The Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (GSB) was established in 1945 through the efforts of Dr. Herbert V. Prochnow (who went on to become President of the First National Bank of Chicago), the Dean of the UW School of Commerce, and the Wisconsin Bankers Association. The School has been sponsored by the Central States Conference of Bankers Associations since its beginning.

GSB’s Graduate School program provides a comprehensive course of study covering industry and management subjects designed to prepare mid and upper level financial services managers for positions of greater responsibility in their organizations. The program covers subjects directly relating to the leadership, management and operation of a financial services organization in an environment of competitive, regulatory, and technological change. Nearly 20,000 banking professionals and industry regulators have completed the GSB Graduate School program and many have gone on to occupy positions of leadership in financial institutions and regulatory agencies across the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe.

GSB also offers an Advanced Management Forum designed for senior banking professionals. This strategic bank management program serves to keep banking leaders abreast of the latest advances in the field and current with respect to decision assist tools and techniques.

In 2000 GSB initiated a new Human Resource Management School that provides HR professionals with both a basic understanding of the business of banking and an opportunity to explore current human resource issues. The business of banking component helps provide a framework for analyzing the HR function and activities in terms of their contribution to the bottom line performance of the organization.

In 2003 GSB offered the Advanced Human Resource Management Seminar. This program is designed for graduates of the GSB Human Resource Management School. This is a three-day update seminar on today’s most critical HR issues affecting financial professionals. This program is offered on an every-other year basis.

In cooperation with the Financial Managers Society, GSB began to offer the Financial Managers School in 2004. Designed by financial institution CFOs for financial institution financial managers, this week-long school goes beyond the basics to present best practices and provide community financial institution financial managers the tools to build a solid foundation in asset/liability management.

In 2010, GSB unveilied its immensely popular Bank Technology Management School that provides IT and IT security professionals in banking an unparalled opportunity for hands on learning. This week-long school provides a solid foundation in the business of banking as well as real-world, applied IT solutions and opportunities to participate in lab work to maximize learning.

In addition to these residential programs, GSB undertakes a variety of other activities that enhance the School’s value to the banking industry. These activities include:

• Development and delivery of special topic online seminars for banking professionals. These programs cover a wide variety of advanced bank management topics and many introduce leading edge decision assist tools; GSB online seminar programs are delivered over the Internet using GSB’s state-of-the-art Microsoft Live Meeting classroom
• International Bankers Program — a special two-week program of study for international bankers who seek a greater understanding of American Banking