How you can reduce clutter and save time with Online Banking

Written by Susan Doyle, vice president of branch operations at North Shore Bank

Smartphones, laptops and tablets are taking over. In a world centered around technology, it can still be intimidating to determine how to transition to paperless banking.

More and more people are opting to stop receiving paper bank statements each month for a variety of reasons — to help the environment, reduce clutter, save time and more.

Additionally, more people are choosing to pay bills through online, mobile and electronic transfers.

What exactly are the benefits of paperless banking? First of all, if your house (or family) is prone to clutter, it will save you from mysterious paper piles building up. It also helps the environment, protects you from identity theft caused by lost or stolen mail and makes paying your bills almost instant. Saving electronic statements doesn’t take up any physical space and can be stored in very large quantities on a computer, flash drive or CD-ROM.

Read this complete post on the Brookfield Patch.

North Shore Bank Presents KidsFest & Baby Expo 2012: Mascot Parade (Video)

We had a great time at this year’s KidsFest & Baby Expo! Check out video from their mascot parade:

Join us for North Shore Bank’s Community Shredding Day!

You are invited to bring personal documents in for free, secure shredding on May 5th

Do some organizing and sift through that old filing cabinet by Saturday, May 5th. Then, stop by any North Shore Bank branch between 9:00am and noon to safely dispose of old documents.

Proper disposal of documents containing personal information is a helpful step in protecting yourself from identity fraud. To find the location nearest to you, visit shredit.northshorebank.com.

If you have a larger amount to shred, please visit one of the branch locations with on-site large mobile shredders. Each person will be allowed to shred up to two boxes of materials.

Wondering what to keep and what to toss?

Here are some basic guidelines to help you know how long to retain information:

• Bank statements: Destroy after one year, unless you need them for tax purposes.
• Utility bills: Throw out unless you need them for tax purposes.
• Tax records: Most experts recommend destroying these after six years.
• Insurance records: Keep for the life of your policy.
• Life documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, diplomas, divorce decrees and military records): Store in a safe deposit box indefinitely.
• Homeowner records (deed and title to your house): Do not throw away.
• Life and estate-planning documents: Keep the most current copy.

Simplify and De-Clutter

Visit shredit.northshorebank.com for the most up-to-date information and shredding truck locations for North Shore Bank’s free Community Shredding Day.

Choosing a commercial banker.

Brian Gold, V.P. Commercial Lending, bgold@northshorebank.com

It goes without saying that commercial lending has changed over the past two to three years. Regulation changes, loan losses, and mergers and acquisitions have altered the way banks underwrite all loans. Due to these changes, you may find yourself considering a change in your banking relationship as well.

I want to share an article by Janet Jones Kendall entitled “How to choose a commercial banker” that ran in the Business Journal with you. I found the characteristics to look for in a banker, including one who shows “professionalism, expertise, and service,” to be right on the mark. Today, there is very little difference in the products and services from one bank to another, so the difference maker is often the individual banker and the quality of service they provide.

Yes, service is a concept that gets tossed around all the time. But what does it really mean?  To me, service is being responsive to requests, returning phone calls and emails quickly, asking good questions, being proactive with ideas, and taking the time to understand the uniqueness of each business customer. Ultimately, you have to trust that your banker knows you, your business, and your needs, and is able to deliver solutions quickly.

The only thing I’d add to what Janet has offered is the importance of good communication between you and your banker. Your relationship with your banker should mean a free flow of information and ideas.

Open communication means sharing both good news and bad news early on and throughout your relationship. The more your banker knows about what’s going on, the more they will be able to help you.

Ultimately, the relationship between a company and its banker is a vital one as both rely on each other for success and growth. Please consider North Shore Bank as a partner who you can count on to work with you to grow your business.

Dash For Cash Raises $1,733 to Help Those with Autism

The Green Bay Gamblers and North Shore Bank teamed up to raise $1,733.00 for the Autism Society of Wisconsin during the annual“Dash for Cash” on January 13.

 

Eight lucky contestants stuffed their pockets full of dollar bills. The money collected was matched by North Shore Bank and donated to the nonprofit organization that is committed to providing awareness and support for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Bank also donates $5 to the organization for every goal the Gamblers score at home this season. We are also pleased to have sponsored the “Caps for Cancer Toss”  this year where over 17,000 hats were collected and donated to Heavenly Hats, a non-profit group that donates headwear to cancer patients.