Deposit Services celebrates Kuik, Russell
Janet (left) and Erica (right) show off their course certificates with Kristin.
The Deposit Services team celebrated senior deposit operations specialists Janet Russell and Erica Kuik on June 3, after they each completed a major training course.
Janet completed the Manager Moments program, and Erica finished the Aspire program. Both completed the programs in 2020, but this was a chance to recognize their achievement as a team.
“COVID added some challenges for them, as in-person classes and job shadows were gradually canceled,” deposit services supervisor Kristin Hoch said. “However, Janet and Erica endured and succeeded nonetheless. Their determination and hard work paid off.” •••
Bill Pay, other services simplify managing your money
Watch a video about the benefits of Bill Pay here.
Bills are never fun, so at the very least, they should be easy. Our free online Bill Pay service is available to anyone with a North Shore Bank checking account. You can pay anyone with it, without the hassle of writing a check, and the Bill Discovery feature makes it simple and fast to set up all your routine bills to be paid.
Online and Mobile Banking customers can also get eBills and eStatements, and send and receive money quickly using Zelle. If you haven’t checked out all of these services that can simplify your financial life, find out more now. •••
Get Dad a gift card and pay no purchase fee in June
Hunting for a Father’s Day present? Remember, there is no purchase fee on North Shore Bank gift cards through June 30. Get a card in any amount you like, and Dad — or whoever — can use it wherever credit cards are accepted. Give yourself a break, and give your father something he’ll definitely find a use for. Gift cards are available at every branch. More info here. •••
Customers can earn up to $500 with checking referrals
Through June, North Shore Bank is giving $50 to customers for each new checking account opened by a friend or family member they refer — up to 10 total, for a total of $500.
Although bank employees are not eligible for the promotion, you can direct customers to northshorebank.com/TAF. Once they enter their contact info and a friend’s, North Shore Bank will send an email to the friend about the benefits of a new checking account. For each referred friend who opens a checking account by June 30, the referrer will receive $50. •••
Take a minute, open yourself to new possibilities
To grow mindfully, we must expand our sense of what is possible. Something that worked for us a year ago may not work for us tomorrow. Be careful of clinging to “the way we’ve always done it.”
Try this meditation for one minute every day, or longer if you want to:
I WATCH FOR THOUGHTS OF DOUBT AND LIMITATION. I open my mind to all possibilities and do not confine myself to narrow understandings.
This meditation was adapted from A Mindful Day: 365 Ways to Live Life With Peace, Clarity, and an Open Heart, by David Dillard-Wright. How did it go for you? Share your thoughts and feelings in Shorelines and you’ll be entered to win a copy of the book!
If you’d like a daily email reminder to do one minute of mindfulness, email us with the subject “Mindfulness reminder.” —Pat Ingelse, AVP and PMP •••
Service Anniversaries for June 2021
The following employees celebrate a milestone anniversary with North Shore Bank this month.
40 years
Becky Kolstad, Assistant Vice President and Area Branch Manager
30 years
Gina Bontempo, Vice President, Consumer/Mortgage Underwriting Manager
25 years
Cheryl Fregoso, Human Resources Representative
15 years
Cristen Baumann, District Manager
10 years
Chris Boland, Vice President, Consumer Lending Manager
5 years
Kaitlin Czarnecki, Lending Quality Control Specialist
Kate Madderom, Debit Card/Network/Processing Specialist
Kenya Owens, Assistant Branch Manager, Shorewood
Michael Pronold, Consumer Real Estate Loan Originator
Leave a comment to congratulate them!
New Hires for June 10
It’s always exciting to add new members to our team. Here are some of the fresh faces at North Shore Bank.
Kenosha South universal banker Magaly Mares is from Mexico and was raised in Waukegan, Illinois. She previously worked at PLS Financial as an assistant manager. “I love spending time with my family,” she says, adding that she loves scary movies too. “I’m very excited about the new Conjuring movie.”
West Allis teller Robert Petroff is from Milwaukee and previously worked at Beer Capitol Distributing as a merchandiser. He collects and plays with miniatures. “I’ve been doing it for approximately three years, on and off,” he says. “I just got into Warhammer 40,000 because a friend that owns a game store got in a lot of product, and he got into it and strong-armed me into learning how to play.” •••
Ramirez welcomes twin girls
The twins, looking sharp.
Regency teller supervisor Sonya Ramirez is back at work after having twin girls in March. Sophia was born at 5 pounds, 6 ounces, and Abigail was 4 pounds, 11 ounces. Sonya says she and dad Alex are hanging in there! Earlier this year, her North Shore Bank colleagues celebrated the babies’ imminent arrival with a drive-up baby shower. Congratulations, Sonya! •••
Sugar intake affects your mental health as well
We all know sugar isn’t good for our weight and has other negative effects on the body. What’s less well known is that eating sugar affects our mental health too. As UMR’s Healthy You magazine explains, research shows a link between sugar and depression and anxiety.
Spikes and drops in blood sugar can also cause irritability and mood swings, and elevated sugar levels cause inflammation, which is linked to depression. You can read more about sugar’s impact on our mental health — and what to do about it — here. •••
Free sandwiches, a fundraiser, and Juneteenth
Next Thursday, June 17, the Buddha’s BBQ food truck will be parked at our Germantown branch, and visitors will get a free sandwich (while supplies last) when they make a donation to Habitat for Humanity of Washington and Dodge Counties. Along with monetary contributions, the most-needed items include XL work gloves, measuring tapes, and utility knives. More information here.
The Racine Neighborhood Watch will hold the 10th annual Take a Byte Out of Crime fundraiser from Friday, June 18, through Friday, June 25. You can see what’s up for auction from the 18th to the 20th, bid online from the 21st to the 25th, and take part in the live online auction on the 25th at 7 p.m. The mission of the watch is to assist residents in creating safe, friendly, and attractive neighborhoods throughout the Racine community. More information here.
Our MLK Drive branch will celebrate Juneteenth on Saturday, June 19, by handing out carnations and cookies to customers and members of the community who stop in to say hi, while supplies last. The holiday marks the emancipation of American slaves; on June 19, 1865, the Union Army proclaimed the end of slavery in Texas, the most remote of the Southern states. More information here. •••