Mary, with the certificate honoring her as Personal Banker of the Year from our Metro South Region for 2016.

Muskego personal banker Mary Eckel has been in banking since her teens; she started at Maritime Bank in April 2001 and joined North Shore Bank when we acquired Maritime in 2010. “I actually was very excited about the acquisition,” she recalls. “We were in limbo for a year, year and a half, not knowing what was going to happen, and I was afraid of being bought out by a large bank. So I was very happy when I found out it was North Shore.”

Now, Mary says goodbye to the banking world, as she readies herself for retirement on July 6. She will be missed, as evidenced by comments from two colleagues who nominated her for our Community Involvement SOAR Award. Muskego branch manager Danielle Hansen said: “Mary’s willingness to help the people of the community, her customers both internal and external, and the lasting relationships she has with her people prove she is selfless. Mary is someone I respect and someone who continues to amaze me each and every day with her willingness to be involved wholeheartedly.” And Pulaski branch manager Katie Presser said: “Mary dedicates so much of her personal time and effort to helping our local businesses thrive. What she has gotten out of her hard work and commitment is amazing — she has helped to give North Shore Bank countless opportunities to be active and shine within the community, she has recruited many personal and business customers to the bank, she has helped the local businesses grow, and she has made some of the best friends of her life.”

When did you start your banking career?
I was still in high school when I started, so it was a long time ago — I don’t really want to say how many years! Let’s just put it this way: It was B.C. — before computers.

It was my senior year of high school. There was an ad in the paper for a part-time teller. I think they let me out of school early every day, so I could go to work. I honestly can’t remember for sure, it’s been so long!

When you started that job in high school, did you ever imagine it would turn into a whole career in banking?
You know, I kinda thought it would. I really loved banking, and that has remained true. So it was kind of hard to make the decision to retire, but it’s just time. It’s time to spend more time with the grandkids.

Have you held any other titles at North Shore Bank?
Just personal banker. I love the idea of being able to help people — to set up retirement accounts, to help them save money on a mortgage or home equity loan. I just like the feeling of being able to help people with their financial goals.

Are there specific mentors, bosses or colleagues who have been especially important to your career?
Too many to name all of them.

What’s your favorite of all the changes that have taken place in your work since you started?
Well, when I first started, the bank would be open till eight o’clock on a Friday night, and everybody stayed and balanced. There were some Fridays that we didn’t get out till eleven o’clock! When you’re a teenager, you don’t want to be spending your Friday nights at work.

If you hadn’t gone into banking, what other career path might you have taken?
I thought about going into nursing — it’s something that I wanted to do. But once I started working at the bank, I decided I wanted to stay here.

What are your retirement plans?
We have eight grandchildren. They’re in northern Wisconsin — the New London and Appleton area, and Mequon. So now we’re going to be able to drive up to watch their baseball games and things like that. My husband, Richard, is retired but working a part-time job, so he’ll be working probably another year yet.

And I’ve been an ambassador with the Muskego chamber of commerce. They actually made me an honorary lifetime ambassador, so I’ll still be doing volunteer work with them. But on my first day of retirement, the first thing I’m going to do is unplug my alarm clock!