Calm, witty Fleischman hasn’t looked back in 35 years
Unlike some longtime employees, Mary Fleischman doesn’t think her younger self would be surprised to learn she’s celebrating 35 years with the bank this month. She had to deal with multiple major life emergencies in the months and years after North Shore acquired her original employer, Sunrise Savings & Loan, in 1988 — and the company stood by her through each one.

In 1996, Mary moved from the Pulaski branch to Corporate, where she joined and eventually led the closing team in consumer mortgages. She shifted into commercial loans in 2007. In 2017, VP loan operations Nicole Daniels approached her about being part of the planned new Treasury Solutions department. “She thought I would be a great fit, and it sounded like a great way to expand my overall commercial banking experience, so I said yes,” Mary says. Read more right now!

At locations new and old, El Rey has served community

Since its opening almost 20 years ago, our El Rey branch has undergone plenty of change and relocation. But as the office prepares to kick things off in its new building on Monday, one thing remains a constant: a commitment to taking the best possible care of our customers.

When the branch opened in June 2004 inside the El Rey Nana’s Market Mexican Grocery store, it was North Shore Bank’s 40th location. Putting a full-service branch inside the supermarket was a big moment in a deliberate, ongoing effort to serve customers from the growing Latino demographic. Read all about it!

Throwback Thursday: “Growing With Kenosha”

When we first put down roots in the city in 1999, our theme to promote the opening of the new branch was “Growing With Kenosha.” In keeping with that theme, we asked Boy Scouts Troop 436 to plant a tree outside the newly constructed Kenosha Central office. Our weeklong celebration featured plenty of other activities and giveaways as well, including free seed packets, eye checkups and blood pressure screenings, face painting, magic, and balloon animals (and free geraniums, naturally). And of course, with the addition of the Kenosha Main and Kenosha South branches since then, North Shore Bank has continued to grow with Kenosha and serve the community. •••

Video tellers celebrate decade of service

In 2013, North Shore Bank rolled out a revolutionary new service that allowed us to expand our hours and serve more customers. And it has been an unequivocal success: Last Saturday, our Video Teller department celebrated a decade of fulfilling those goals with dinner at Milwaukee’s Fujiyama sushi and hibachi restaurant.

“The night was planned to give thanks to an amazing team,” said Brookfield Square area manager AVP Maria Baumer. “In ten years, the team has grown to servie 25 branch drive-ups with 45 ITM machines in place. The video tellers assist our customers seven days, 70 hours a week — that is dedication!”

Besides watching the hibachi chefs do their spectacular work, the video tellers got to hear messages they’d written for each other on “Thank a Banker” cards at dinner. 02524

“We all wrote out cards for each other, and I selected a few for each person and read them out, to show how thankful we are for each other and what an amazing team we have,” video teller manager Rodney Whiteside said.

He added: “The department has grown so much. I started at North Shore Bank five years ago at the Kenosha Festival location, which hosted one of the first ITMs. Some of the staff from back then are still in the department, and it’s nice seeing their faces and having that long of a relationship. This was just the first decade of having video tellers, and it has opened up so much opportunity for our customers. We are looking forward to the next several decades!” •••

Taking extra care will help prevent mail fraud
North Shore Bank’s CrimeBusters for January 2023 are: cash flow coordinator Denise Dionisio, customer care rep Dawn Foster, debit card/ATM processing specialist Kelly LaBonte, senior checking services rep Renee Machado, McHenry area manager Dee Patel, Kenosha South universal banker Kim Roberts, and senior customer assistance rep Lori Zaleski.

Security Saves: This Month’s Highlights
A man called posing to be our customer and was looking to get account balance information. The caller was able to verify the customer’s account number, date of birth, name, and address. But he was unable to verify the last four digits of the customer’s Social Security number and other out-of-pocket verification questions. Our CrimeBusters notified Security about the suspicious call. Security was able to speak with the joint owner of the account, who confirmed that her husband was not calling North Shore Bank. Security was able to uncover that the fraudster knew some of our customer’s identifying information because the customer had a check stolen out of the mail.

Security says: As many of you have seen and heard on the news lately, mail theft is a growing epidemic across the nation. Mail thieves will target mail drops in quiet residential areas or even in front of the local post office or police station. Thieves look for personal and business checks that can be counterfeited or check-washed to then deposit.

Technology today means bill payments, birthday money and other cash gifts, and charitable donations can all be sent safely and securely online. For customers who still prefer to use checks, suggest that they sign up for Online Banking and alerts as a way to keep a closer eye on their account. And here are some helpful tips to keep in mind and to pass along to customers to protect them from mail theft:

• Pick up mail promptly. Try not to leave letters or packages in your mailbox or at your door for long periods of time.
• Deposit mail close to pickup time. Try to drop mail in the box just before the scheduled pickup time. And whenever possible, take your mail inside the post office for drop off.
• Inquire about overdue mail. If a check, credit card, or other valuable mail that you’re expecting seems to be late, contact the sender right away.
• Don’t send cash.
• Use electronic payment methods — such as ACH or Bill Pay — to pay bills.
• Arrange prompt pickup. If you are expecting a package, see if a neighbor can grab it so it is not sitting out all day.
• Use Hold for Pickup. When possible, have the postal or delivery service keep valuable packages for you to pick up, so you can ensure they stay safe. (This is also a smart option when you will be out of town for an extended period.)
• Request signature confirmation. When sending something important, consider using Signature Confirmation for the intended recipient.
• Monitor your accounts via Online Banking or Mobile Banking.

Find more useful information on these sites:

AARP: Tips to avoid mail theft and check fraud
CNBC: Criminals use Telegram to recruit ‘walkers’ as America’s big banks see an 84% increase in check fraud
U.S. Postal Inspection Service: Mail theft

As always, trust your instincts! If something feels off, contact Security immediately for guidance on how to proceed.

Started by former security officer Peggy Theisen in 2013, the CrimeBuster Awards recognize bank employees who identify security risks and take action to protect North Shore Bank and our customers. •••

Experts can help with choice to rent or own

With our Mortgage Days deals going on through the end of the month, it’s a great time to remind customers that it’s worth visiting with one of our mortgage professionals whether they want to buy a home or plan to rent for the foreseeable future.

North Shore Bank recently released this short video explaining that each option has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, when you purchase a home, you have the opportunity to build equity in it, and ultimately either own it outright or turn a profit selling it. You may also be able to take helpful tax deductions each April. Renting, however, means you aren’t responsible for repairs and maintenance to the property, and it allows you more flexibility — which can be very important if there’s a good chance you’ll move.

Consumer lending manager VP Mike Murphy notes that because everyone’s situation is unique, some customers who believe renting is the more sensible option might actually benefit from buying. Renters concerned about costs should know they might be able to get into a home with as little as $1,000 of their own money, and that their lender may offer rate options that would make a mortgage payment more affordable.

Renters, he adds, should remember that they actually are already paying a mortgage — just not their own. By paying rent, you help your landlord build equity rather than yourself.

“Renters should sit down with a mortgage loan officer who can explain the actual costs and benefits of homebuying, regardless of what they have heard in the media,” Mike says. “Just as people should let a doctor diagnose their illnesses, they should also let a mortgage expert advise them on all the facets of home ownership.” •••

Service Anniversaries for February 2023
The following employees celebrate a milestone anniversary with North Shore Bank this month.

35 years
Mary Fleischman, Treasury Solutions and Commercial Loan Specialist — read more here!

25 years
Kelly Kading, Personal Banker, Northland — read more here!

20 years
Cheryl Lang, Commercial Loan Servicing Manager

10 years
Sara Swosinski, Branch Manager, New Berlin

5 years
Pavel Petkov, Teller, Sturgeon Bay East

Leave a comment to congratulate them!

New Hires for February 16
It’s always exciting to add new members to our team. Here are some of the fresh faces at North Shore Bank.

North End universal banker Anika Khan grew up in New Berlin and previously worked as an associate banker at JPMorgan Chase Bank. She has a passion for drawing and painting. “One of my paintings was displayed at the Milwaukee Art Museum for winning my school’s art fair,” she says. Anika also loves spending quality time with her friends and family. •••

Managers celebrate Bozek’s 50th with gifts, surprises

Last week, branch managers surprised South region district manager Brian Bozek for his 50th birthday, showering him with some nice presents and a few gag gifts as well.

“Mary Benz emailed the group about his birthday, but we knew it would be difficult to gather in one place to surprise him,” Cudahy branch manager Kathleen White said. “Since he’d scheduled his first in-person check-in for the day at Cudahy, we planned the surprise for here.”

Along with balloons and cupcakes, branch managers got him a travel mug for the coffee he’s frequently seen drinking, some of his favorite beer (Yuengling) and an accompanying stein glass engraved with the year, and a bottle of Champagne bearing the message “Happy Birthday, Old Man! Enjoy This Without Breaking a Hip.” The gag gifts included adult diapers, denture adhesive, reading glasses and a magnifying glass, ointments for arthritis and muscle pain relief, and a traffic cone alerting everyone of his age.

“I tend to keep my birthday on the down-low, but my district was ready for me,” Brian said. “Kathleen did an amazing job decorating the office I use, and the gifts made me laugh out loud. Most — not all — of the them will be put to use!”

The branch managers who helped organize the surprise and gifts were Kathleen, Mary, Lisa Brooks, Robin Callis, Julie Goebel, Danielle Hansen, Tim Klare, Jason Mermolia, Dee Patel, and Jonathan White.

“I really should not have been surprised they did this,” Brian said. “When I had my hip replacement in August, they sent me balloons, a get well card, and a stuffed beagle, because I have a Beagle and they know I love dogs. I am a very lucky person to be a part of this district, working with this super-talented and fun-loving group of individuals. They are the best!” •••