MAKING THE NEWS

Celebrating a Milestone Year

By: Jay McKenna, President and CEO of North Shore Bank

As we bid farewell to 2023, I am thrilled to share incredible news that fills us with immense pride and gratitude. Together, we have achieved multiple consecutive record years, and what a fitting way to finish our 100th year as a company than by being named a Best Regional Bank by Newsweek! Looking ahead, we are poised for even greater accomplishments. 

A Year of Unprecedented Success

Our collective efforts, resilience, and commitment have propelled us to new heights. Each one of you has played a vital role in making this centennial year our most successful by many measures in the history of the bank. Thank you for your ongoing dedication and efforts to serve our customers, communities, and one another.

Your hard work has also provided us with another honor. Newsweek has recognized us as one of America’s Best Regional Banks 2024. This prestigious distinction is a testament to our unwavering devotion to excellence, outstanding customer service, and the positive impact we’ve made in our communities. 

Newsweek, along with market data research firm Plant-A Insights, conducted an independent study analyzing key performance indicators of more than 9,440 financial institutions, and surveyed over 35,000 customers. The study awarded the best 250 regional banks in the United States, including 10 regional banks headquartered in Wisconsin. 

Looking Ahead 

As we reflect on our first 100 years of existence, these achievements, plus our other awards, including Forbes Best-In-State Bank and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Top Workplace, validate the tremendous strength and soundness of North Shore Bank. They signify not only our enduring legacy, but also our ability to evolve, adapt, and thrive in an ever-changing financial landscape.

It is with sincere appreciation that I acknowledge you as the driving force behind our achievements. As we look ahead, let’s build on this success and continue to innovate, collaborate, and lead with excellence in the years to come. 

 

AROUND THE BANK

W-2s now available for bank employees

It’s that time of the year again! Electronic W-2’s are available in UKG now. Employees can find their W-2 forms by navigating to Myself > Pay > W-2.

If you requested a paper copy, please be aware that those are currently being shipped to the bank’s corporate office. Once received they will be distributed as follows:

• Corporate employees’ forms will be delivered to their offices at corporate
• Branch employees’ forms will be mailed to employee home

 

PERSONNEL UPDATES 

Regional Account Manager, Jim Halbman, wins bonus for referring new employees

The winner of the fourth-quarter bonus for referring new employees was Jim Halbman, Regional Account Manager. Congratulations, Jim!

Jim says, “I have enjoyed working with North Shore for the past eighteen years. Part of my job is developing relationships, and I talk to a lot of people. I get told often ‘You seem to enjoy your job; are there any openings?’ The rest is easy. I tell them to check our website and contact us.”

Congratulations to Jim on winning the fourth-quarter Employee Referral Bonus! If you know someone who may be interested in joining us at North Shore Bank, or you would like to learn more about the bank’s referral program, visit Ask Seymour for more information.

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HEALTHY YOU

January Wellness check

Wellness check: Everything in moderation

Moderation is a fundamental principle that plays a vital role in many aspects of our lives. Practicing moderation in our physical health, relationships, finances, and mental health can provide a healthy and more balanced lifestyle.

See below for more details!

Wellness prompt: Short bursts of activity for busy folks

There’s good news for those of us who have difficulty finding time to exercise. The health benefits of a half-hour workout may be the same when divided into shorter sessions of 10 or 15 minutes as long as the total adds up to 30 minutes and the intensity is moderate or vigorous. That means we can still get fit if we commit to short snippets of activity throughout the day.

See below for ideas for short bursts of activity!

 

BRANCH NEWS

Bank employees have a wild adventure traveling back to Milwaukee

Mike Kellman, Gina Bontempo, Sarah Gantner,  Laura Habighorst, and Emily Curro had quite the experience last week! Mike and the team had a dealer meeting in Minneapolis, but their flight home was canceled due to the snow. The team decided to rent a car and drive back to Milwaukee that night.  

The team left Minneapolis around 8:30 PM, and when they heard a loud bang, just thought their luggage had shifted. When they stopped to gas up, the team realized the roof panel had been stuck upright for hours! 

Everyone made it back to their cars at the Milwaukee airport eventually, and the team all got home around 2:30 in the morning.

Sarah Gantner wrote a poem about the experience! Read it below:

Twas the night of the dealer meetings and all were content.
We flew to Minnesota and were looking forward to the event.
As we greeted our guests who had arrived,
our flights were cancelled and our evening took a nosedive.
Mike searched for other flights, but none were appearing.
We had to leave quick as a big snow storm was nearing.
We rented a car to bring us all home.
The trip would take 5 hours, and Mike would not do it alone.
Soon into our trip we heard a loud clunk.
We thought it was our luggage that fell in the trunk.
We sang and we laughed and we did karaoke.
Mike would rap a few songs, and we thought he was hokey.
As we stopped for gas in Johnson Creek,
we noticed the car roof and started to freak.
A panel was hanging from the top of the truck.
300 miles into our trip, we did not have good luck.
At two in the morning, Mike had survived the feat,
with all of us yahoos in the back seat.
As we look to next year and another plane ride,
we hope it gets cancelled as we’d rather drive.

 

BRANCH NEWS

Muskego team beats the Escape Room at Southridge Mall

Go team! The Muskego team attended dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse and The Escape Room at Southridge Mall recently. They used their business referral reward from the Wrap Up Rally and completed the Pirate’s Curse room with 1:31 remaining! 

“The team and I love doing these, and this is our second year in a row,” Stephanie Ruiz says. “This may become an annual event every time we win at the Wrap Up Rally!”

 

NEW HIRES

Welcome our December 2023 new hires

Join us in saying a big North Shore Bank welcome to the employees below who recently joined the bank!

• Jason Roberts joined as an Associate Banker at the West Allis branch.
• Doris Stephens joined us as an Associate Banker at the Fox Point branch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

Discover events and activities in and around your community

• Milwaukee Business Journal Power Breakfast: presented by North Shore Bank, featuring Dominic Ortiz | Thursday, February 29, 2024 (8:00 AM) @ The Pfister Hotel  |  424 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Shorelines Submission Reminder

If you’d like to submit content to the newsletter, please email shorelines@newaukee.com. Please be sure to include:

• A description of the story or event 
• If applicable, when and where the story or event took place  
• If applicable, which employees were present and/or are pictured in photographs 
• Photo(s)