Karen Wilcox

Karen Wilcox knows that handling money and serving customers requires skill, attention to detail and the right temperament, regardless of the setting. She did both as an assistant manager at two convenience store gas stations, and she does both as a service banker at our Green Bay East office.

“I applied online, and I interviewed with Gail Matzke (Ashwaubenon branch manager),” Karen says. “Her excitement and enthusiasm for North Shore Bank impressed me so much that I really wanted to work here.”

Karen credits Gail and Green Bay Branch Manager Lisa Sment for helping her learn the ropes when she started two years ago. “They both took me under their wing,” Karen says.

North Shore has proven to be a good choice for many reasons. “I really like the people I work with,” Karen says. “They are always there when I need help. We have a great team that provides a lot of encouragement and pats on the back.”

Although Karen is still learning — she was promoted from CSR to service banker in February — she enjoys the rewards of getting to know and help customers. In fact, some of her former customers who would drop by for coffee at her other jobs have been surprised to see her in the Green Bay branch. “We all were happy to see each other again,” she says.

Karen abides by the customer service advice she got some time ago: Listen, be patient, and step back to think about the best way to handle a situation. “I try to think about how I would feel if I were in their shoes,” she says.

Karen and her husband of 29 years, Gordy, live on five acres of land near Pulaski. “We have a big yard and a lot of flower gardens to keep us busy,” she says. Their eldest son, Jacob, 26, is a night supervisor at the family’s business, Highview Custom Fabricating. Joshua, 22, is assistant manager at a NAPA auto parts store.

The entire Wilcox family has fond memories of many camping vacations at Boot Lake in Northern Wisconsin’s Oconto County. “We spent most of our days on the water, tubing, boating and swimming,” Karen says.