turn of the century, more or less. Once he did a parade with us and had to follow the horses through the parade as a Horicon Bank representative. So we've all kind of grown in our own way at Horicon Bank.”

17:41 - Fred C. Schwertfeger: "I think being in this one in Wauwatosa crossing into Milwaukee County was possibly one of the bravest things we've done. A lot more obligations to the community, a lot more competition. So that, that one is still fresh. Recency bias is affecting that answer there. But we've started a trust division and that was a new, new thing for us and, you know, over 130 years never having trust powers, but getting into that business was another milestone moment, I would say. Acquiring a fintech was another."

21:16 - Alex Solanki: "And that branch in particular involved a few extra risks that we took, including we built it to be geothermal, and this was a new idea for us to use geothermal heat to power the heat, to heat the building. And that was kind of went in line with our theme of being a natural bank centered on the marsh with enjoying nature and such things. And in addition to that, we also built the branch to include our very own coffee shop, which we called the Blue Goose. You know, our logo is a blue goose. And so we branded our own coffee and trained baristas for a while. And that was a fun way to enter that community and get some excitement and foot traffic coming into the branch to get their coffee."

Connect with Becki Schimpf

LinkedIn

Connect with Erik Waisanen

LinkedIn

Connect with Fred F. Schwertfeger

LinkedIn

Connect with Fred C. Schwertfeger

LinkedIn

Connect with Alex Solanki

LinkedIn

Grace Bruins sits down with travel specialist and neurodiversity advocate Angela Gorske to uncover how transformative experiences and educational travel can empower communities.

Angela shares her inspiring mission to “improve the world” through hands-on adventures and uniquely tailored trips, especially for those with extraordinary needs. From field trips that bring history to life to creative business funding ideas, Angela takes us behind the scenes of her brand’s soft launch and how love—passed down from her grandmother—drives everything she does.

Angela delivers heartfelt stories and practical advice on starting a mission-driven company, offering insights that entrepreneurs and changemakers won’t want to miss.

Episode Highlights:

01:16 - That's what I started off with in January when I said, okay, I'm going to start a business if I don't get a job. And that's where we're at.

03:19 - We have a trip that is getting rescheduled. It was supposed to be next Thursday, but now I'm going to a conference. So it's getting rescheduled to next month to The Dome in Milwaukee.

05:21 - Right now, I'm working on a bucket list trip for a gentleman whose Parkinson's is currently not doing bad, so.

07:29 - So if you're feeling like you've got a raven on your back or someone who's bringing too much negativity to the table, fly higher.

Grace Bruins

LinkedIn

Angela Gorske

LinkedIn