Forbes ranks North Shore Bank a top Wisconsin bank
North Shore Bank placed second in Wisconsin on Forbes‘ first-ever lists of Best-in-State Banks and Credit Unions, released late last month.

To compile the list, Forbes joined forces with market research firm Statista and surveyed more than 25,000 American bank customers about their current and past banking relationships. Participants had to rate every bank and credit union at which they hold or have held a checking account. They were asked to consider their overall recommendation and satisfaction. In addition, they had to rate the financial institutions in these five different subdimensions: Trust, Terms & Conditions, Branch Services, Digital Services, and Financial Advice.

Large banks with branches in at least 15 states, such as Wells Fargo and Chase, were not included in the final rankings. All told, 124 banks and 145 credit unions made the Best-in-State lists.

Huntington Bank ranked first in our state; it also placed first in Indiana and Michigan. Other top-performing banks were Bank First National, Associated, and American Bank & Trust.

“North Shore Bank’s high placement on this elite list of financial institutions is a testament to our commitment to our customers,” said Sue Doyle, senior vice president, retail banking. “It shows that every day, our representatives keep our brand promise to truly make North Shore ‘The Bank of You’ for the people we proudly serve in Wisconsin. Congratulations to all of our employees for this outstanding accomplishment.” •••

Check out our Beastie at the Milwaukee County Zoo

North Shore Bank is sponsoring a Beastie at the Milwaukee County Zoo, and you can see it through Labor Day.

The zoo’s Beasties Safari is a public art project featuring arty visual depictions of the resident animals. The project is meant to raise funds to revamp a full quarter of the zoo, and to renovate its “Adventure Africa” exhibit and other older areas.

Our Beastie was designed and painted by Peg Haubert. It’s number 17 on the safari and found near the North Shore Bank Safari Zoo Train.

The zoo in Milwaukee is one of the state’s treasured destinations for residents and families, and North Shore Bank has proudly partnered with the Milwaukee County Zoo for many years as sponsor of the Safari Zoo Train and Family Free Days. Also, president and COO Jay McKenna serves on the Zoological Society of Milwaukee’s board of directors.

If you go on the Beasties Safari, make sure to download your map first, and join the Instagram contest too! •••

Office Olympics raise almost $600

The Corporate Community Outreach Committee’s Office Olympics event raised $585 for Hope House of Milwaukee, along with three overflowing boxes of donated goods. You can see a bunch of great photos from the event on Facebook. Above, help desk technician Arlen Tsao of the Reboot Rebels team hopes to make some baskets. In the photo are senior loan funding rep Catherine Degner, Arlen, HR rep Cheryl Fregoso, systems analysts Dan Fregoso and Bryan Peters, senior vice president HR/compliance Molly Schissler, assistant controller Ann Marie Krecak, senior commercial loan specialist Priscilla Hartling, and deposit operations supervisor Janet Russell. •••

Night topped off by Brewers win

Senior mortgage lender Steve Luebke organized a fun night of tailgating and baseball for colleagues at Miller Park on June 21. “The game was a ‘smashing’ event. Lots of good food and spirits to keep us warm,” said Brookfield Square branch manager Margie Brusa. “The topping on the cake was the Brewers’ victory against St. Louis of 11-3.”

In attendance were Margie and husband Guido; Wauwatosa personal banker Ray Guardiola; Brookfield Square assistant branch manager–sales Domingo Martinez; teller Karin Nohelty and two sisters; assistant branch manager–operations Josh Sales and wife Alyssa; investment consultant Dennis White; and personal banker Jeanine Wielepski, along with husband Duane and granddaughter Amanda. •••

Bank donates bikes for Fisheree

North Shore Bank once again donated bikes for a boy and a girl at the Burlington Conservation Club’s 49th annual Kids Fisheree on May 20. Burlington branch manager Robin Callis reported that the day started out cold and rainy, but hundreds of area kids showed up for a day of fishing regardless. She’s pictured above with bike winners Easton and Khloey. •••

Hack helps clients get new trike

Green Bay West and Ashwaubenon area branch manager Sharon Hack recently helped some longtime customers with a cool purchase — a new motor trike.

Sharon opened a line of credit for Ken and Ruth Ann in 2010, when she was at the Howard branch. The couple used it to refinance their home, buy a car, and buy a trike in 2015. This January, Sharon called them to check in. Everything was fine, but in April, Ken thought he’d like to upgrade the trike. He withdrew the funds in May and was “thrilled” by how easy it was, Sharon says. Once he sold his old trike, he paid off two conversions on the LOC and locked in his balance so his interest rate wouldn’t go up.

“They are so happy,” Sharon says. “Ken even offered me a ride when he came to his LOC conversion closing. I was tempted but did decline.” She did get a picture of the clients (above) with their new vehicle. •••

Kudos for July 12
Mortgage loan originator Eric Van Den Busch recently received a wonderfully flattering email from a customer. “Dear Eric,” the note began:

I wanted to take a moment during this crazy time to stop and express my sincerest thanks and gratitude to you.

Due to my father’s profession, I have grown up around “financial people” and experienced firsthand the good, the bad, the very, very bad, the too good to be true, and the downright strange.

Within the first 10 minutes of meeting with you for our preapproval, I knew in my mind and in my gut that you are one of the good guys.

You were honest, genuine, informative, and sincerely interested in us as people…as a family and in our future.

We are a nonconventional family, and not once did you pry by asking unnecessary questions, like others before you. We felt respected and important even though we are not millionaires.

You made the scariest part of home-buying enjoyable, and we left feeling confident in ourselves and in our future, all thanks to you.

I am sure that all days are not good ones and that singing the praises of your mortgage agent isn’t always the first thing on a buyer’s mind. However, I was raised to show gratitude where it is due, and you, sir, have our most profound gratitude and appreciation for what you have helped us to do — find our home.

I hope you continue to impact people’s lives as you did ours, and may all you do return to you tenfold in the future.

“At North Shore Bank we have a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on our clients’ days, and this is a great example of that,” vice president and consumer lending manager Chris Boland said. “Well done, Eric!” •••

Promotions for June 2018
The following employees were promoted in June:

• Amanda Crain was promoted from Teller to Teller Supervisor at Regency.
• Kathleen Veu was promoted from Teller to Video Center Teller.
• Chelsey Weasler was promoted from Customer Assistance Representative to Senior Customer Assistance Representative.

Leave a comment to congratulate them!

New Hires for July 12
It’s always exciting to add new members to our team. Here are some of the fresh faces at North Shore Bank.

Debit card and ATM processing manager Ericka Juskiewicz was born in Kittery, Maine, moved to Atlanta at age 4, and relocated to Milwaukee in 2014 — “so I speak with a Southern accent at times,” she says. Ericka has been in the credit and debit card processing industry for over 26 years, mainly on the merchant side. Before coming to North Shore Bank, she was vice president of product and development at Newtek Merchant Solutions. She, her husband, and their two children have a boat named Sweet Pea & Boo Plus 2 and enjoy taking it out on Lake Michigan, as well as camping. •••

Czarnecki welcomes baby son

Southridge teller Kayde Czarnecki is back from maternity leave after welcoming son Aiyden at the end of April — five and a half weeks earlier than expected! “He was five pounds, five ounces and 21 inches long,” she reports. “He spent 10 days in the NICU and is now a happy and healthy two-and-a-half-month-old!” Congratulations, Kayde! •••

North Shore Shape Up: Work your core at Corporate
A strong core is important for good balance, stability, and flexibility. Most sports and other physical activities depend on stable core muscles, so you need to keep them in shape by doing exercises that will strengthen them. Building core strength can also improve your posture and may protect you from lower back pain.

If you are looking for a fun way to get some exercise in your day without traveling to a gym, join customer assistance specialist (and long-distance runner) Sara Carter for a great 30-minute exercise class focusing on core strength and Pilates. Sara has over 10 years of experience in exercise training. Classes will be held in the Lower Level Lounge at 5:30 p.m. on the following days:

• Thursday, July 12
• Wednesday, July 18
• Tuesday, July 24

The class schedule will be updated monthly.

Cost is only $5 per class, with payment to be made at the session. All you need is comfy clothes and an exercise attitude. It’s as simple as that. Please email Sara at scarter@northshorebank.com if you plan to attend. •••

Upcoming Events
The 2018 Racine County Fair takes place Wednesday, July 25, through Sunday, July 29. North Shore Bank is a proud sponsor of this great family event. More upcoming events here.

Internal Job Postings •••

• Universal Banker, Bayshore, full time, 40 hours/week. Pay grade: N03. Referral bonus: $400. Internal closing date: TODAY.
• Personal Banker, Wauwatosa, full time, 40 hours/week. Pay grade: N05. Referral bonus: $500. Internal closing date: July 13.
• Teller, Fox Point, part time, 20 hours/week. Pay grade: N02. Referral bonus: $300. Internal closing date: July 13.
• Teller, Menasha, full time, 40 hours/week. Pay grade: N02. Referral bonus: $300. Internal closing date: July 13.
• Consumer Credit Adjustor, Corporate, full time, 40 hours/week. Pay grade: N17. Referral bonus: $500. Internal closing date: July 18.
• Customer Assistance Rep, Corporate, full time, 40 hours/week. Pay grade: N12. 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!