Jeanine, with the flowers she received from a much-loved customer to celebrate her retirement.

Jeanine Wielepski loves taking care of her customers. Looking back as she prepares to retire next Friday, the Brookfield Square employee says her favorite of all the changes that have taken place over her career was her promotion to personal banker — a title she still holds, 21 years later.

“I was a teller for one year and then got promoted,” she recalls. Since that time, she says, “I have met so many wonderful people, and to help them with their banking challenges is what I like to do best.”

The longtime relationships in particular bring her a lot of joy, Jeanine says.

“I have customers who come into the branch to open a checking account because they are getting married, and then they come and see me because they are purchasing a home — and lo and behold, then I see them and they’re starting a family! I am honored to help them accomplish their goals. Then I have customers who are retired and need help with tasks like balancing their checkbook, or just an ear to listen to them because they are lonely and the bank is a place they enjoy. I get to see the young, the middle-aged, and the elderly, and I enjoy all of them.”

One of her favorite memories, which she also recounted for her 20th anniversary with the bank in 2016, is of a customer who showed up at 4:59 p.m. seeking to open custodial accounts for her twin 14-year-old sons. Jeanine’s welcoming attitude, despite it being the official end of the workday, prompted the customer to write a letter to chairman and CEO Jim McKenna, who made a personal visit to Jeanine’s desk to thank her and compliment her service.

“Those twins are now adults and have their accounts here at North Shore Bank, and I still take care of them when they are in need,” she says. “And from that day forward, Mr. McKenna has been a friend and a great mentor to me. Working for North Shore Bank has been a privilege and has given me more than I could have asked for — confidence, knowledge, and encouragement.”

What’s funny, she notes, is that she never planned to feel so strongly about banking.

“When I started this job, it was just to make money, but as time went by, it became my career,” she says. “I had a few jobs before banking, and none of them gave me such satisfaction as being a personal banker at North Shore Bank. When I see new employees starting their adventures with us, I always tell them they have made a great decision to work here.”

Jeanine’s own mentors include former Sussex branch manager Candy Walecki (“She got me to believe in myself and to have enough confidence to perform this job. She was also a great listener when I needed someone to listen”), her former Brookfield Square manager Margie Brusa (“She believed in me when I took on the challenge of becoming a consumer loan officer”), and VP and security/payments manager Lyneen Fischer (“She has always believed in me and has been a great friend and I will miss the little talks we have had over the years”).

“When I first came to North Shore Bank from the Maritime acquisition, I was left with just keys and codes, so I relied heavily on Jeanine,” Margie remembers. “Even though she wasn’t asked to be my ‘sponsor,’ she made me feel welcomed and showed me the ropes. As everyone knows, Jeanine has a following of customers who are special to her, and she made a point to introduce them to me. Everything she does comes from a good place — her heart. Her desire to help everyone is the reason she is so well liked and how she has created so many lasting relationships with our customers.”

As a retiree, Jeanine plans to travel around the U.S. with her husband, Duane, and spend time with their nine grandchildren. “I will not miss when the snow flies and I don’t have to drive in it!” she says.

While responding to an email from Shorelines about her retirement, Jeanine happened to be visited by a customer who dropped off a bouquet of flowers in honor of her retirement.

“I have taken care of this customer since I started here,” she says. “About 10 years ago, they moved to Mississippi, and I missed them dearly. And about five years ago, they moved back and came to North Shore Bank to reopen their accounts. She said they had such a wonderful relationship here and wanted to return to the same bank, and she was so happy that I was here to greet them again. It just warms my heart to think that customers come back to the same branch and that I could assist them again.

“Please know that each and every employee here at North Shore Bank has a place in my heart and I will never forget you,” Jeanine adds. “I have enjoyed taking care of retirees, and now I will be joining them on my own adventure!”