Forest Home universal banker Kim Dane, Rachel Rasmussen, Brookfield Square assistant branch manager Mariella Zarb, deposit operations rep Debra “Jonesy” Jones, universal banker Erin Hunsberger, senior video teller Teresa Sanchez, and video teller Jessica Cranley with Pat Connaughton at Corporate last Friday.

Erma and Pat at work.

Customers using North Shore Bank’s video teller machines got a shock last Friday, March 31, when Pat Connaughton of the Milwaukee Bucks appeared onscreen to help them — and give them free cash.

“When Pat appeared on the video teller screen, most customers knew who he was — and were completely surprised that he was working as a video teller,” said VP marketing Kate Johnson. “The Bucks played the Celtics the night before, and lost by over 40 points. So Pat would say to some of the customers that after last night’s game, he was looking into other careers. All in good fun.”

Because Connaughton’s appearance was part of our ongoing centennial celebration, he gave away $100 to every customer he helped.

“He really got into it, playing around with how to surprise customers,” Kate said. “Sometimes he did it at the end of the transaction, sometimes at the beginning. It was really cool to see him ad-lib to get the best reaction.”

Video teller Erma Schroeder assisted Connaughton while he worked the station.

“I had so much fun!” she said. “We took a selfie and did some hoops with a little basketball hoop, and I made the first shot and Pat didn’t — it was funny. And customers’ reactions were so funny, too.”

In the video above, you can watch Erma jokingly ask the NBA star what he did before he got into banking.

And of course, as part of our 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge, four employees got to attend a meet-and-greet with Connaughton at Corporate, where he signed autographs and took photos.

“He was so friendly and easy-going,” marketing data analyst Rachel Rasmussen said. “I brought my ‘Pat hat’ that he designed last season to get signed, and it is now on display with our other sports paraphernalia.”