It’s hard to argue with senior lending quality control specialist Nancy Knapp when she explains why she’s retiring as of tomorrow, Friday, June 7. “My husband, Michael, has been retired for 17 years already — he was lucky to retire at 49!” she says. “And I mean, I’ve worked for 47 years, and 45 of them have been in banking. It’s time to enjoy something else now.”

“I have worked with Nancy since 2013, when she joined the QC team. She has been an integral part of the team taking on most of the initial disclosure issuance. We sometimes refer to her as the ‘Disclosure Queen’!” jokes her boss, lending quality control/residential processing manager Jamie Sperk. “We will miss Nancy greatly, but I know she will enjoy her retirement very much. Now she will have plenty of time for those slot machines!”

“Nancy will be missed; her positivity and kindness have been so valued by her colleagues,” says former boss Cheryl Lang, AVP and commercial loan servicing manager. “She dives headfirst into her work and strives for excellence in everything she does. She has always been so helpful… and always had singles if you needed them. (That’s an inside joke.)”

Nancy shared a few thoughts with Shorelines on her career, her plans, and what she’d tell someone starting a career in her area of banking.

What are you going to miss about North Shore Bank?
The people. I’ve worked with a really nice group all my years here, including my managers, and have made many friends. People here are always helpful, always willing to answer questions. And they’re very caring. I went through two surgeries last year. Everyone was so good about things like picking up files for me, so that I didn’t have to walk so much. This was very hard for me, because I am used to just getting up and going.

What are you going to miss about your job specifically?
I’ve enjoyed the variety — it’s always just different enough every day. And there’s always been plenty of work to keep me busy, so the day goes by fast.

Where else have you worked?
I worked for MMBC — Merchants & Manufacturers Bancorporation. It was a holding company that owned nine banks. I was there for over 30 years, and then BMO Harris bought us and got rid of everyone in operations — we all got the boot! Then I came to North Shore Bank in September 2010. Before I went into banking, I worked for Maryland Casualty insurance.

What are you looking forward to most about retirement?
After this winter, not driving in the snow! Not having to go out during snowstorms. And being able to enjoy the nice weather when we have it.

How are you planning to spend your time?
I have children and grandchildren, and they’re lining me up for jobs to do for them. They think I’ll be bored already! Otherwise, just enjoying life, maybe doing a little traveling.

Last of all, what would your advice be to someone starting out in your part of the bank?
Things are always changing, because there are always new regulations coming in. That’s why I’m retiring. [Laughs.] It’s hard to say, because it’s not like you can just walk in off the street and pick up what we do. I’d say just be patient and learn as much as you can, but most of all, you have to enjoy what you do.