EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Zoo’s Wild Lights and CHEERS! events off to a great start

If you haven’t yet visited Wild Lights at the Milwaukee County Zoo or missed last week’s CHEERS! Wild Lights, there’s still time! Wild Lights runs through Dec. 31, and another adults-only CHEERS! event takes place between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. tonight at the Zoo. The team of volunteers is hoping for a great turnout tonight!

CHEERS! is sponsored by North Shore Bank and features a variety of entertainment, live ice carving demos, an outdoor showing and watch party, special spirits, and food trucks offering delicious eats for purchase.

Wild Lights, presented by We Energies Foundation, is open to all and runs most evenings between 5:30 and 9:30. The zoo looks magical all lit up for the holidays!

 

 

 

 

 

Community Engagement Manager Ray Guardiola said the bank’s Polaroid pictures are very popular with families, who like to select the best spot for their photos. “Families loved taking Polaroid pictures and getting to pick what tree to have in the photo with them. The largest tree was the favorite for most families,” he said.

No surprise here—the hot chocolate is also very popular.

 

HOLIDAYS

Donate toys at multiple branch locations through Dec. 17

The toy donations are rolling in, and we have a few more days to keep collecting for those in need. We’re off to a great start, but the more toys collected, the more children we can help to have a happy holiday. 00465 The area around the toy donation bin at the Brookfield Square branch is more than overflowing, as seen in this photo shared by Lead Teller Raysha Marrero Camacho!

We are so grateful to our employees, our customers, and neighboring businesses for the donations we’ve received so far! If you are interested in donating toys or other items, many of our branches are still collecting, including the branches below. 

Multiple locations are collecting through Dec. 14 for Toys for Tots, including:

• In the Fox Cities and Door County, gifts are being collected for children from birth to age 11. Requested items include winter clothing, books, riding toys for toddlers, sleeping bags, and blankets. Collections are happening at the Appleton-Northland, Menasha, Sturgeon Bay, and Sister Bay branches.
• In Racine County, the Burlington, Racine-Westgate, Racine-Northside, and Union Grove branches
• In Kenosha County, the Kenosha Main, South, and Central branches
• In Milwaukee County, the Cudahy, Franklin, and Oak Creek branches

In Waukesha County, the Brookfield Square, Brookfield Capitol, Muskego, and New Berlin branches are collecting for the Christmas Clearing Council through Dec. 17. 

Consider making a donation and sharing your holiday spirit with someone less fortunate!

NORTH SHORE STARS

Employees celebrate creative, positive coworkers with notes

Hundreds of notes singing the praises of our coworkers were posted during Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Week last week. The boards with the Post-It notes provided a wonderful opportunity for employees to offer a shout-out to a coworker for being an excellent example of the following traits: Fostering Positivity, Cooperation and Collaboration, Ideas and Innovation, Problem Solver, and Going the Extra Mile.

Reading the kind words and expressions of gratitude among work teams is inspiring. 

Employees were encouraged to write a note and post it to their office board, or scan copies of the recognition notes to share with the branch manager or with Morgan Stark in Human Resources for corporate employees. Notes were selected at random from the boards, and the person listed on the note received Seymour Salutes or Bucketlist points. These points can be redeemed for gift cards, a PTO day, other experiences, or donations to an organization. Corporate selected 10 notes; if each branch selected one, more than 50 employees received points.

Thank you all who wrote a note, and congratulations to those who were listed on the boards. Our teams are strong, thanks to all of you! 

NORTH SHORE STARS

Capper named newest member of WBD Elite Lending Circle

WBD Inc. recently named North Shore Bank’s Senior Vice President, Commercial Lending Manager Margaret Capper as its newest Elite Lender. Since 2005, Margaret has partnered with WBD Inc. on 10 successful projects, earning her place among its Elite Lenders.

WBD Inc. helps small businesses and lending institutions use SBA lending programs to secure the financing they need to grow, create jobs, and strengthen their communities.

Margaret collaborates with WBD to help businesses access the long-term, affordable rate, fixed financing available by utilizing the SBA 504 program. Her efforts have secured over $10 million in total project financing for local businesses and helped retain and create nearly 300 jobs!

WBD Loan Officer Steve Kohl, who has partnered with Margaret over the years, praised her efforts. “Margaret is a big proponent of the SBA 504 program and gets projects done with our customers in a professional and timely manner. It’s smooth sailing with her, and WBD appreciates her dedication and hard work to help grow small businesses and build our community while creating jobs,” he said.

WBD CEO Dan Schneider explained how individuals are selected for this honor. “WBD has helped thousands of businesses and worked with hundreds of banks and lenders, but those who earn their way to being WBD Elite Lenders have shown a consistent dedication to serving the best interests of the businesses they work with by utilizing the 504 program,” he said. 

As a WBD Elite Lenders member, Margaret will be treated to special perks, including an exclusive golf outing at Lawsonia Golf Club in Green Lake, Wisconsin. 

Margaret is grateful to be included in this group.

“It is an honor to receive this award with many others over many years. It is our job as trusted advisors to assist clients in navigating available opportunities, which allows them to be as successful as possible,” she said. “Believing in the mission to always help others first helps everyone win in the end.”

Congratulations to Margaret on this amazing recognition! Margaret’s commitment to meeting the needs of our business customers is truly inspiring. 

HOLIDAYS

SHARE YOUR TRADITIONS: What’s something special to you at the holidays?

We’ve received a few great submissions, but need you to keep them coming! Do you have a holiday tradition or something special that you’d like to share with your coworkers? Maybe it’s that top-secret cookie recipe that only gets baked once a year or a treasured ornament that always makes you smile when you hang it on the tree. 

If you’d like to share your tradition and a photo, if applicable, please email shorelines@northshorebank.com by Monday, Dec. 16, and we’ll include a round-up in an issue of Shoreline before the holidays. 

 

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Add no purchase fee gift cards to your stocking stuffers

Santa’s headed our way soon, but how do you know he’ll have everything your family and friends hope for in his bag? Just in case he doesn’t, pick up some gift cards at any North Shore Bank branch. And as a special treat for you, there’s no purchase fee through Dec. 31! 

Gift cards are the perfect thoughtful surprise for everyone on your list, including your postal carrier, hair stylist, babysitter—anyone! 

Shop Local, get the gift of 5% cash back

When you shop local, you’re not just checking off your holiday list—you’re supporting the heart of your community! With Mastercard Local™, earn 5% cash back on your purchases at local businesses using your eligible Mastercard®. It’s simple to do! 

Find Shops
Direct customers to view a list of participating local businesses on the Shop Local website. Encourage them to check back regularly, as new businesses are added frequently!

Spend Local
Customers can make a qualified purchase at a participating business using their North Shore Bank Standard, Platinum, or Business Debit Mastercard.

Earn Now
Once a qualified purchase is made, 5% cash back will automatically be credited to their account. Not only will they earn rewards, but their support strengthens the local community!

 

HEALTHY YOU

Make December a month to remember with acts of kindness

Although Christmas cheer is natural for many, it isn’t true for all people. During this month of celebration and gifts, there are people throughout our communities and our lives who are struggling, in need of support, or isolated.

Our Employee Assistance Program made up a list of wonderful acts of kindness you can take during December to lighten someone else’s load or support yourself through this busy season. The list provides suggestions like offering to teach someone else a skill you excel at or leaving a positive review for someone in the service industry.

Small acts can add up to big rewards for ourselves and our communities. See the full list of ideas here. 

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

 

The Muskego branch went with an elf theme for this year’s Christmas tree. So cute! 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer Loyalty Tip of the Week

Ask yourself each time you provide service, “Is the way I’m handling this situation going to improve my long-term relationship with my customer?”

 

COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Discover events and activities in and around your community

• Donate Toys and Support Local Families in Need |Through Friday, Dec. 20, 2024 | North Shore Bank Offices throughout Wisconsin
• Candy Cane Lane in West Allis | Through Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024 |96th Street to 92nd Street & Montana Avenue to Oklahoma Avenue
• Wild Lights at the Milwaukee County Zoo | Through Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 | Milwaukee County Zoo | 10001 W Bluemound Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226
• CHEERS! Wild Lights at the Milwaukee County Zoo | Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 (5:30 PM) | Milwaukee County Zoo | 10001 W Bluemound Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226
• My Credit Score Financial Seminar | Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 (6:00 PM) | North Shore Bank Community Room | 4230 W. Oklahoma Ave. | Milwaukee
• Teaching Children About Money | Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 (11:00 AM)| North Shore Bank Community Room | 4230 W. Oklahoma Ave. | Milwaukee