Associated Banc-Corp is well recognized as a leading Midwest financial institution, distinguished for connecting with customers and communities. This identity is a reflection of colleagues who embrace individual strengths and differences as they jointly strive to provide service of unequalled character and proportion.

The Vice President and Manager of Talent Acquisition, Kate Kucharski, recently described her organization’s commitment to hiring talented employees, including qualified individuals with disabilities, and fostering their success:

“Our profile has been shaped through inclusiveness and a dedication to nurturing colleagues who are encouraged to both contribute and reach their full potential. Our colleagues possess a shared integrity and appreciation of one another, their institution and their community.”

Briefly describe your company:
Associated has total assets of $23 billion and is one of the top 50, publicly traded, U.S. bank holding companies. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., Associated offers a full range of financial products and services through approximately 240 banking locations serving more than 150 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, and commercial financial services in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Texas.

How many employees do you have (North America)?
Associated has more than 4,900 employees who serve approximately one million customers with a full range of banking services and other financial products including: Consumer and Small Business Banking, Residential Lending, Commercial, Commercial Real Estate Lending, Treasury Management, Capital Markets, Private Banking and Trust, Investment Advisory and Brokerage and Insurance Services.

Why is hiring people with disabilities good for business?
Throughout, Associated supports diverse and welcoming work environments where colleagues are respected, treated fairly and given equal opportunities to perform to their fullest potential.

How important is it to have a workforce, which reflects the composition of the general population?

Associated believes it is only with a diverse and inclusive workplace that an organization can truly perform at its best, carry out its vision and make a difference for the communities served.

Have you instituted any kind of diversity training program for staff or management or both?

Out of its dedication to inclusiveness, Associated offers training and development programs for all employees that assist in learning about diversity and how to be comfortable and respect all colleagues in their differences.

What kinds of reasonable accommodations have you been able to provide to employees with disabilities?

Associated provides reasonable accommodations for colleagues with disabilities, attempting to meet every need possible, including modified desks, doors, parking areas and more. This is in keeping with the organization’s respect for differences between colleagues and its devotion to encouraging employees to go as far as their talents and goals might take them. It is by doing this that Associated continues to improve its work environment as well as provide outstanding services to customers and communities while increasing overall success.

What would you like to say to other businesses that are considering hiring people with disabilities?

A respect for and appreciation of individual differences creates an enviable identity that epitomizes how colleagues with diverse strengths and talents effectively and sensitively connect with all customers and communities as well as with one another.

Do you have a brief story or anecdote about an employee with a disability that you would like to share?

In all locations and as a corporation, Associated recognizes all colleagues as resources critical to fulfill the company’s vision, values and aspirations, investing in the growth and development of all employees in its diverse and welcoming culture. Through its vision and values, Associated is highly admired as a Midwestern financial service company, distinguished by sound financial solutions with personal service for customers, built upon a strong loyalty to colleagues and the communities served, resulting in exceptional corporate performance.

Featured Employer

Associated Bank has 233 open positions

Featured Partners

National Organization on Disability

Cornell University, ILR School - Employment and Disability Institute