Company: ASB
Filing Date: 2025-03-17
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000007789-25-000025
Chunk: 14

Company: ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Filing Date: 2025-03-17
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 14
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; and the Board’s engagement with management. The feedback gathered from these interviews is compiled and reported to the full Board for review, discussion and action as appropriate. In addition, it is the Board’s intention to participate in a full self-assessment process conducted by an outside advisory service approximately every three years. In 2022, a self-assessment process was conducted through an engagement with the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). The advisor-led self-assessment process was designed to provide a comprehensive review of the competencies and overall effectiveness of the Board and to help align priorities, with a focus on five core areas: Board composition; talent oversight and CEO succession; Board processes and operations; strategy oversight; and risk management. The process included tailored interviews with individual directors. At the conclusion of the evaluation process, an NACD faculty member met with the Board to discuss recommendations and conducted a presentation on best practices in corporate governance related to key findings of the evaluation.

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| DIRECTOR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE MATRIX |

The following matrix provides information about Associated ’ s director nominees, including certain types of knowledge, skills, experience and other attributes possessed by one or more of them which the Board believes are relevant to Associated ’ s business and industry. While all of the areas listed on the matrix are relevant to Associated, the Board considers certain areas to be of particular importance, including: • Information Technology/Cyber Security, which is necessary for the Board’s ongoing direction and oversight of Associated’s management of this continuously emerging area of risk; • Human Capital, because of the importance to Associated of attracting and retaining a diverse, committed team of colleagues to serve our customers and support our communities; • Risk Management, which is critical to protecting Associated’s customers, maintaining its reputation and preserving its value; and • Corporate Governance, because sound governance is essential for increasing shareholder value through enhancing corporate performance and accountability, while taking into account other Associated stakeholders. The matrix does not capture all of the knowledge, skills, experiences or attributes possessed by the director nominees, and the Board believes that each director nominee has the ability to contribute to the decision-making process in every area listed.

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| RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |

The Board recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the election of each of the Board ’ s nominees.

| AFFIRMATIVE DETERMINATIONS REGARDING DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE |

Associated’s Board has considered the independence of the nominees for election at the Annual Meeting and all individuals who served as directors during any portion of