Stories show how credit cards help our customers
As branch employees tell our customers every day, North Shore Bank credit cards can be a powerful tool for achieving financial goals. And with winter and the holiday season approaching, we can expect credit card usage to skyrocket, as it does every year, as customers pay for things like new tires and car repairs, unexpected expenses like furnace repairs, and holiday gifts and donations.

The bank offers several credit card options to fit customers’ needs, as well as employee credit cards — including everything from standard cards to rewards cards.

Deb Cumming, Jenny Isenhower, Shannon Quinn, Lacee Kalepp, and Erica Hughes have shared four real-life examples of how credit cards have made a positive impact on our customers’ lives. Check them out and keep them in mind as you’re talking to customers, friends, and family who might benefit from our products!

11 employees get WBA Lifetime Service Awards

Last month, 11 North Shore Bank employees received Lifetime Service Awards from the Wisconsin Bankers Association. These awards recognize people who have worked in the Wisconsin banking industry for over 30 years.

This year’s recipients are:

Annette Mueller, Quality Assurance Manager — 46 years
Jude Lengell, VP, Customer Support — 43 years
Colleen Egan, VP, Customer Assistance Manager — 42 years
Jody Moore, Lending Sales Specialist — 40 years
Mike Cornell, VP, Senior Lender — 38 years
Linda Lassa, Checking Services Team Lead — 38 years
Laura Kramer, Debit Card & ATM Processing Manager— 36 years
Craig Bauer, VP, Business Banking — 35 years
Mary Fleischman, Treasury Solutions & Commercial Lending Specialist — 35 years
Erica Johnson, Manager, Checking Services — 34 years
Natalie Canadeo, Deposit Services Manager — 30 years

The honorees were pleased to have their years of service and contributions to the industry recognized.

“Honestly, I can’t believe it’s been that long!” said Annette. “It’s a really nice recognition, and one I appreciate and am proud of.”

“I have met so many wonderful people throughout my career,” Colleen said. “Banking just fit from the first day I started, and the past 42 years have provided me the opportunity to grow in a fast-paced, rewarding, and challenging career.”

“It is truly an honor,” Jody said. “I have learned so much over my banking career, and I am fortunate to have had — and to continue to have — exceptional mentors in my life. I’m also grateful for the opportunity to pay it forward with the interns and younger generation coming into North Shore Bank. It’s a fabulous place work with genuine, heartfelt, and hard-working employees and leadership.”

“It is very nice to be honored by the WBA and North Shore Bank for my contribution to the banking industry,” Linda said. “So much has changed in the industry since I began, back in 1984.”

And Natalie said: “I am sincerely grateful for this recognition. It also gives me the opportunity to extend my thankfulness to some of the finest leaders in banking — Jude Lengell, Cindy Hundt, and Jan Konkol — for their help and support over the years.”

Congratulations to all of our Lifetime Service Award winners, and thank you for your commitment to North Shore Bank and our customers. •••

Fiscal year 2022 yields good news, 2023 starting strong
North Shore Bank’s fiscal year 2022 wrapped up on September 30, and we’ve got a lot to be proud of in every part of the bank — and plenty to look forward to, as well! Read more about our success last year and plans for the new fiscal year!

Friendly neighborhood hero ready for Halloween

5-year-old Royce — son of Germantown branch manager Erica Hughes — strikes some classic poses, showing he’s ready to fight crime — or least trick-or-treat — as the amazing Spider-Man. Go get ’em, tiger!

What costumes are you getting for Halloween? Tell us with the submissions form or email us at shorelines@northshorebank.com — send a link or share a picture if you have one! (You can also text us at 608-318-3348.) Make sure to include your name. We’ll publish your submissions later this month. •••

Wianecki wins $500 bonus for referring candidates
Branch operations support manager AVP Beth Wianecki won the third-quarter bonus for referring new employees. “It was awesome to get the call from Janet Rosenthal telling me I won!” she says. “An extra $500 right before the holidays? Yes, please!”

Beth says it’s been easy to recommend the bank when she knows someone is looking for a new job: “My experience with North Shore Bank has been exceptional from the beginning. I can honestly say I have enjoyed every moment of it and have had the pleasure of working with some of the best people. I’ve been given so much opportunity for growth, and I’ve learned so much. I want to be able to share that experience with others as well.”

Congratulations, Beth, and thank you! You can learn more about the bank’s referral program here and on Ask Seymour. •••

Branches offer free coin counting to combat shortage
To help alleviate the nationwide coin shortage, all 43 of our branches are now offering free coin counting to the public through October 31.

The Federal Reserve estimates that 15 billion coins are currently lying dormant. As a result, the agency is rationing coin orders and sending banks limited supplies of coins. Accordingly, the U.S. Coin Task Force just rolled out a new hashtag asking Americans to #GetCoinMoving this month.

Coin shortages have been a fact of life for many banks since 2020, when shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic severely reduced the number of in-person cash transactions conducted by businesses. In July of that year, a Wauwatosa man made the news when he brought over $5,000 in coins to be exchanged at our branch. That year, our drive brought in over $1 million in coins.

Let your customers and everybody else know we are looking for their coins! No appointment is necessary, and you do not have to be a North Shore Bank customer to exchange your coins for free this month. •••

Now is the time to make sure your furnace is ready
With temperatures dropping, here’s a helpful reminder for both you and your customers: It’s time to check your furnace and ensure it’s in good shape for the coming winter.

Do you notice:

• any abnormal smells coming from the furnace?
• difficulty starting it?
• or a discolored pilot light?

If the answer to any of these is yes, you’ll want to get it looked at ASAP. (And if that sounds like a big expense, it might be worth learning more about a North Shore Bank home equity line of credit.) Stay warm! •••

Undaunted by pain, Cruz does Komen walk

Southridge assistant branch manager Marie Cruz and her sister Sylvia walked in Milwaukee’s Komen Southeast Wisconsin More Than Pink Walk to help end breast cancer last Sunday, October 9, at Henry Maier Festival Park.

“I walked two miles and had over 9,000 steps,” said Marie, who completed chemotherapy for breast cancer earlier this year. “It was the best feeling ever to finish that walk. This year was harder than last year, because I am left with so many side effects from the chemo and my current medication gives me a lot of aches and pains in my joints. But I made it through, thanks to God, and I am so proud of myself!” •••

Service Anniversaries for October 2022
The following employees celebrate a milestone anniversary with North Shore Bank this month.

15 years
Mark Quartuccio, Commercial Portfolio Manager

10 years
Jayme Clarey, Teller Supervisor, Burlington
Melissa Grode, Teller Supervisor, Muskego
Julie Sterna, Commercial Portfolio Manager
Diana Villanueva, Teller, Jackson Park

5 years
Maria Garcia, Teller, Jackson Park

Leave a comment to congratulate them!

New Hires for October 13
It’s always exciting to add new members to our team. Here are some of the fresh faces at North Shore Bank.

Mortgage loan originator Billy Lewis was born in Waukesha and raised in Milwaukee. He was previously a senior loan officer at Wells Fargo. He says, “I am named William after my grandfather and my uncle, so I have been called Billy since I was a kid, and have used that as my professional name ever since. Fun fact: I have a smaller waistline now than I did in fifth grade!” •••

Two more weekends of spooky fun at Zoo Boo
What’s going on with you? If you or someone in your family has a special event — a concert, show, sporting or charity event, or another important moment — send the details to shorelines@northshorebank.com. We’ll include information about select events to let your colleagues know about all the cool stuff happening with the North Shore Bank team.

Looking for more to do? Here are suggestions from the bank’s event calendar:

The North Shore Bank Zoo Boo returns to Green Bay’s NEW Zoo & Adventure Park on Fridays and Saturdays, October 14-15 and 21-22, from 3 to 8 p.m. This family event is all treats and no tricks. Guests are welcome to come in costume or not, and everyone age 1 or older gets a bag of candy. Besides a chance to check out the animals, the Zoo Boo will feature activities like the Happy Haunted Maze in the Children’s Zoo, games, carousel rides — and the Haunted Zoo Zone, for those with the courage. Guests can also download our free Photo Fun Safari app for the North Shore Bank Zoo Boo Skeleton Safari, and enter our giveaway by October 22 for a prize package that includes a one-year NEW Zoo Family Plus Membership and a Wild Encounter program. More info here.

Tickets are now on sale for the haunted Library After Dark on Saturday, October 22, at the Germantown Community Library. Sponsored by North Shore Bank, this PG-13 event is not for the faint-hearted and features flashing lights, jump scares, and disturbing imagery. There will also be a family-friendly walkthrough earlier in the day for younger kids. Tickets are $5 each or $15 for four. More info here.

And our next You Can Happy Hour will be Tuesday, November 1, at Eagle Park Brewing in Muskego. As usual, we’ll have local craft beer and delicious appetizers along with a bunch of useful financial information. Nonalcoholic drinks will be available too. Featured speakers will include Muskego branch manager Stephanie Ruiz, mortgage loan originator Nik Sendelbach, and financial adviser Dennis White. More info on our Facebook page. •••