For Tim Gluth and tech, much has changed in 20 years
In a sense, digital solutions manager Tim Gluth’s career has evolved right along with the tools he uses.
When he came onboard as North Shore Bank’s webmaster 20 years ago, Tim was fresh out of college — full of potential, but as yet unproven. Similarly, the internet itself was still a nascent technology in 2003. Since then, his title has changed as his digital technology’s role in banking and his own have expanded. Read all about it now!
Kindness Crew shares treats with zoo visitors
Kindness Crew members pose for a group photo in front of the North Shore Bank Safari Train Station at the Milwaukee County Zoo. From left they are: Ray Lancour, Maria Mejia-Gatica, Lisa Gagliardi, Tony Larke, Julie Macaluso, Kate Johnson as Seymour Savings, Kate Knox, Peg Siebauer, Cindy Lohrey, Mariella Zarb, Mary Balzer, and Jamie Sperk and son Mason.
The North Shore Bank Kindness Crew surprised Milwaukee County Zoo visitors by giving away hundreds of tickets for snacks, goat feedings, and Safari Train rides on Friday, June 16.
Looking smart in green centennial polo shirts, the employees on the Kindness Crew were at it for 100 straight minutes that afternoon, in celebration of the bank’s 100th birthday. Along with the tickets, crew members snapped mini Polaroid pictures for visitors and handed out Mold-A-Rama souvenirs.
VP marketing Kate Johnson played Seymour Savings and was a big hit with young zoo-goers.
Because the Kindness Crew Mob was intended to be a surprise, the bank didn’t promote it ahead of time. Much like our free gas giveaway last month, the lucky recipients were indeed surprised and quite pleased to be a part of our ongoing centennial celebration. •••
Northland customers drop off cupcakes for 100th
Allouez lead teller Char Schaible (formerly of Northland) and Northland associate banker Fabio Zane show off the birthday cupcakes dropped off at the branch by customers.
It’s not just employees who are celebrating North Shore Bank’s 100th birthday. Earlier this month, customers Sam and Vickie stopped in at Northland with a delicious surprise for branch employees: cupcakes! •••
Forbes names us to best-in-state list for fourth time
For the fourth time, North Shore Bank has been named to the Forbes Best-in-State Banks list.
The list recognizes the top banks in each American state, based on a survey of more than 25,000 people by market research firm Statista, as well as data pulled from Google reviews. Banks are rated on their service and amenities and the improvements they’ve made in those areas. Forbes excludes banks and credit unions with branches in 15 or more states, so that the list highlights regional financial institutions. In all, 137 American banks and credit unions made the list this year.
North Shore Bank last made the Forbes list in 2021. Before that, we were on it in 2018 and 2019, as well. •••
“Grandparent scam” targets seniors
North Shore Bank’s CrimeBusters for May 2023 are: Menasha assistant branch manager Deb Cumming, Southridge lead teller Kelly Doucette, deposit operations rep Debra Jones, checking services manager Erica Johnson, senior checking services rep Renee Machado, and Wauwatosa teller Ethan McWilliams.
Security Saves: This Month’s Highlights
A customer came into the branch wanting to withdrawal $18,000 in cash. When the teller asked what the funds were for, the customer stated that she was getting landscaping work done and the landscapers would only take cash. The teller felt uneasy about the transaction and was able to get the customer to sit down with the branch manager.
After a deeper conversation, the manager was able to uncover that the customer had received a call claiming that her grandson had been in an accident. The caller had told the customer she needed to send the cash to a lawyer to cover her grandson’s supposed legal fees. Together, the manager and customer called the grandson, who assured the customer he had not been in an accident and was safe at work.
Security says: The “grandparent scam” has been around for at least a decade and is still one of the top scams we see today. This scam targets seniors by making them believe that a family member — often one of their grandchildren — is in trouble. The caller typically sounds very distressed and scared, which is a tactic the fraudsters use both to disguise their voice and to put the victim into a state of panic. Posing as the grandchild, the caller tells the victim they have been injured or were involved in an accident and need money. They plead with the victim not to tell their parents or anyone else, because they don’t want to get in trouble. Wanting to help their loved one, of course, the victim sends money — delivery methods range from buying gift cards to sending cash through the mail. In extreme cases, the fraudster will actually come to the victim’s home to collect the cash or send someone else to pick it up the cash.
So what should you do if you believe a customer is the target of this scam? Here are some steps you should take and questions you can ask:
- Get the customer into an office if possible. This will give you more privacy to ask questions, and hopefully make the customer feel more at ease, so they’ll open up about what is really going on.
- Did the call come from a known number? That’s no guarantee the call was legitimate. Explain to the customer that spoofing technology allows fraudsters to make it appear they are calling from a legitimate number. Other questions to ask are: “Did it sound like your family member? Do they have a special nickname you use with them? And if so, did they use it?”
- Identify your concerns and specifically mention the grandparent scam. By talking to the customer about how this scam works, you can hopefully get them to take a step back and level with you.
- Offer to call the grandchild or another family member. Often, the customer can be very hesitant to do this, because they were told not to say anything. Assure the customer that no one will be getting into trouble, and that it will give them peace of mind when they find out their loved one is safe.
Here are some helpful links you can use as a resource when talking with your customer:
FTC: Don’t open your door to grandparent scams
AARP: Criminals target grandparents by posing as grandchildren
FTC: Scammers use fake emergencies to steal your money
As always, trust your instincts! If something feels off, contact Security immediately for guidance on how to proceed.
Started by former security officer Peggy Theisen in 2013, the CrimeBuster Awards recognize bank employees who identify security risks and take action to protect North Shore Bank and our customers. •••
Bankers attend WBA BOLT summit
Mike, Jon, Aubrey, Ray, and Tisha at the BOLT summit.
North Shore Bank employees attended the Wisconsin Banking Association’s BOLT Summer Leadership Summit in Wisconsin Dells on Thursday and Friday, June 15 and 16. BOLT stands for Building Our Leaders of Tomorrow, and the event is a chance for emerging leaders at Wisconsin banks to meet, network, and learn.
“The summit was fantastic! They had presenters who covered many different areas of banking, from coaching to instant payments and fintech to how to have better conversations in a rising rate environment. There was also quite a bit of time set aside for networking with representatives from different community banks,” said Northland branch manager Tisha Kenfield. “A lot of my takeaways were around the subject of asking better questions both with customers and co-workers during coaching sessions. I would highly recommend anyone who has the chance to attend a future BOLT summit to take the opportunity.”
Along with Tisha, North Shore Bank attendees included Allouez assistant branch manager Aubrey Abrahamson, Southridge and Forest Home area manager Ray Guardiola, Burlington branch manager Jon White, and Milwaukee Capitol branch manager Mike Williams. •••
Happy customers share praise
Senior contact care specialist DJ Hostettler “was extremely helpful working through the payoff process with myself and my vehicle buyer,” writes a customer DJ recently assisted with a vehicle sale.
Like, senior consumer credit adjustor Lisa Thompson “was extremely helpful with this,” says a customer who just sold a boat.
And Pewaukee branch manager Anne Kagerah “was awesome, highly recommended,” one very happy customer let us know. Nice work, everybody! •••
Hundreds come out for fun at ’90s-themed MKE Recess
North Shore Bank took it back to the ’90s with MKE Recess at Milwaukee’s NorthSouth Club on Thursday, June 15. And the event was by all accounts a roaring success.
Besides beloved tunes from decades past and fun food like a complimentary cereal bar, attendees got to enjoy activities like four square, shuffleboard, axe throwing, giant North Shore Bank–branded Connect Four and Jenga, and Mario Kart on Nintendo 64. There was also a photo booth where we took mini Polaroid pictures of guests and gave them to them in bank-branded disposable frames.
The event was a deliberate attempt to reach an audience of millennials and Gen Zers, and most of the hundreds of attendees definitely skewed younger, although older guests also showed up and had a great time.
“People loved the ’90s rewind!” said Milwaukee Capitol community engagement manager Mike Williams, who led organizing the event. “Some went all out and dug deep into the closet to bring out their best ’90s looks, while others just chilled and enjoyed the throwback music hits, but everyone had a smile on their faces.”
Our community partners were pleased with the event too, said AVP of marketing communications Kate Knox. Those partners were the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee County Parks, the Princeton Club, and Radio Milwaukee.
“They noted how casually integrated they felt into the event, and how it encouraged attendees to chat with them,” Kate said. “Many also said they met people who were new to the area and were able to provide them with resources for things to do, which is wonderful.”
Other employees who helped out with MKE Recess were traveling lead teller Tracee Born, traveling teller James O’Brien, North End branch manager Breanna Rooney, Oak Creek branch manager Heather Somers, and Milwaukee Capitol personal banker Nazirah Tate. •••
Bank wins eighth Mayor’s Trophy in Appleton parade
Our float in the parade.
Northland’s float entry in this year’s 72nd annual Appleton Flag Day Parade won the Mayor’s Trophy for Best Overall Entry for the eighth time. North Shore Bank has had a float in the parade for 30 years.
Dan Timko’s son DJ, 12, auditioned for the role of Seymour Jr.
“We were so happy to be a part of the parade, and then to win the Mayor’s Trophy was so exciting for us,” said Allouez lead teller Char Schaible, a recent transplant from Northland. “We were glad to be a part of a long-standing community event that honors our flag and everything it stands for.”
Along with Char and her family, video teller Dan Timko and his family rode on the float.
Union Grove personal banker Nicholas Ditscheit and lead teller Jackie Miller pose with the treats.
Union Grove honored the patriarchs among the branch’s customers by putting out Father’s Day treats on Saturday, June 17. “Our customers loved and appreciated it!” branch manager Jolene Cedeno said of the big cookie and doughnuts the team put out.
Our display at North End’s wine and cheese event.
And North End hosted a wine and cheese event at a local apartment complex, where the branch also raffled off a date-night snack pack. “We were able to mingle with the tenants and hopefully gain some new customers,” said former branch manager Heather Somers (who is now at Oak Creek). •••
New Hires for June 22
It’s always exciting to add new members to our team. Here are some of the fresh faces at North Shore Bank.
Systems analyst Najuf Malik is from Brookfield and recently graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in computer science. “I am obsessed with cats, and I own an obscene amount of cat paraphernalia — currently, my cubicle is decked out with all of my cat-themed desk decor,” she says. But there’s a hitch: “I’m violently allergic to cats. One time I cuddled with my brother’s cat and 30 minutes later, I couldn’t breathe and my eyes were swollen shut. I didn’t care, though, because I got to cuddle with a cat!”
Pewaukee teller Lily Schwigel is from Oconomowoc and is studying accounting at Waukesha County Technical College. She has two cats and loves to dance. “I have danced since I was 3, on competitive dance teams, as well as training with the Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy,” she says. “I enjoy every kind of dance, but ballet is definitely my strong suit. I just love the technicality, strength, and poise that come with it.” •••
Advocate Aurora EAP offers free help with big life issues
Feeling stressed about big life decisions? The Advocate Aurora Employee Assistance Program offers valuable free resources that can help you maintain a healthy work-life balance. Talk to the EAP about any of these issues:
- Adoption — information to guide you through the adoption process
- Child care — a list of referrals with verified qualifications and availability
- Education — helping match you with K-12 schools, as well as colleges and universities, and navigating financial aid and scholarships
- Elder care — find what’s right for your parent or other loved one
- Financial consultation — coaching, debt management, budgeting, retirement planning, and student loan counseling
- Legal consultation — a free 30-minute telephone consultation with an attorney
Download this PDF for more details.
These services are provided at no cost to employees and their household family members. To speak to one of our work-life balance specialists, call the AAH EAP at 800-236-3231. To access AAH EAP online resources, visit aah.org/eap. •••
Come out for R&B music, more at Garfield’s 502 fest
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:
Garfield’s 502 R&B Festival serves as the anchor for one of Milwaukee’s best festivals, taking place Saturday, July 15, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This neighborhood celebration features a youth talent show, outstanding live music on multiple stages, and a variety of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. More info here. •••