Nancy at Jackson Park this holiday season.

When Milwaukee’s Eagle Knitting Mills went out of business in 1992, Nancy Kaye needed a new job.

“The government gave us a grant to retrain ourselves,” recalls Nancy, who worked for the garment maker as a fabric inspector. “I did an eight-week teller training course and then applied at Layton State Bank and Badger Bank.”

Badger Bank — which North Shore Bank would acquire in 1995 — hired her that year. Nancy would briefly return to Eagle Knitting after six months, but when the company shut down again in 1993, her manager at Badger welcomed her back. Ever since, her home has been the Jackson Park branch, where she’s worked as both teller supervisor and teller (her current title).

Nancy circa 1993, when her banking career began in earnest. Highlights of the year for her included the movies Mrs. Doubtfire (“Loved Robin Williams!”) and Schindler’s List, and Whitney Houston’s cover of “I Will Always Love You.”
“That is a special song for me and my husband,” she says, noting that she’s also a big Elvis fan. “He has his own room at my house — I kid you not!”

Actually, “home base” might be the more accurate way to put it now. Five years ago, Nancy spent three days a week traveling to local senior living facilities to provide basic banking services to residents. Now, she works two days a week visiting two senior centers. Her customers there can no longer get to our branches easily and prefer taking care of their banking needs in person, rather than online.

She’s been doing it for 12 years. “I enjoy the customer interaction,” she says of her visits. “I’ve gotten to meet new people through the years and have stayed friends with customers from the past.”

“For the past 25 years, customers have been stopping by Jackson Park to see Nancy even when they didn’t have banking business,” says VP and customer assistance manager Colleen Egan, one of her former managers. “Like all of us, they just wanted to visit with Nancy! She’s always delightful.”

Her current supervisor, Josephina Reyes, agrees. “She puts a smile on everyone’s face and is always so energetic. Nancy is a pleasure to be around, always making the work environment fun.”

Nancy’s job requires packing up materials and toting them to the senior living facilities. That’s not always fun or easy, thanks to Wisconsin’s winters. But it is satisfying, and she is glad to do it.

“Working here has taught me to respect people and make sure you represent the bank with great customer service,” she says. “You also have to like your job — I guess I do!”

“Nancy is one of the loveliest people,” says checking service manager Erica Johnson, who was her first supervisor and a mentor to her. “She always gives you the positive in every situation; you always feel good after spending time with her. I love her, my children love her, and I know our customers love her. We are blessed to have her!”