Wisconsin Lenders Conference Brings Industry Together for Learning and Connection

More than 500 lenders and banking professionals from across the state gathered May 14 at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells for the 36th Annual Wisconsin Lenders Conference, a one-day event focused on industry education, regulatory updates, and networking!

WBD kicked off the conference a day earlier with a complimentary pre‑conference SBA Fundamentals Workshop, giving lenders the opportunity to build a strong foundation ahead of the main event. The session, taught by Becky Schneider, Jill Faber and Kyle Kuntz, provided a practical overview of SBA loan programs, common structuring considerations, and recent program updates, making it especially valuable for lenders new to SBA lending or those looking for a refresher. The workshop concluded with a WBD‑hosted reception, offering attendees an early opportunity to connect with their peers and industry partners.

The conference itself featured a full slate of sessions tailored to both new and experienced commercial lenders. Topics ranged from SBA 7(a) loan closing best practices, servicing and liquidation processes to economic trends, compliance expectations, and practical insights on applying emerging tools such as generative AI in everyday lending work. A key takeaway from the AI session: AI is never the last step in the process. It can cover ‘A’ to ‘Y’, but ‘Z’ is a human making the decision.

The day opened with a keynote by leadership coach and author Darcy Luoma, who encouraged attendees to focus on resilience and adaptability amid ongoing change. Drawing on her experience working with organizations across industries, Luoma reminded the audience that, “You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control what you do next,” a message that resonated with lenders navigating a dynamic economic and regulatory environment.

One of the day’s breakout sessions focused on the SBA International Trade Loan (ITL) Program, where Keith Schlegel, Finance Manager with the Office of Manufacturing and Trade, shared a high-level overview of how the program supports small businesses engaged in exporting or impacted by foreign competition. The new ‘grocery guaranty’ has been a hot topic among lenders and the session highlighted how lenders can use the ITL program as a flexible financing tool with 90% guaranty to help borrowers expand into new markets or strengthen their competitive position in an increasingly global economy.

The conference also featured the annual SBA Wisconsin Lender Awards Luncheon, recognizing banks and lending teams for their contributions to small business financing across the state. Between sessions, attendees connected with exhibitors and industry partners, and the day concluded with a networking reception, providing a relaxed setting to exchange ideas and strengthen professional relationships.

Key takeaways from the WBD team included hearing rumblings that the MARC program (currently labeled at ‘Manufacturer’s Access to Revolving Credit’) may be getting a makeover with the program being expanded and renamed as ‘Main Street’s Access to Revolving Credit’ with additional NAICS codes becoming eligible. There was also mention of a new processing SOP being rolled out (SOP 50 10 8.1) in the summer or fall of 2026 and SBA Form 1919 being eliminated. These are all things we will keep an eye on and keep you updated if and when these come to fruition! E-Tran tips & tricks in John Gossett’s (Assistant Center Director for Servicing – Commercial Loan Service Center) Servicing session have also been put to good use!

As the industry continues to evolve, the Wisconsin Lenders Conference remains a valuable forum for lenders to stay informed, learn from peers, and build the connections that support small business lending across Wisconsin communities. Please be sure to ‘Save the Date’ for next year’s 37^th Annual Wisconsin Lenders Conference, set for Thursday, May 20, 2027!