Madison, Wis. — The results of the latest Wisconsin Bankers Association’s biannual Economic Conditions Survey of Wisconsin bank CEOs reflect 68% of respondents rated Wisconsin’s current economic health as “good.” Sixty-one percent of respondents expect Wisconsin’s economy to stay about the same over the next six months, a figure similar to the sentiment captured in the previous survey (55%) conducted in end-of-year 2025. Sixty-one percent of respondents expect housing prices to remain the same in the next six months.
The responses to this recent survey indicate a steady outlook with demand in the next six months for residential real estate and all other categories to remain about the same, including staffing levels.
“Bankers are often among the first to recognize changes in the economy because they work directly with families and businesses every day,” said WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels. “The collected data indicates an encouraging level of confidence in Wisconsin’s economy, while revealing challenges customers continue to face, such as housing affordability and a rise in fraud.”
Stability is expected in housing prices and local employment, with most respondents anticipating no significant changes in either area. Looking ahead, bank CEOs identified fraud prevention, workforce recruitment and retention, and the impact of nontraditional financial institutions as top concerns for banks, while noting that business customers remain focused on rising labor, energy, and supply-chain costs and that consumers continue to face challenges with home affordability and inflation.
Below is a breakdown of the survey questions and responses. Sums may not equal 100 percent due to rounding.
