Our History

Over a Century of Trust, Integrity & Service to Our Community.

A 100 Year Long Journey with a Mission

Since 1921, the mission of WaterStone Bank has been to provide outstanding bank products and financial services that help our customers accomplish their financial goals at all stages of life. Looking back upon our history, we have weathered some significant historical challenges, including The Great Depression, World War II, multiple recessions, as well as other difficult economic conditions. Through it all, our leadership team has steadily guided us, always ensuring that we remained strong, and stable.

WaterStone Bank remains a top financial resource in the southeastern Wisconsin region, offering bank products and financial services that address the needs of today’s world. Every day, our team strives to deliver the greatest value to our bank customers, and shareholders. We greatly value our employees, and provide a wide variety of educational opportunities to help them advance in their careers.

A Century of Commitment to Community

For over 100 years, WaterStone Bank has been dedicated to making a positive impact on people’s lives, and the communities in which they live and work. In 2002, the WaterStone Bank Foundation was formed with the goal of ensuring the bank consistently focuses on giving back to the people, and communities we serve. We are proud to provide financial support for various charitable organizations focused on education, women’s and children’s issues, community development, veterans’ initiatives, and others.

Our History Timeline

1921

WaterStone Bank began as Wauwatosa Building and Loan. It was founded by Edward F. Geske and other local businessmen on the site that is now 7615 W. State Street in Wauwatosa.

Today, the Wauwatosa branch office is located at 7500 W. State Street.

1973

The Bank’s second branch was opened on South 27th Street in Oak Creek. Built in 1988, our current Oak Creek branch is located at 6560 S. 27th Street.

1986

The first Waukesha branch opened at 1710 Paramount Drive in an existing bank building. In September 2005, the bank relocated to 21505 E. Moreland Blvd.

1994

WaterStone Bank became a “savings bank” after originally being designated a “building and loan” and later a “savings and loan.”

2002

The bank established the WaterStone Bank Fund (formerly the Wauwatosa Savings Bank Fund) with the Waukesha County Community Foundation in 2002 in order to ensure the bank’s ability to continually give back to the communities in which they serve.

2003

The Oconomowoc/Lake Country branch office opened at 1233 Corporate Center Drive.

2004

The Pewaukee branch opened at 1230 George Towne Drive.

2005

Depositors approved a bank reorganization and a partial stock issuance plan. In October, the public stock began trading on NASDAQ.

2006

Two branches were opened this year. One in Franklin/Hales Corners at 6555 S. Lovers Lane Road, and the other in Germantown/Menomonee Falls at W188N9820 Appleton Avenue.

2007

The West Allis branch opened at 10101 W. Greenfield Avenue.

2008

In May, the bank officially changed its name to WaterStone Bank, SSB. In August, the holdings company also changed its name from Wauwatosa Holdings to Waterstone Financial, Inc.

2013

WaterStone Bank opened a commercial lending branch in Minneapolis.

2014

The bank opened a new branch in Brookfield, at 17495 W. Capitol Drive. On January 23rd, Waterstone Financial became a fully public company, with stock traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, currently under the symbol WSBF.

2015

The bank launched WaterStone Investment Services, offered through LPL Financial.

Two new branches were opened: A newly constructed branch at 5000 W. Loomis in Greenfield, and one at 8607 N. Port Washington Road in Fox Point.