Citizens First Bank named among Forbes’ Best Banks in Wisconsin for 2026

July 3, 3036

VIROQUA, Wis. — Citizens First Bank has been named one of Forbes’ America’s Best-In-State Banks for 2026, becoming one of seven Wisconsin banks to receive the recognition and the only bank in the Coulee Region to earn a spot on the list.

The annual ranking, compiled by Forbes in partnership with research firm Statista, recognizes banks that perform well in areas including customer satisfaction, trust, customer service, digital banking, financial advice and overall customer experience.

The rankings are based on an independent survey of thousands of U.S. banking customers and publicly available customer reviews. According to Forbes, eligible institutions must receive a minimum number of customer evaluations, and banks recognized on this year’s list averaged more than 635 evaluations.

For Citizens First Bank, the recognition underscores its longstanding focus on community banking and customer relationships. The family-owned bank, which operates locations in Centerville, Holmen, Sparta, Trempealeau, Viola and Viroqua, has served southwest Wisconsin for more than a century.

“Receiving this recognition from Forbes is an incredible honor because it reflects the trust our customers place in us every day,” said Shane Ilstrup, president and CEO of Citizens First Bank. “This award belongs to our staff, whose dedication to our customers and communities made this possible. We are grateful to everyone who has chosen us as their financial partner.”

Citizens First Bank said it continues to emphasize local decision-making and personalized service while helping individuals, families, farmers and businesses meet their financial goals.

Founded under its original bank charter in 1912 and locally family-owned since 1969, Citizens First Bank describes its mission as “Banking with People,” with a focus on building relationships and supporting the communities it serves.

More information about the Forbes America’s Best-In-State Banks 2026 rankings is available at forbes.com. Information about Citizens First Bank and the recognition can be found at citizensfirstbank.net.