[Maple Lake, MN - September 25, 2025] - Finance & Commerce, Minnesota’s daily newspaper for business, real estate, legal, and economic news, has awarded Star Bank with a 2025 Empowering Women Award.
The Empowering Women Award recognizes companies and organizations that have shown a strong commitment to supporting and elevating women in Minnesota. Star Bank is one of just three Minnesota banks that have received the award this calendar year.
This award showcases tangible and innovative efforts by companies, law firms, nonprofits and other organizations to advance women in the workplace and community. The Empowering Women Award shines a light on companies and organizations that have demonstrated tangible efforts and documented results in supporting and elevating women in Minnesota.
Link: https://finance-commerce.com/2025/09/empowering-women-2025/
Star Bank was selected by Finance & Commerce and a panel of judges made up of other business professionals. Nominations, applications, and letters of recommendation were judged based on documented hiring and promoting of women; leadership positions held by women; advocacy for the cause of women internally and externally; and efforts to cultivate the next generation of women professionals.
Star Bank received their award at a ceremony sponsored by Finance & Commerce on September 24, 2025. Star Bank’s President & CEO, Katie Wahlquist, says:
“One of my professional missions since joining our bank in 2010 has been to ‘raise the glass ceiling’ and mentor other bankers by helping them grow into management and upper management one day.. We employ a powerhouse group of women at Star Bank across our footprint which now includes 11 incredible Minnesota communities. I am proud to say that women lead every department of our bank with the exception of three areas.”