J. Scott Sitter

March 2010 – Oshkosh, WI – Choice Bank is proud to announce the addition of J. Scott Sitter to the Business Banking Team. Sitter, Senior Vice President – Business Banking, brings to the team 26 years of experience in the financial industry.

Sitter joins Choice Bank after 14 years as a Senior Credit Officer at another community bank in Oshkosh . Prior to that he worked as Vice President – Business Banking at a regional bank office in Oshkosh . Preceding his banking career he served as a Financial Examiner for the Department of Financial Institutions (WDFI).

Keeping true to the community bank mission, Sitter has been actively involved in the Oshkosh community as a member/supporter of the Friends of Oshkosh, Rotary, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Boys & Girls Club, the Affinity Health Foundation and more.

Sitter earned his Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance as well as completing Graduate level business courses from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh . Throughout his career he has furthered his education by attending the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) Commercial Lending School , the Advanced Financial Examiner School and industry specific conferences.

Choice Bank, established in July 2006, is located at 2450 Witzel Avenue , Oshkosh with a second location at 2201 Jackson Street , Oshkosh . Choice Bank is a locally owned and operated community bank dedicated to making a difference in your community!

Choice Bank…Your Community, Your Choice!

Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender
For additional information about Choice Bank, call (920) 230-1300 or visit http://www.choicebank.com.

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L to R: Ann: Director of Communications, Stan: EVP & CCO, Corey: Customer Service Consultant, Keith: President & CEO (not pictured is Maggie: Concierge)

On Tuesday, February 2nd Choice Bank employees were Guest Bartenders at Fratello’s Lounge to raise money for the Christine Ann Center of Oshkosh. All tips from the evening, along with 1/2 of all drink sales from 7:00 – 8:00, were donated to the Center. In just four hours the CB Guest Bartenders were able to raise over $625 in donations!

The Christine Ann Center serves individuals and families in Winnebago and Green Lake Counties who are struggling with the devastating effects of domestic abuse. The Lounge and Choice Bank were happy to support this community based non-profit organization. We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to all of you who stopped at the event on Tuesday.

This is the week that Choice Bank looks forward to the most during the Holiday season. Beginning on Monday we will be hosting Madrigal Choirs, serving fresh baked cookies, selling local gifts and celebrating all the Holiday fun.

Our Concierge Maggie put together this quick Holiday gift guide so you can be well prepared when you stop by this week for some last minute local shopping.

A short guide to help make your Holiday shopping a little easier!

For the woman in your life:

• Visit Renaissance MediSpa and Almavi Skin Care for all her beauty needs.
• If she is in need of some one-of-a-kind jewelry and other gifts, support one of our local artists by visiting Vivian Angelique Jewelry, SAS Designs, and Sunkist Designs.
• For the woman who loves to cook, stop by Olden Produce to learn about Community Supported Agriculture Shares, the gift that keeps giving during the summer months. Also check out the Oshkosh Service League cookbook, “Tried & True,” with over 500 recipes.

For that person that has everything:

• Great for holiday giving are the charitable gift cards from the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. The gift recipient can select any non-profit in Winnebago, Waushara or Green Lake Counties they would like their gift card to support, and that non-profit receives a contribution for the amount of the card.
• Everyone can use a night out; visit the Primo Italian Restaurant table during the Open House to buy a gift certificate and sample wonderful wine while you make your purchase.
• Visit the teller line to purchase a Chamber Gift Certificate or VISA Gift Card, both can be used in many locations throughout the community.

For that special man in your life:

• The way to his heart is through food; get him one of the many gifts from Colonial Cheese House or a Primo Italian Restaurant Gift Certificate.
• Is he in desperate need of some skin care products? Visit Renaissance MediSpa and Almavi Skin Care for the perfect stocking stuffer he may not buy for himself.
• For the man who is hard to buy for, a VISA Gift Card or Chamber Gift Certificate could be the perfect gift.
• If he is always on the go, a tree from Trees by Stella will help him get into the holiday spirit without taking the time out of his day to decorate. Another great on the go gift –  Black Pearl Coffee to help keep him energized all day long!

For your college student:

• The perfect gift for your college student is a VISA Gift Card it can be used wherever VISA is accepted.
• Every student away from home loves getting mail. Order a gift basket from Colonial Cheese House or fill their stocking with some Black Pearl Coffee to help him/her stay bright eyed during those early morning classes.
• Get them in the holiday spirit with a tree from Trees by Stella. No hassle for your college student with pre-lit and pre-decorated trees!

Choice Bank is excited to host our second annual “Shop Local. Celebrate Local.” event at our Witzel Street location. Last we we started this event to remind our customers and community of the importance of shopping at local businesses, especially around the holiday season. Each year as we begin planning this event, we have the opportunity to showcase some of our favorite area businesses who offer unique gifts or handmade goods you cannot find anywhere else.

Learn all about Shop Local. Celebrate Local. here.
See photos from last year’s event here.

What makes shopping local so great? Check out the facts below from the 3/50 Project:

• If half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.
• For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 shays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.

 

Since it is now slightly past Fall Fest and into Halloween time Chad and Nicole, Customer Service Consultants, decided to get a little creative with some of the leftover Fall Fest decorations. I love what they came up with, they indeed make Choice Bank proud!

Choice Bank Jackson Street, great location, great people! If you have not visited them yet now is a great time to stop in and see the pumpkin in person and meet the artists!

This weekend Choice Bank hosted Family Fall Fest at our Jackson Street Location. Despite the first snowflakes of the season we had a great turnout! Not only did we have a huge line for our one-day-only Certificate of Deposit special, but we ran out of the pig roast by 12:15! Wow! Thank you to everyone who came out to brave the cold! We hope you had a great time, I know we did!

Check out our Fall Fest photo album here.

What’s events are in store next for Choice Bank?
Watch for more posts as we host the Madrigal Choirs from Oshkosh area schools in the grand foyer of our Witzel Street Location during the holiday season.

P.S. we’ll order a larger pig next year for Fall Fest, sorry if you missed out!

September 2009 – Oshkosh, WI – This summer four local kids started their own business with the help of Choice Bank. What started out as an idea quickly turned into a functioning small business. In only two short months of business they managed to raise over $580. After Choice Bank’s profit match these four kids presented a check for $1172.22 to Habitat for Humanity of Oshkosh.

The owners, self-proclaimed “Team Lemonade,” opened the Best Choice Lemonade Stand in July of this year with a small loan from Choice Bank and help from a few generous community sponsors.* After putting out a call for area kids to help work at the stand, they received 21 applications for employment. They were able to hire each and every applicant to work at least a shift or two.

By the end of the season Team Lemonade had learned a lot about what it takes to run and grow a business – from creating a business plan to selling the product. Everyone had learned how to work with money, make lemonade, test taste the product for quality and most importantly, Team Lemonade learned what it was like for a community to come together in support of a cause. “I liked being able to help people out by raising money,” said Harmony, age 7. “It was a lot of fun to be able to meet so many other people who wanted to help raise money for Habitat too,” added Wyatt, age 10.

So what is the next big adventure for Team Lemonade? They are back in school now but are looking forward to next summer when they will be able to open the stand again. In fact, the lemonade business was such a success that they plan to open a second Oshkosh location in the summer of 2010!

Team Lemonade extends a huge thank you to everyone who worked at the stand and to those who supported Oshkosh ’s smallest business by sharing their story or stopping to buy a cup of lemonade.

“When we granted Team Lemonade’s loan request we were eager to see how their business would come to life. We could never have anticipated the overwhelming effect this small business would generate in the Oshkosh Community. I am proud that Choice Bank could be part of this great community experience.”

-Stan Leedle, Chief Credit Officer, Choice Bank

*The Best Choice Lemonade Stand sponsors included: Stand design by Chet Wesenberg, Architect ∙ Building by Matt Simonson and Keith VandenBoogaard of Apollo Homes ∙ Building materials sponsored by Choice Bank ∙ Ice donated by Blue Moose Convenience Stores ∙ Additional lemonade donated by Marcia Thomas.

Choice Bank, established in July 2006, is located at 2450 Witzel Avenue , Oshkosh with a second location at 2201 Jackson Street , Oshkosh . Choice Bank is a locally owned and operated community bank dedicated to making a difference in your community! Choice Bank…Your Community, Your Choice! Member FDIC ∙ Equal Housing Lender http://www.choicebank.com.

Choice Bank has had such a great time helping out Team Lemonade start the smallest, small business in Oshkosh – Best Choice Lemonade – that we wanted to extend a special to other area business owners!

Summer is finally here – well, almost – and along with the sunshine and beautiful temperatures we also see an increase in our spending. We are here to give you some easy and quick ways to save money. Follow these tips during the summer and watch your money grow.

Did you know that your air conditioner can raise electricity bills greater than heat raises gas bills in the winter? Here are a few tips to help save money on your electricity bill.

Keep your windows closed during the hot summer days. By not letting in that hot stuffy air your house will stay at a cooler temperature.

Use fans whenever possible. While we know that fans use electricity too they do not use close the amount that air conditioners do.

If you know no one will be home for the day turn up the air conditioner. Try drying your laundry outside. Not only will you not be saving electricity, but your clothes will have that summer fresh outdoor scent.

Here are a few more money saving ideas that will save you money and are enjoyable to do!

Many places hold farmers markets where you can go and get fresh fruits and vegetables. These markets are not only free but have fun and unique things to check out. Also, summer produce is much cheaper than the cost of produce in the winter months. Use the well priced produce for cold soups as well as deserts and freeze some for the winter months.

Going out and doing things during the summer can become expensive so why not hit up the community events that typically are free such as summer concerts, community picnics, fireworks, and many other activities.. Check out newspapers, internet sites, or Choice Bank’s community calendar for a list of free activities.

We all know when spring and summer hit the yard sales begin. Yard sale shopping can be a ton of fun; you never know what kind of treasures you may find and you will be spending a lot less!

Follow these money saving tips and you will watch your extra money grow! With all that extra money you may even was to open a savings account at your very own Choice Bank! Now go on your way to being an amazingly wise summer saver.

Have more money saving tips? Post comments on our blog anytime!