ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

Associated Banc-Corp is a U.S. regional bank holding company providing retail banking, commercial banking, commercial real estate lending, private banking and specialized financial services. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a Midwest bank with from more than 220 banking locations serving more than 100 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. The company also operates loan production offices in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio and Texas.

As of October 19, 2023, it had $42 billion in assets and is the largest bank holding company based in Wisconsin. Associated Bank is a nationally chartered bank, regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency within the Department of the Treasury. Associated Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. The company has approximately 4,200 employees.

History

The Associated Banc-Corp holding company was formed on May 1, 1970, when three community banks formed a banking alliance that consolidated into Associated Bank. The three founding community banks were: The First National Bank of Neenah, founded in 1861; Kellogg Citizens National Bank, Green Bay, founded 1874; and Manitowoc Savings Bank, founded in 1884.

1989 – Acquired the Associated De Pere Bank of De Pere, Wisconsin

1991 – Acquired Farmers State Bank of Pound, Wisconsin, and F&M Financial Services

1992 – Acquired Wausau Financial and Northeast Wisconsin Financial Services

1993 – Changed name to Associated Bank, NA of Green Bay, Wisconsin

1993 – Acquired First National Bank of Sturgeon Bay of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

1995 – Acquired GN Bancorp of Illinois

1996 – Acquired Mid-American National Bancorp of Illinois

1997 – Acquired Centra Financial of Wisconsin

1997 – Merged with First Financial Corporation of Stevens Point, Wisconsin

1998 – Acquired Citizens Bank, NA of Shawano, Wisconsin

1999 – Acquired Windsor Bancshares of Minnesota

2001 – Changed name to Associated Bank, NA; merged and re-branded existing affiliate banks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Neenah, Wisconsin; Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Wausau, Wisconsin; and Madison, Wisconsin

2002 – Acquired Signal Financial Corp. of Minnesota

2003 – Merged and re-branded affiliates: Associated Card Services Bank in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and Associated Bank Illinois in Rockford, Illinois

2004 – Acquired First Federal Capital Bank of La Crosse, Wisconsin, expanding into Western and Southwest Wisconsin

2005 – Merged and re-branded affiliate banks in Minneapolis and in Chicago.

2005 – Acquired State Financial Services of Hales Corners, Wisconsin, and expanded to Northern Illinois

2007 – Acquired First National Bank of Hudson, Wisconsin

2008 – Received $525 Million share of the $700 Billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) fund

2009 – Appointed William R. Hutchinson as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Philip B. Flynn as President and CEO

2010 – Issued $435 million of common stock in an offering to support continued growth

2011 – Repaid $525 Million share of the $700 Billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) fund

2012 – Redeveloped the Downtown Green Bay Regency building, to create the new Associated Center as its headquarters

2013 – Named one of the 100 Most Trustworthy Companies by Forbes

2014 – Joined the New York Stock Exchange and began trading under the ticker "ASB"

2015 – Acquired Ahmann & Martin Co., a risk and employee benefits consulting firm

2016 – Purchased the 28-story Milwaukee Center office building to allow for future expansion of the company

2017 – Acquired Whitnell & Co., a wealth management family services firm

2018 – Acquired Bank Mutual of Milwaukee

2018 – Acquired Diversified Insurance Solutions, a Milwaukee based employee benefits insurance agency

2018 – Acquired Anderson Insurance & Investment Agency, a Minneapolis based workers compensation insurance agency

2019 – Acquired 32 Wisconsin branches from The Huntington National Bank

2020 – Acquired the First National Bank of Staunton, Illinois

2020 – Appointed John (Jay) B. Williams as Chairman of the Board of Directors

2020 – Sold Associated Benefits & Risk Consulting (ABRC) to USI Insurance Services LLC (USI) for $266 million

2021 – Appointed Andy Harmening as President and CEO

2022 – Consolidated 13 branches in Wisconsin and Illinois; announced first "micro branch" (600 square feet (56 m2)) following new micro office model

2025 – Acquired American National Bank in Omaha, Nebraska

Subsidiaries

During the 1990s and 2000s, Associated Banc-Corp merged all of its affiliated banks into Associated Bank, N.A., a wholly owned subsidiary.

Subsidiaries of Associated Bank, N.A. include: Associated Trust Company, N.A.; Associated Investment Corp; and Associated Community Development, LLC.

Sports sponsorships

It is a banking partner of the Milwaukee Brewers, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Athletics, and the Minnesota Wild. It is also the bank of the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.