MAKING THE NEWS
North Shore Bank again on list of America’s Best Regional Banks
Once again, North Shore Bank is recognized as one of America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2025 by Newsweek! This marks the second consecutive year we earned this prestigious distinction—congratulations!
Newsweek works with market data research firm Plant-A Insights Group to arrive at the list of the top 500 regional banks and top 500 credit unions. The methodology utilizes the Texas Ratio (a measure of a bank’s credit quality) as well as reviewed profitability and net loans and leases, press coverage over the past two years, a large-scale independent customer survey of more than 71,000 U.S. citizens, 1.9 million social media reviews and 129 million Apple App store and Google Play store reviews.
“We’re truly honored to be recognized once again this year,” says President and CEO Jay McKenna. “For more than a century, relationships have been at the heart of everything we do—with our customers, community, and employees. This distinction underscores our team’s ongoing dedication to exceptional service and highlights the strength of our commitment.”
Congratulations to all for helping to achieve this honor!
CORPORATE COMMUNITY OUTREACH COMMITTEE
Feliz Navidad Fiesta collects clothing, donations for charity
Business Relationship Specialist Tyler Kebis, Brookfield Square Branch Manager Mariella Zarb, and Brookfield Square Lead Teller Raysha Marrero Camacho enjoyed the food at the Feliz Navidad Fiesta.
On Dec. 11, the Corporate Community Outreach Committee hosted North Shore Bank’s Feliz Navidad Fiesta! The fun event included fiesta-themed foods, an ugly sweater contest, live music, games, and raffle baskets.
This year, the charity selected for donations was Partners in Hope, an organization that helps rehabilitate prisoners to transition back into society successfully.
Donations of clothing and shoes were collected, and employees donated $943 to the organization.
Many employees brought out their best for the Ugly Sweater contest!
Here is the list of ugly sweater contest winners:
- Most unbecoming sweater: Elizabeth White
- Most put together: Kate Johnson
- Most sparkly: Karen Pofahl
- Most non-festive: Jay McKenna
- Most theme-like: Wendy Repka
Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to all who brought in donations of clothing or made a financial donation to the worthy cause.
BRANCH NEWS
Northside customers get to vote for the best employee gingerbread house
Customers don’t know which staff member made each house.
The staff at the Northside Branch in Racine is running a fun contest to engage customers. The employees decorated gingerbread houses, and over two weeks, customers vote for their favorite. The winner— who gets bragging rights—will be announced on Dec. 20.
Last year, the Northside Branch decorated wreaths for customers to vote on, Northside Branch Manager, AVP Lisa Young said. 02959 “It is a fun activity for each staff member to showcase creativity,” she added. “Our customers love to participate in something fun for the holidays, and it’s a great way to engage and start conversations with people in the branch.”
Good luck to the creative house-builders at Northside!
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Santa Claus delighted the crowds at Shorewood Winterfest
Santa visited with dozens of kids at Shorewood Winterfest.
Holiday cheer was on display at Shorewood Winterfest, and Teller Noelle Stafslien had a front-row seat. Winterfest, a fun, family-friendly annual event, included a meet and greet with Santa at various stops throughout Shorewood. A vintage sleigh carried Santa between stops. There was also a tree and Menorah lighting, cookie decorating for the kids, and hot cocoa for all to enjoy at the Dec. 7 event.
Visitors had the opportunity to sit on the vintage sleigh.
Shorewood Teller Noelle Stafslien attended Winterfest.
Attendance at the event continues to grow every year, so Santa had to add more time at each stop to make sure he could spend time with each of the children.
Noelle said this is the first time she’s attended Shorewood Winterfest.
“It was such a magical experience. It was so great to see so many people in the community come out to enjoy this event,” she said. “What I loved the most was just seeing how happy this made everyone.”
RETIREMENTS
Annette Mueller plans more travel adventures in retirement
Annette Mueller, AVP-Quality Assurance Manager, retires this month after nearly 50 years in banking. She’s been with North Shore Bank for almost four years. Read more about Annette’s career and what she’s loved about working for North Shore Bank.
What drew you to working in banking?
Over 48 years ago, a local bank president visited the high school I was attending and asked the teacher in charge of the business curriculum if she had any students she would refer for a career in banking. I took many business classes and did quite well, so she gave him my name. After one phone call and interview (and no paperwork), I was hired! My, how the times have changed.
I was fortunate to work in various roles throughout my career, from all branch roles (teller to branch manager), consumer and mortgage lending to managing student loans, merchant services, credit card and indirect lending portfolios, and finally, corporate marketing, compliance, and product development.
Is there anything about your time at North Shore Bank that stands out to you?
Everyone is so nice and kind. I’ve met so many great people who I now consider friends that I will surely stay in touch with.
What have you enjoyed most about your job?
The variety of work and projects. I have been able to tap into past roles and apply that experience to the various projects and deliverables here.
What are your plans for retirement?
Everyone tells me I’ll be busier in retirement than when I was working full-time. I plan to continue traveling (Norway cruise and the Arctic Circle in 2025), hiking, and exploring the great outdoors, including national and state parks.
I’ll be spending more time with family, including attending the grandkids’ events, getting some minor home improvements completed, and volunteering for causes near and dear to me.
Would you like to offer a few kind words to the individual moving into your position?
I have worked with Theresa Hofer for over three months and know she’ll do great. Be nimble and open to new challenges, and enjoy the valuable partnerships you’ll cultivate and grow.
Read more from Annette, and see what her closest coworkers have to say. Click here for more!
OUT OF OFFICE
Muskego crew pulls together to crack escape room code
Muskego Lead Teller Melissa Grode, Community Engagement Manager Stephanie Ruiz and her husband Rafael Ruiz, Brookfield Square Assistant Branch Manager Matthew Cieslak, his girlfriend Elora, and Personal Banker Sara Speich after their fourth successful escape room experience. They’re holding the fake gold bars they had to collect as the goal of the escape room.
The Muskego branch team—plus a few others!—successfully completed its fourth escape room earlier this month. The team first tried its hand at an escape room at Southridge Mall in Greendale a few years ago for a fun night out together. They’ve now worked their way through four of the five rooms offered. Only one more to go!
The crew enjoyed lunch at KPOT Korean BBQ and Hot Pot this year and then hit the escape room.
“This is something we started a while back and really enjoy doing as a team. We are looking forward to completing the fifth escape room in the near future and then moving on to another location. We love that Matthew is carrying on the tradition with us,” Community Engagement Manager Stephanie Ruiz said. Matthew started his career at the Muskego branch.
Getting out of the office and working together on something so fun is great for all involved.
“Sometimes life and work get away from us, and I find that doing things like this is a great way to reconnect with my team and just have some good ‘ol fun,” Stephanie said.
Great teamwork, Muskego branch!
NORTH SHORE STARS
Katie Longsine named HSBPA Volunteer of the Year
Howard Suamico Lead Teller Brittney Koeberl, Community Engagement Manager Katie Longsine, and Associate Banker Josh Wallschlaeger at the HSBPA Holiday Party and Annual Meeting on Dec. 6.
Community Engagement Manager Katie Longsine has been named Volunteer of the Year by the Howard-Suamico Business & Professional Association (HSBPA).
In awarding this honor to Katie, leaders of the HSBPA said: “Over the last five years, Katie has put a great amount of time and energy into helping HSBPA achieve its mission and helping businesses in our community. She continues to lead our events committee, as well as sits on other committees, and has been a big contributor to the growth of HSBPA. In addition to HSBPA, Katie also serves on a committee and volunteers with NeighborWorks Green Bay. All of her hard work within the community does not go unnoticed.”
The award was presented to Katie at HSBPA’s Holiday Party and Annual Meeting on Dec. 6. Congratulations to Katie!
NEW HIRES
Welcome to our new hires for November 2024!
Meet your new coworkers, all hired in November 2024! Welcome to all.
- Breanna T. Carter, Teller at North End
- Antonio Galarza, Teller at Milwaukee Capitol
- Brice Powell, Lending Sales Specialist
- Judith Vaughan, Lead Teller at Fox Point
I worked at Westbury Bank in West Bend before starting at North Shore Bank. In March, I’ll have been in banking for 11 years. I was familiar with someone who is currently working here. I was looking for a change and a chance to expand on my duties and felt that North Shore would be the kind of bank I would like to be associated with. Banking gives me a chance to meet new people and work with them to solve their problems. Outside of work, I am involved with Billy’s Posse, a nonprofit organization that reunites lost pets with their owners or gets them to rescue organizations. I live in Colgate with my partially blind rescue dog, Radar. He’s a Golden Mountain dog, so quite large, and loves to be outside. I enjoy reading, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, and almost any other kinds of crafts in my free time.
- Lakya Whitmore, Travelling Teller
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Photo of the Week for Dec. 19
The Muskego branch collected toys for the Christmas Clearing Council. Community Engagement Manager Stephanie Ruiz is pictured with the toys, which will be donated on Dec. 19, just in time for Christmas. Branches collected toys as part of our Bank on Kindness® initiative.
HEALTHY YOU
Add a dash of healthy to your holiday eating plan
It’s difficult not to overindulge in holiday treats at this time of year, especially if the season feels stressful to you. Healthy You’s December spotlight is healthy eating habits, reminding us that we can break the bonds of emotional eating if we take the time to recognize it when it’s happening and take steps to prevent it.
The article discusses the causes of emotional eating and practical tips to stop it, including making a healthy eating plan in advance when we know we’re headed into a stressful situation and working on coping skills to find new ways to manage that stress.
Learn more about reinforcing your healthy eating habits, how proper nutrition feeds your body and brain, and the health benefits of consuming tea in this month’s Healthy You.
Customer Loyalty Tip of the Week
Choose to have fun doing your job and help your co-workers have fun, too.
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
- Teaching Children About Money | Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 (11:00 AM)| North Shore Bank Community Room | 4230 W. Oklahoma Ave. | Milwaukee