Waterstone Financial Announces Election Of New Board Members

WAUWATOSA, Wis., Feb. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Waterstone Financial, Inc. (NasdaqGS: WSBF), announced today that the Company recently elected two new members to serve on the Board of Directors.

On January 28, the Board of Directors of Waterstone Financial (the "Company") elected Ellen S. Bartel and Kristine A. Rappe to serve on the Board of Directors. Bartel and Rappe are already directors of the Company's subsidiary bank, WaterStone Bank SSB.

Rappe currently serves as special advisor to the Wisconsin Energy Foundation following a 30-year career with Wisconsin Energy Corporation. She sits on the Marquette University Board of Trustees, the boards of Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital and PAVE (Partners Advancing Values in Education) and is chair of the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. She previously served on the boards of State Financial Services Corporation and Integrity Mutual Insurance Corporation. Rappe graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Urban Planning. She also attended executive programs at the Harvard Business School and the University of Michigan's School of Business Administration.

Bartel has been the President of Divine Savior Holy Angels (DSHA) High School in Milwaukee since 1998. Prior to her employment at DSHA, Bartel held several positions at Alverno College (1986-1997), with the most recent being Vice President of Institutional Advancement (1994-1997). A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Bartel received her Bachelor of Arts in American studies and philosophy, followed by her Master of Science in administration.

Bartel was added to the Company's compensation, nominating and executive committees, while Rappe was added to the Company's compensation and executive committees. Both were added to the class of directors whose terms expire at the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders.

"Kris and Ellen have been members of our Bank Board since June of last year," said Doug Gordon, President and Chief Executive Officer of WaterStone Bank. "They have already had an impact on Bank operations and now will join our Holding Company Board to assist in navigating our future growth and safety."

ABOUT WATERSTONE BANK

WaterStone Bank was established in 1921 and offers a full suite of personal and business banking products. The Bank has branches in Wauwatosa, Brookfield, Franklin/Hales Corners, Germantown/Menomonee Falls, Oak Creek, Oconomowoc/Lake Country, Pewaukee, Waukesha/Brookfield, West Allis, Wisconsin and a commercial lending branch in Maple Grove, Minnesota. WaterStone Bank is the parent company to Waterstone Mortgage, which offers mortgage banking offices in twelve states.

For more information about the Bank, including branch locations and hours, go to wsbonline.com.

SOURCE Waterstone Financial, Inc.