Strong foundation: Customers give NSB high marks
In May, we invited a portion of our customer base to participate in a survey administered by Informa Research Services. Informa uses a SEA score measurement system to rate “Service,” “Energized,” and “Attract” customer engagement elements and compares benchmark results nationally and among respondents using like-size institutions in the Midwest. The tool is designed to help retail financial institutions thrive and grow in a rapidly changing banking market. SVP Sue Doyle has the full story on how we did and what it means for North Shore Bank’s future. Read it here!

Bank sends off Bavlnka with fun — and M&Ms

Duane Bavlnka, VP, compliance, retired Tuesday after more than 40 years with North Shore Bank. That afternoon, his colleagues celebrated his career and sent him off in style with a gathering. See how it went here!

Kudos for August 3
Staff members at our Sister Bay branch and elsewhere received some kind words recently:

Thanks to all the great staff at Sister Bay. We’ve been NSB customers for well over 10 years, starting with mortgage loans with Chris Boland in the Green Bay office and now are residents in Door County. Chris was extraordinary in his professional work with a personal touch, and he has kept in touch with us (even stopped by our house to see the result of the loan!). A year ago, we took out a HELOC locally, with the initiative and excellent service from Dede Mickelson. Today I was in the branch office, and Tiffany Porter made a point of talking to me, as she was trying to reach me by phone to ask how satisfied we were after one year. That is just one example of the personal care and concern of a local bank that still has a very strong sense of customer relations with a personal touch. Everyone has been friendly and very helpful. Always a good experience to stop by, and often I’d rather go in than use the drive-thru.

And a customer shared this compliment about Wauwatosa branch manager Mary Rose Balzer:

Mary Rose is so wonderful — she knows me, she knows my kids, she understands all of the different accounts I have, and she always has a smile on her face. She is the reason I bank with North Shore Bank.

Nice job as always, everyone! •••

Promotions for July 2017
The following employees were promoted in July:

• Cindy Lohrey was promoted from Payroll Manager to Payroll & Benefits Manager.
• Joshua Sales was promoted from Universal Banker to Assistant Branch Manager–Operations at Brookfield Square.
• Fabion Shkreli was promoted from Teller to Universal Banker at West Allis.
• Heather Stevlingson was promoted from Assistant Controller to Vice President, Controller.

Leave a comment to congratulate them!

North Shore Shape Up: Heartburn meds carry risks
Do you take Nexium, Prevacid, or a similar medicine to treat heartburn? If so, Cleveland Clinic Wellness has some advice for you.

If you regularly rely on proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) medications to treat heartburn, it’s time for a checkup with your physician. These drugs are extremely effective, but taking them long-term raises your risk for a laundry list of serious health woes, including heart attacks, infections, brittle bones, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, and even an early death. If you’ve been taking PPIs for more than a few weeks, make an appointment with your physician to determine whether you still need it and to create a treatment plan.

The clinic warns, though: “Whatever you do, don’t stop taking PPIs ‘cold turkey.’ Doing so can lead to rebound heartburn — and keep you in a vicious cycle. You can help manage heartburn by losing weight if you need to, eating small meals, avoiding foods that trigger indigestion (such as citrus, peppers, fried foods, garlic, caffeine, and alcohol), allowing for at least three hours between dinner and bedtime, and propping up the head of your bed at night.” •••

Upcoming Events
Jammin’ on Janesville to Support Football takes place tomorrow, Friday, August 4, at our Muskego branch. We’re hosting members of Muskego Youth Football and Muskego Gridiron Football as they serve up food — Italian beef sandwiches, nachos, and more — to support their organizations. More upcoming events here.

Internal Job Postings •••

• Customer Assistance Rep, CSC, full time, 40 hours/week. Referral bonus: $400. Internal closing date: Ongoing.

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!