April 30 will mark 40 years — to the day — since Bob Wittman began his journey in information technology at North Shore Bank. “I started on May 1 of 1974, so I thought I might as well leave on a day that marked the completion of exactly 40 years,” he says.

It actually wasn’t quite North Shore when Bob started; it was Marine Savings and Loan, and Bob’s role was assistant treasurer, his second financial services job after honorable discharge from serving in Vietnam. (The U.S. Army provided Bob with his initial data-processing training.)

Marine S&L eventually became Frontier, which became Sunrise Savings and Loan, which became North Shore Bank in 1988.

Through those years, Bob has been a problem-solver extraordinaire and a trailblazer for new products, services, and ways of doing things that have enhanced North Shore Bank on multiple fronts.

Listening, analyzing, consulting yield technology advances
As business analyst and vice president of information technology, Bob has been the bank’s primary contact with Fiserv, the firm that serves as our data-processing center. Or, as the company’s website says, Fiserv is a leader in “financial services technology.”

As a 20-plus year member of Fiserv’s Strategic Planning Council, Bob has taken the lead in communicating to Fiserv what the bank would like to see in terms of new products or services.

“One of the most important parts of my job has been to be a good listener,” Bob says. “It has not been uncommon for someone in branch administration or marketing to come to me and say, ‘I have a concept. Can you make it happen?’”

He then would study and research the concept and its potential, exploring for hours, weeks — or even months — how technology might be able to help accomplish it. Eventually, he would take the concept and his research results to Fiserv. “My role was similar to that of a consultant, presenting our needs to Fiserv and discussing what kind of input they would need from the bank to help create and implement solutions.”

His long-term relationship with Fiserv has helped him know the right people to approach for the vast variety of issues Fiserv and North Shore Bank work on together.

One of those people has been Matthew Moes, senior account executive with Fiserv. “Bob Wittman will leave a legacy of professionalism, depth of knowledge, and attention to detail that is unparalleled in our partnership and industry,” Matthew says.

He adds, “Bob has been an invaluable historian of our relationship with North Shore Bank and is always looking out for the best interests of bank staff, customers, and how we can improve at Fiserv. He has made a direct positive impact on a lot of lives over the years with his work on our core processing and digital delivery channels that will endure for future generations.”

Some challenges highly complex, some straightforward
One of Bob’s most long-term projects has been relationship pricing, an enhancement that was in the works for about seven years and went live just a few weeks ago. Trying to simplify the explanation for what is a complex process, Bob says, “If we have 10 different-but-related checking products with similar pricing, we now use coding to group the elements of those products and make changes that take effect all at once, rather than dealing with them one at a time.”

Other projects are more immediate and short-term. For example, a Fiserv coding change was not compatible with North Shore’s system that generates statements for deferred-compensation accounts. “The first-quarter statement that went out in March was in a different format and confusing for customers, so I had to drop everything else to attend to it,” Bob notes.

Looking back over Bob’s career, Dean Trout, senior vice president of information systems and CIO says, “Bob has worked on 10-plus conversions; on the development and implementation of Fiserv’s ClearTouch Teller and Sales Platform; on Customer Source; on several online banking and mobile banking products; and on many more features and functionality that North Shore Bank uses today.”

VP Jude Lengell adds, “Bob’s superb consultative approach to supporting the different areas in our Customer Support Center is truly what stands out and makes him such an invaluable asset. Bob has been an integral part of the success we realize with system conversions, new programs, and improved functionality offered by Fiserv.

“My team and I have benefited from Bob’s profound knowledge and understanding of Fiserv’s various platforms and systems. And fortunately for us, he has not been shy about sharing his knowledge. We all will miss Bob, our good friend and great internal business partner.”

Travel, woodworking, family mark the road ahead
Bob soon will be facing different challenges in a different venue at a different pace. And he’s looking forward to it.

A new motor home awaits Bob and his wife, Nancy. They look forward to some travel, including time away from Wisconsin’s cold winters.

An avid woodworker, Bob began making decorative jewelry and keepsake boxes years ago. “I have a list of nieces and sisters-in-law waiting for their special piece,” he says.

And he and Nancy plan to downsize. “Sorting and cleaning out years of accumulation will keep me out of trouble for a while,” he quips. They’re seeking something smaller in Green Bay to stay close to sons Scott and Keith and four grandchildren, who all live in the area.

“Bob has been a key member of many project committees, having been involved in the design and development of many new banking products. His impact at North Shore Bank has been significant and measurable,” says Dean Trout.

“I also know him to be a devoted husband, father and grandfather. We all wish him a happy and satisfying retirement.”