American Banker’s Innovators of the Year award honors people who are leading innovation across banking and financial technology, setting the course for the industry's future. These individuals and teams have driven initiatives that have substantially benefited consumers, their businesses and the sector, while demonstrating exemplary leadership, teamwork and personal ambition.
“From embedded banking to artificial intelligence, these bank and fintech leaders aren’t just identifying great ideas, they’re executing them,” says Penny Crosman, Executive Editor, Technology at American Banker. “The results of their innovative initiatives provide massive benefits to customers and drive their businesses — and the industry at large — to new and interesting places.”
Christine Oelke, AVP and Data Insights Manager at Horicon Bank, has been bringing innovative ideas to the Bank’s strategy for more than twenty years. A Beaver Dam native, Oelke started with Horicon Bank as a student teller in high school. After earning a degree in Marketing, Oelke moved into the Bank’s Marketing Department but later found a calling in data management and strategy.
Horicon Bank President Fred C. Schwertfeger says Oelke’s creativity and execution of innovative ideas make her a catalyst of change at Horicon Bank.
“Chrissy leads by example,” said Schwertfeger. “She thinks outside the box, listens with true concern to the issues of customers and employees and executes on innovative solutions. We are proud to celebrate her achievement. She truly exemplifies what it means to live out our vision – to do good for our customers and in our communities.”
Among the 20 finalists, one top winner will be announced at an awards dinner at American Banker’s DIGITAL BANKING conference, which takes place June 24-25, 2024 at The Boca Raton resort in Florida.
About American Banker
American Banker empowers banking professionals with unique analysis and insight into the ideas transforming their business and industry. Across its journalism, events, research and benchmarking, it helps drive the way forward through the complexity of business innovation, retail and commercial disruption, technology, regulation, and reform. With a banking community 850K strong, American Banker’s transformative content connects leaders online, in person and in print every day