Lori Staniszewski retires

Residential closing team leader Lori Staniszewski retired last week on December 24. She joined the North Shore Bank team in 2010, when we acquired Maritime Bank. “Her can-do attitude and willingness to take on any project, no matter how daunting, was unmatched!” VP loan operations Nicole Daniels said. “She was a great addition to the residential team, and we will miss her so much.” •••

Johnson wins $500 in Elan Elites sweepstakes

Congratulations to Sturgeon Bay personal banker Emily Johnson, who won $500 in this quarter’s drawing for the Elan Elites program.

The Elites program recognizes top performers from all the banks and credit unions partnered with the credit card issuer. Each quarter’s Elites automatically receive a $50 prize, and they are entered into the sweepstakes drawing one time for every activated credit card account they book during a quarter.

Area manager Becky Kolstad and district manager Kerri Collins attributed Emily’s success to her curiosity about customers’ financial needs and goals. They also noted that when she’s helping customers with their accounts, she uses those opportunities to ask good questions about how they manage money day-to-day and their access to credit.

“Emily is ‘antennas up’ for situations where people just need a little help when bills or medical costs don’t line up with payday, and she can talk through how to use a card to bridge the gap,” Becky said. •••

Muskego bankers visit career fair, branches donate

Muskego branch manager Stephanie Bluemel and personal banker Matthew Cieslak represented North Shore Bank at a career fair at Muskego High earlier this month. They spoke to a rotation of four classrooms of students interested in banking and financial services.

“It was a very good time!” Matthew said. “We presented what it was like to work at North Shore Bank and what our roles were. We also discussed how we found ourselves in the careers we are in. We definitely feel that we will be doing it again next year.”

As the branch has done in years past, Green Bay West adopted a family for the holidays and put up a Giving Tree, which was covered with tags marked with items the parents and three children needed or wanted. Branch employees and customers took the tags and purchased the items. “The gifts ranged from items like Legos, action figures, craft kits, and a ukulele to silverware, pots and pans, paper products, and laundry detergent,” assistant branch manager Hali Thompson said. “Once again, we were so happy with the response from our customers and staff. We hope we were able to make this family’s holidays a little bit brighter.”

And Sturgeon Bay also got into the spirit of the season with a holiday drive, collecting donations of food and winter coats for Door County nonprofit Feed and Clothe My People. “It went very well,” teller supervisor Tara Neuville said. “Lots of canned goods and brand-new jackets!” •••

Customers praise managers, more

A customer who submitted a feedback card described New Berlin branch manager Sara Swosinski as “VERY helpful and very professional.” The note added: “All needs are being met. Great staff!”

“We have been working with Robin Callis at your Burlington branch for years,” another customer wrote on a card. “She is also so helpful and pleasant.”

“It was a no-hassle, enjoyable loan experience!” wrote this customer, who was making a monthly payment.

And a customer called us an “awesome bank to work with.” He added: “It truly was a pleasure.” •••

Last chance at free coin counting, kindness challenge

Reminder: Our Kindness Giving Challenge continues through the end of the year. Buy ten $5 North Shore Bank gift cards — available through Friday with no purchase fee — and share them with family, friends, neighbors, and other important people. Our gift cards make quick, easy presents for anybody you missed on Christmas! More information here!

And all of our branches are offering free coin counting through Friday as well. Folks who stop in to get their coins counted can also donate to the MACC Fund to help fight children’s cancer. •••

See if you can go more slowly in all you do

Wanting to get things done without regard to how we do them will squelch any chance at a mindfulness practice. When we’re too focused on the quantity of what we do, the quality of the experience is neglected.

Try this meditation for one minute every day, or longer if you want to:

I WILL TRY to do what I normally do at two-thirds my normal pace. I will drive a bit more slowly, walk a bit more slowly, talk a bit more slowly.

How did this meditation go for you? Share your experience at shorelines@northshorebank.com and you’ll be entered to win a copy of A Mindful Day: 365 Ways to Live Life With Peace, Clarity, and an Open Heart, by David Dillard-Wright.

If you’d like a daily email reminder to practice one minute of mindfulness, email us with the subject “Mindfulness reminder.” —Pat Ingelse, AVP and PMP •••

New Hires for December 30
It’s always exciting to add new members to our team. Here are some of the fresh faces at North Shore Bank.

Kenosha South universal banker Kim Roberts was born and raised in Kenosha, and previously worked as a store manager for Van Heusen for 14 years. “I love traveling!” she says. “My husband has never been out of the Midwest, so we are trying to go somewhere new every year. This year we went to Vegas. In 2022, we are hoping to make our way to Jamaica.” •••

Visit zoo for Family Free Day
Looking for something to do? Here are suggestions from the bank’s event calendar.

Family Free Day at the Milwaukee County Zoo is back again next Saturday, January 8. Sponsored by North Shore Bank, the day lets the public — including YOU and your family and friends — enjoy the zoo at no charge. (Parking and concessions fees are still in place.) Check out the zoo’s website to see what you should know about COVID-19 safety precautions. Come explore, between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.! •••