“Wow! 2001 Amy was so very different from 2021 Amy,” AVP and senior mortgage lender Amy DeMain says, asked what advice she’d give her younger self after 20 years at North Shore Bank. “I guess I would say: ‘Be confident in your abilities. You are stronger and smarter than you think!’”

Given her two decades of success in a variety of roles at the company, the truth of that message is self-evident.

“Amy’s contributions throughout the years have been wonderful, and she continues to deliver for the bank and her clients,” says her boss, VP and consumer lending manager Chris Boland. “She is well known among her clients and referral partners in the Door County area as someone who always does the right thing, delivers honest information, and knows her stuff. Amy continues to grow her business and, while doing so, maintains the highest of customer service scores and net promoter scores — she really is a great representation of North Shore Bank.”

“I’m excited to continue to learn and grow,” Amy says. “That’s the thing about the mortgage business — there’s always something new and different to look forward to!” She talked to Shorelines about her career here.

How did you get started at North Shore Bank?
I had been self-employed, but the need for affordable health insurance required that I sell my business and work where insurance was offered. I started as a part-time teller working 20 hours per week. It was amazing to find a part-time job that offered insurance. At the time, I had two small children and couldn’t work full time. North Shore Bank was the perfect fit for my situation.

So what were your plans when you started here?
I honestly had no intention of making this my career. However, I soon found out that I had a strong desire to learn more. I wanted to learn how to do everything! If I’m not mistaken, I believe I was the first person through the Advantage Program. I just had a very strong desire to learn all I could and move up the ladder. I very quickly moved into the personal banker role, and not long after that was a branch manager. I’m a very competitive person and really enjoyed my time as a branch manager. Working to be Branch of the Year was always on my radar. I had an amazing team and we were very successful, but also had a lot of fun. And then again, my desire to learn something new drew me to yet another position at the bank. In 2012 I decided to become a mortgage loan officer.

Would you have imagined back then that you’d be here two decades later? What has kept you here?
I have a degree in psychology and had always thought I would go back to school one day. I wanted to be a counselor. I think the ability to continue to grow and evolve and try new things has kept me here and kept me engaged. Also, I really love to help people, and in my role I am a counselor of sorts. I take a great deal of pride in the level of service I provide — I truly care about my customers and their transactions. I’ve found that by the end of things, my clients often turn into my friends. I get to meet so many interesting people and be a part of helping them through one of the largest financial transactions of their lives.

What’s one important thing you’ve learned during your time here?
During my time here, I’ve learned that being open to change and growth is vital. We are in an industry that is always evolving and changing, and you need to be open and accepting of it.