Martha Muskavitch
Martha Muskavitch has worked in the operations/back-office area of banking for 25 years. “If I had it to do again, I’d start as a teller,” she says. “I’ve sometimes wished I’d had more frontline experience and exposure to being in front of customers.”
As an investment processor in our Customer Support Center, Martha works with IRAs, as well as with deferred compensation plans such as 457(b)s for teachers, firefighters and other public employees. “These plans are subject to different rules and regulations. And as with other aspects of finance, regulation has increased over the years. I do a lot of research and troubleshooting, and I answer a lot of questions for people who call.”
Martha also sends billings to and processes payments from entities that offer these types of retirement plans to their employees.
She is pleased that her position, despite keeping her behind the scenes, requires customer contact. “I still have plenty of interaction with both internal and external customers, which brings me great satisfaction. And the CSC area is staffed with the most wonderful people; it is a cordial place, with everyone helping each other and the bank to achieve the highest level of success.”
Martha started at our East branch, which then was Badger Bank’s corporate headquarters, and spent time at the Shorewood branch as well. After the merger, she transferred to Corporate in Brookfield, returned to Shorewood, and then came back to Corporate. She credits her career satisfaction and enjoyment to some influential people along the way.
Her boss at Badger was supportive and sent her to workshops, classes and seminars, giving her what she considered “a wonderful introduction to the world of finance.”
“Dennis Christoffel has been an exemplary practitioner of superior customer service, and Lynn Strothenke is a vastly knowledgeable, empowering leader whom I respect and admire,” Martha says.
“People now are savvier about their money and investments. They’re more conscious of the importance of their retirement funds in particular,” she says. “With all of the competition in the financial services sector, people are getting more fearless about moving their money around.”
A recent — and favorite — change was getting a second computer monitor. “It makes multitasking so much faster and more efficient,” she says.
“And it has been exhilarating to see the development of new products and services, the rise of interactive e-banking, the increased use of imaging.” She appreciates the ever-improving teller and customer-information systems. “They’re fun to experience — after the wrinkles and initial learning curve have been ironed out.”
Had Martha not gone into banking, she might have enjoyed working as a librarian or teacher. “I have always enjoyed research and helping people, so I am very fortunate to have the position I do.”
She encourages new staffers to stay in school and to take advantage of every educational opportunity available through the bank. “Although more and more customers will do business via their devices or by teleconferencing in teller-less branches, I think there will always be a call for brick-and-mortar buildings staffed by people,” she says.
“I’m proud of being a North Shore Bank employee,” Martha says, “and I am very aware of the privilege and responsibility of representing such a financially strong and stable institution.”