Wisconsin banks ended 2019 on a positive note, showing signs of strength and stability despite stress in certain economic sectors, including the agricultural community, according the Wisconsin Bankers Association. Highlights from the fourth-quarter FDIC report on Wisconsin banks include:
- Growth in net loans and leases by 3 percent:
- Increase in deposits by 2 percent; and
- Farmland loans grew by 1.1 percent, showing the banking industry’s support for this important and struggling facet of the Wisconsin economy.
In a separate December survey of Wisconsin’s bank CEOs and presidents by the WBA, low unemployment, strong manufacturing, low interest rates, a diverse economic base, and strong consumer confidence were some of the factors cited as to why the economy was doing so well during the fourth quarter.
