Business Spotlight: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church & School
Business Spotlight: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church & School
As St. Paul’s Lutheran Church & School in West Allis makes plans to celebrate its 100th anniversary, a conversation with the pastor reveals a sense of gratitude for the church’s history, its mission, and the strong community relationships—like the one with WaterStone Bank—that have helped it along the way.
Several years ago, a representative from WaterStone Bank reached out to St. Paul’s Pastor Harold Bender to introduce the bank and start a conversation. “The message they shared with me was that WaterStone was a local, community bank,” says Pastor Bender, and wanted to explore how they could help St. Paul’s.
A Trusted Banking Partner When It Mattered Most
Initially, St. Paul’s was attracted by the practical consideration of the bank’s competitive fee structure. But the relationship soon proved its worth: When COVID-19 hit, the church sought guidance on participating in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). While their previous bank was slow to respond, WaterStone Bank “jumped right on it,” Pastor Bender recalls. Despite being a new customer, “We were treated like we’d been customers forever.”
The WaterStone team invested significant time and effort to help the church navigate the PPP process, a level of service that made a lasting impression. Soon after, St. Paul’s moved all its accounts to WaterStone, a decision Pastor Bender believed would be better in the long run. It’s a decision that is still paying off.
Supporting the Community Today and into the Future
Today, Pastor Bender sums up his active schedule at St. Paul’s as “sharing God’s word and teaching students.” The church holds two weekend services, along with Bible studies and fellowship gatherings. The school at St. Paul’s serves pre-kindergartners through eighth graders, and offers childcare for younger children.
Combined with their neighborhood food pantry that offers essential items and grocery gift cards, and occasional family-friendly movie nights for the neighborhood, it’s easy to see why St. Paul’s is a daily presence in the lives of many local families.
As the congregation moves through the Lenten season and prepares for Easter, St. Paul’s looks ahead to its centennial year, grounded in faith, strengthened by community, and supported by trusted partners.
