Kathy Mueller has been a voting member of FreedomBank's Board of Directors since 2019. Before that, she served as the board's secretary in a non-voting capacity starting in 2010.
Since 1981, Kathy has been a pivotal part of the community banking industry. She began her journey as a teller at the former Union State Bank in Monona, and after a decade, she transitioned to Peoples State Bank in Elkader. When these two banks merged into Freedombank in 2006, Kathy's career continued to flourish. She has held various roles, from bookkeeping to lending, and holds the role of president and CEO.
Kathy has shown dedication to lifelong learning through her academic accomplishments. She graduated from M-F-L Community High School in 1981 and later became a non-traditional student at Upper Iowa University. In 2006, Kathy earned a Certificate in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Management. Her pursuit of knowledge didn't stop there; she earned a Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Corporate Financial Management in 2009. Additionally, Kathy completed the curriculums for the Iowa School of Banking and the Graduate School of Banking in Colorado, demonstrating her commitment to her profession.
Kathy illustrated her beliefs about the role of community banks in Northeast Iowa: "I believe that community banks and the people who work there are the best partners for personal and business success. Because your community banker works and lives in your community, they can understand your goals and the challenges that exist in achieving those goals." She continued, "At FreedomBank, the stakeholders, including the directors, are your friends and neighbors. We are strong supporters of youth activities, local economic development, and community betterment projects."
Outside of her professional commitments, Kathy is an active community member. She volunteers on the Main Street Elkader board, the Clayton County Foundation for the Future board, and the St. Joseph's Church finance committee. She enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Steve, their grown children, and their ten grandchildren. Kathy also likes to entertain family and friends at their Elkader and Northwest Wisconsin homes, where they enjoy boating, fishing, and side-by-side riding. Kathy finds time to relax at home or the lake with a good book or a ball of yarn.
"I feel very fortunate to have made banking my career. The past and present directors of FreedomBank are honest and fair and generous and are genuinely concerned with creating opportunities for success for everyone in the community. It has been an honor to work with each of them," shared Kathy.
Back to Board of Directors >