Viewpoints

In this harsh Wisconsin winter, a citizen video is sparking public pressure to build against Simon Property Group’s decision to move the public bus stop 1,000 feet away from Southridge Mall’s entrances.

Recent indicators point to stronger economic growth in Wisconsin for the coming year, following moderate expansion in 2013, according to the bi-annual U.S. State Monitor Report from BMO Economics.

While it was set in the early 1900s, the estate planning lessons learned from an event on Downton Abbey can apply today.

Associated Bank has expanded its mobile banking and payment capabilities and added a tablet banking app with Mobiliti from Fiserv.

Brookfield-based Fiserv Inc. capped a year that featured a two-for-one stock split by growing its fourth quarter net income to $221 million, or 84 cents per share, from $179 million, or 66 cents per share.

Kapco Inc. President Jim Kacmarcik has been elected to the board of directors of Cedarburg-based Partnership Community Bancshares Inc., parent company of Partnership Bank.

Milwaukee-based U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC has added an exchange traded fund to its ETF Series Solution multiple series trust.

Wisconsin Bank & Trust reported fourth quarter net income of $1.8 million, up almost 200 percent from $638,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012.

West Bend-based Westbury Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Westbury Bank, announced first quarter earnings of $68,000, down significantly from $841,000 in the first quarter of 2013.

When people think about the Milwaukee region, first to mind might be a muscular picture of heavy industry, or a great place to live given its location on the Lake Michigan and the inland lakes, rivers and rolling terrain of the Kettle Moraine, possibly a center of education or a lively locale for entertainment, sports and the arts. They may think of the daunting challenges of its central city.