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As president & CEO of Community First Bank, Klahn said the work the bank and itsemployees do throughout its 10-community footprint is what matters most. Volunteerhours, philanthropy, community partnerships and donations lie at the heart of the bank’s mission — and has always, in its 154 years of doing business throughoutSouthwest Wisconsin.

Image caption: “I wouldn't be able to do it without the local banking support of CFB,” said Ellen Pinnola of Sweet Violet FloralBoutique.

“We try hard to be the bank of relationships. And our employees, whose localownership continues to drive our unwavering commitment to our customers and ourcommunities, are our foundation,” Klahn said. “Our employees share in our successthrough the Bank’s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), and we like to think thatdifferentiates us. This reinforces our core belief that we’re more than just a financialinstitution to our customers. We’re your financial partner.”

Klahn said the Bank is continually working to find ways to collaborate and partnerwith local small businesses and non-profits because they are the lifeblood of ourcommunities.

“We live, work and play here. So, all the nonprofits, small businesses and agencies wesupport through our partnerships represent all aspects of our lives and positivelyaffects each of us,” Klahn said. “We make it a point to support these groups becausewe know, when we work together, that it makes the quality of life better for all.Additionally, small businesses and non-profits tend to have big dreams, and bigdreams need strong support.”

Case in point: Ellen Pinnola, floral manager at Sweet Violet Floral Boutique inPlatteville, knew she found a strategic financial partner, not just a bank, when shefirst engaged with Community First Bank.

"I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the local banking support of CFB,” saidPinnola. "Starting a business can feel overwhelming, but having the right financialpartner truly makes all the difference. Community First Bank went above and beyondto help me secure, and research, the best avenues for my financing. Even now, afterlaunching my business, the personal relationship I have with my banking team hasbeen invaluable. When I have a question, I’m not calling a call center — I’m reachingout to someone I know and trust."

Community Bank employees are also given the flexibility to support causes they feelstrongly about. In fact, the bank provides eight hours of volunteer time annually toeach employee, which they can choose to use in any capacity.

Klahn said the bank is deeply committed to promoting financial literacy. Each spring,Community Bank employees participate in the American Bankers Association’s TeachChildren to Save campaign. Employees work with elementary students to teach themthe benefits of good savings habits. The K-8 program gives students the informationthey need to develop the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions throughouttheir financial lives. But it doesn’t stop there, we have many employees in ourfootprint who truly enjoy financial education in their roles. We look forward tobuilding and strengthening our financial literacy programs.

First-time homebuyers, entrepreneurs looking to start a business, business ownerslooking to expand, or customers looking for the best return on hard-earned incomewill find support and good advice at Community Bank. “We’re a one-stop shop, butthat doesn’t mean we’re not focused on service quality, Klahn said.”

Prioritizing internal training and professional development ensures employees areequipped with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to deliver exceptional service.Investing in the people at CFB helps to position us as the financial institution ofchoice in the markets we serve. We want to be the bank that customers trust, andemployees are proud to represent. This commitment is strengthened by a positiveculture and consistent reinforcement of our mission and focus across theorganization.

“Whether it’s learning how to maximize retirement savings or protecting againstfinancial scams to debunking common home loan myths and making homeownershipdreams come true – it’s important to us that we’re first for you, Klahn emphasizes.”

“Even though we’re fairly small, we have a pretty high commitment to communityoutreach,” Klahn said, “and we’re very proud of that. We put community front andcenter in everything we do.”

For more information on Community First Bank, please visit cfbank.com.