Dirk Gasterland grew up in the Twin Cities area, where he graduated from Richfield High School in 1961. He went on to earn an Economics degree from Hamline University, as well as graduating from the National Trust School in Evanston, IL in 1967, and the Graduate School of Banking in Madison in 1972.

Dirk’s work background is mainly banking. From 1965 until 1973 he worked for the Richfield Bank and Trust Company in Minneapolis. In 1974 he left banking to work in the family agri-business firm. In 1981, he returned to banking as a Commercial Lender for the Norwest Bank in Minneapolis. He continued in that capacity until 1986 when he came to La Crosse to assume his present position as President and CEO of the Coulee State Bank.

Dirk has compiled a long list of professional and civic involvement, including: Riverland Girl Scouts, Gateway Boy Scouts, Family & Children’s Center, Riverfront, United Fund, La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, Gundersen Medical Foundation, Viterbo University, UW-La Crosse Foundation, Children’s Museum, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and numerous banking associations. This service has not gone unnoticed as he has received many local and national awards. In 2002, he received the Banker of the Year from the Community Bankers of Wisconsin.



Dirk has two children, Dirk and Jennifer, and four grandchildren. Dirk and his wife, Rita enjoy racing and maintaining vintage cars.