30 years of banking through ‘ups, downs, everything in between’

Rachel Kroeger

Staff

January 12, 2026

APPLETON – Beginning his banking career 30 years ago, Paul Northway – now president and CEO of American National Bank Fox Cities (ANBFC) – said he started at the local finance house’s singular branch in Appleton.

“I recently celebrated 30 years in banking, and that started in 1995 at this bank,” he said.

Northway said he left ANBFC in 1999 for the Green Bay market, where he spent 14 years with a few larger local community banks, holding several leadership positions – including senior vice president at Associated Bank and regional president of Baylake Bank.

In 2013, he said his “old boss” at ANBFC reached out to discuss returning, as the bank’s leadership team was preparing to retire.

“That was 12 years ago,” he said, “Here we are continuing to grow, continuing to have a big impact in the market and with a big focus on our culture and developing an all-new leadership team throughout the years.”

Operating from its single branch at 2200 N. Richmond St., Northway said ANBFC supports local business owners and entrepreneurs in navigating challenges, helping them succeed.

“We are a community bank that is hyper-focused on small businesses in Northeast Wisconsin,” he said. “We know that small business [owners are] faced with a lot of challenges, and our job is to not create problems, but solve problems for our business clients to help position them to be a big part of the local economy.”

Passion for Wisconsin banking

To commemorate his 30th anniversary, Northway said Rose Oswald Poels, president of the Wisconsin Bankers Association – of which he currently serves as board chair – presented him with an award honoring his commitment to the banking industry.

“My passion and my commentary are not just [regarding] American National Bank [Fox Cities], but all community banking throughout the State of Wisconsin,” he said. “I look back over 30 years, and… it amazes me the number of relationships I’ve developed. That is so special and so rewarding.”

Before entering the finance industry, Northway earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

He furthered his education with an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and later attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Graduate School of Banking.

Returning to lead the bank where he began his career 30 years earlier, Northway said he’s proud to serve as an example to young professionals entering the banking industry.

“I think it’s good for them to be able to see that you can live out a really long career in this industry,” he said. “I think that’s important for all banks, as we try to make sure people are thinking about banking as a potential career. Even something as simple as me receiving a plaque for 30 years, is more about, ‘look, there’s a really cool career path here.’”

Above all else, Northway said he’s grateful for the ongoing opportunity to work alongside his team at ANBFC.

“The other day, when we were talking about the 30 years, I just thanked everybody for allowing me the opportunity to participate here with this team and with this bank,” he said. “I thank them for being part of the journey, and we’ve done a lot of neat things together. We have more to do, but thanks [to them] for being a part of it.”

Commercial activity, personal relationships

Northway said much of his work centers on supporting local businesses, with commercial activity forming the bulk of ANBFC’s portfolio.

“[That’s] not surprising for a local, community bank,” he said. “As much as 90% of what we do, at the very least, starts with commercial relationships.”

Though ANBFC’s focus is primarily on commercial clients, Northway said they also do what they can to ensure services extend to personal banking.

“We offer banking services across all [sectors],” he said. “It’s not uncommon for a business owner – every time they have an employee who wants to buy a house – to send them to our bank, and we work with them.”

Reflecting on the bank’s 32-year history, Northway said he attributes its longevity and success to a steadfast focus on its core mission – “and that is a bank focused on business owners.”

“Sometimes people [ask], ‘How do you stay so successful?’” he said. “I think it’s just sticking to your roots and sticking to the original game plan, and we have [by supporting] our business owners, their teams and their employees.”

In the age of ATMs, PTMs and online banking, Northway said client relationships are built a bit differently.

“The days of them coming down to the bank are, for the most part, a thing of the past,” he said. “We make sure we keep up with technology so clients can interact with us 24/7… [without] having to drive down to the bank… We have to be a lot more focused on driving deposit growth with the absence of a large branch network.”

Though ANBFC operates only from its original Appleton location, Northway said he takes pride in how his team has maintained impact and efficiency.

Despite expansions and changes in work practices, he said staying anchored on North Richmond Street has allowed the bank to maintain a close relationship with the community it serves.

“We’re good at remodeling,” he said. “We had a big expansion about halfway through [our history], and things have changed a little bit, too, with some hybrid [elements coming in] to how we work…, but we’ve done a good job staying entrenched at our location on North Richmond Street in Appleton.”

‘It’s people, not buildings’

Despite operating from a limited space, Northway said he has guided ANBFC’s growth through commercial lending, including business and SBA loans.

He said he attributes much of the success to the relationships he and his team have built over the years, emphasizing that growth is driven by people, not branches.

“That just gets back to the relationships,” he said. “It’s not about a physical location, so that’s never been a drawback, and… the evidence is in the amount of referrals that come from our clients.”

ANBFC’s team, Northway said, is who builds the relationships and, in turn, grows the bank’s assets by continually proving its commitment to Northeast Wisconsin’s business community.

“Growth really just gets back to our ability to be responsive, be ready, be available [and] be consultative – proving that we can be a trusted banking partner,” he said. “It’s people, not buildings.”

Northway said he takes pride in the continuity of his staff, noting that many employees have been with the bank for decades, demonstrating long-term commitment and expertise in serving small businesses.

“You don’t get here 32 years later without really proving your commitment and your ability to develop long, lasting relationships,” he said. “I can tell you, if I walk down to the lobby, I will see some people who have been walking in these doors for 32 years.”

Northway said his approach to leadership centers on being a consistent, reliable presence, helping small business clients navigate both challenges and successes along the way.

“After all these years, we’re consistent,” he said. “When you’re running a small business, you’re going to work through a lot of challenges. You’re going to work through a lot of economic cycles. So, we’re the type of bank that just tries to be there for you through all the ups and downs and everything in between.”

At the same time, Northway said he’s proud of how ANBFC has focused on developing emerging talent, highlighting the launch of the Emerging Leader Program and his role in guiding younger staff as they grow into leadership positions.

“Our team is getting younger, and it’s exciting to watch a new generation of people enter the banking industry,” he said. “We are committed to training, we’re committed to leadership development… [and], especially for a bank our size, I’m really proud we keep doubling down on our people.”

Northway said watching his team develop reinforces his belief that the best investment a bank can make is in its people.

Lasting impact

Northway said investing in local banks like ANBFC creates a ripple effect throughout the region, an impact he has been proud to contribute to over the past three decades.

“If we bring in deposits, we lend those out to businesses locally,” he said. “Our profitability is certainly a reward to our local shareholders, but it’s also our ability to continue to run a very relevant bank that can continue to reinvest in technology and reinvest in our people.”

By maintaining relevancy and profitability, Northway said he helps ensure ANBFC continues to have a meaningful impact across Northeast Wisconsin.

“No matter what our role is in life, and whether it’s personal or professional, relevance is a big deal,” he said. “Watching a business start, grow and create more jobs – it’s fulfilling. These employees with good jobs end up starting families, buying their first home and on and on. We, in our own way, contribute to all of that in Northeast Wisconsin.”