Who’s Who: Kiyah Thurmond
Teller Supervisor, Martin Luther King Drive
After her job with a credit union ended, Kiyah thought she’d be a stay-at-home mom — but her passion for banking drew her back in. “I love the people, both our customers and all my coworkers,” she says. And she’s glad she ended up at North Shore Bank. “There’s more of a sense of family here, which I really love. It’s just a more intimate setting — we’re closer to our customers.” Read more about Kiyah here.
Around the Bank
Jim Lange’s daughters Kristen and Julia snap a pic with Bernie Brewer and the Klement Sausages before the UPAF Ride for the Arts.
• UPAF Ride for the Arts. North Shore Bank sponsored a team for Sunday’s ride to raise money for the performing arts in and around Milwaukee. The United Performing Arts Fund fundraiser is an annual event. The bank’s team included Marketing Product and Channel Manager Karen DeGarmo and VPs Mike Kellman, Jim Lange, and Molly Schissler. Mailroom Supervisor Colleen Moore volunteered at the ride.
Jeff, Teller Liz Karwowski, and Jose were ready for whatever customers threw at them at Regency’s “Get Your Financial Ducks in a Row” event.
• Financial Ducks in a Row. On May 30, the Regency branch invited customers to come in and receive some advice on getting their finances together. New PB Jose Escovedo, MLO Jim Palis, and Investment Specialist Jeff Pieters sat down with clients, and the branch served nachos and gave customers the chance to win prizes like a family membership to the Racine Zoo.
VP Lyneen Fischer stopped by to talk with a business customer at the Sussex mixer.
• Sussex business mixer. The “Roll Out the Red Carpet” after-hours mixer on May 21 drew about 35 people to the Sussex branch, including Sussex Area Chamber of Commerce members, business customers, and other members of the business community, who got a chance to network and to learn about the benefits of a relationship with North Shore Bank. BRM Cheri Cicona-Trudell, MLO Stephanie Glowinski-Moeller, PB Ashley Peterson, ABMO Erika Smith, Branch Manager Candy Walecki, and Investment Consultant Dennis White all lent a hand, and Rumors Sports Bar and Piggly Wiggly donated food and drink. Guests had to pose for a shot with someone they’d just met at the mixer in the Sit n’ Flash photo booth to be entered for a drawing.
Northland UB Patt Kox and Teller Katie Van Schyndel chip in on Shredding Day in Appleton.
• Shredding Day. North Shore Bank hosted its eighth annual free Shredding Day on May 3, giving the communities we serve a way to safely recycle sensitive documents and dispose of electronic devices containing personal information. We shredded more than 35 tons of documents this year. As for electronic devices, numbers are still coming in, but in the northeast region, we collected 24 pallets — or more than eight tons — of technology. Many, many thanks to all of you who helped out with this fantastic event and in so doing helped protect the public from ID theft.
• Mobile Banking for iPad. In case you missed it: North Shore Bank has a new app out for iPad users. Be sure to let your customers know. Details here.
May Promotions
North Shore Bank and Illinois State Bank are known for their practice of promoting from within. The following employees were promoted in May.
• Erika Hernandez, Universal Banker, El Rey
• Wanda Pillizzi, Teller Supervisor, Kenosha Main
• Catherine Piwaron, Teller Supervisor, National Avenue
• Brandi Quinn, Teller Supervisor, Franklin
• Josephina Rodriguez, Teller Supervisor, El Rey
• Myra Rodriguez, Customer Care Rep, Customer Support Center
Service Anniversaries This Week
Consumer Credit Adjuster Alex Canales marks 15 years with the bank on Saturday. His résumé lists companies like the former First Wisconsin Bank (now U.S. Bank) and Western Publishing, best known for publishing the Little Golden Books. “So I’ve worked for some major corporations,” he says, “and in all honesty, North Shore Bank is probably the best place I’ve ever worked.”
AVP-Commercial and Consumer Loan Closing Manager Barb Wisneski marks five years with North Shore Bank on Sunday — a quarter of the 20 years she was at her prior bank. “It’s gone quickly, moving from mortgage processing to commercial processing, then to my current position in both commercial and consumer lending,” she says. “I enjoy our team approach to lending — everyone from the branches to the lenders, credit analysts, underwriters, post closing, loan processing, and loan servicing areas works so well together.”
Shorelines Shout-Outs!
As proven in our Customer Pulse Surveys, you are the heartbeat of the bank’s success. Here’s a sampling of what customers have to say about banking with us.
“I have called customer assistance a few times to ask questions or for help with an issue and they took care of my concerns immediately!”
“Just yesterday I called VP Dennis Christoffel to discuss my retirement accounts, and he answered his own phone and talked to me for about 10 minutes on the spot, without an appointment. He was very cordial, as always. In fact, in more than 30 years of service I have never had an employee encounter that was anything but pleasant. This would be for savings accounts, checking accounts, home mortgages, and loans.”
“I am always greeted with a smile and a hello.”
North Shore Shape Up: Ebbensgard loses 48 pounds, helps start employee running club
Sales, Service & Lending Support Manager Michael Ebbensgard just got fed up with how much he was eating last spring and decided it was time to make a serious life change. Now he’s up around 4:45 a.m. most days, hitting the pavement for a run, and watching what and how he eats. Find out more about how Michael made his change and his plans for the North region’s employee running club — the story is here.
Internal Job Postings
Universal Banker, Shorewood, full time. 40 hours/week. $400 referral bonus. Internal closing date: June 6.
For a complete list of internal job postings and to apply for one, go to nsbcareersforyou.silkroad.com and click on “Internal Openings” at the top. To refer an external person to an opening, go to our intranet page. You can earn cash and prizes for a successful referral!
Shorelines is published on Thursdays. We love to hear about your professional milestones and the important moments in your life outside of work, too. Send news, questions, story ideas, suggestions, and fun photos to shorelines@northshorebank.com, or share your message using the comment form below.