Lender Spotlight with Krista Paulus

Krista Paulus never planned on a career in banking. But now 26 years later, she can't image doing anything else.

"I fell into banking," Krista explained. "It wasn't my goal, but it found me, and I love it."

After graduating with a business degree from UW-Madison, Krista accepted a position with a finance company before eventually moving back to her hometown of Rice Lake, Wisconsin where she worked as a branch manager for a local bank. After 13 years, she left the bank to become a regional director of business development for Impact Seven, a community development corporation. It's there that Krista gained experience working with a variety of government lending programs, like New Market Tax Credits, and agencies, such as the Small Business Administration (SBA), Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and the Women's Business Development Center (WBDC).

"The knowledge that I gained from working with community development programs has helped me get deals done that probably wouldn't get done otherwise," Krista said. Seven invests

Now Krista brings that expertise to her Security Financial Bank (SFB) clients. She joined SFB's River Falls office in 2017 after her husband's career prompted the family to move to the New Richmond area.

"I love being able to help businesses grow, she said. "Finances are very personal and sometimes difficult. Helping our clients through that is very rewarding."

Krista's determination is often times what makes the difference.
 
"Tell me what you need, and I will try to find a way to help you. And if I can't, I will find someone who will," she promised.

Krista also brings that enthusiasm to being involved in the community. She volunteers for numerous organizations in River Falls and New Richmond, including both chambers of commerce, the St. Croix Economic Development Corporation, the City of New Richmond Community Development Council and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin. She also started the River Falls Women Mean Business group, which meets once a month to discuss and promote business, make connections and build relationships.

"I really enjoy volunteering and getting to know the people in the community," Krista explained. "When you live in a larger community, you lose that sense of identity. I have been trying really hard to get that sense back."