North Shore Bank Marks Centennial With Time Capsule, $50K Donation

BROOKFIELD, WI — Brookfield-based North Shore Bank on Thursday celebrated its 100-year anniversary with a time capsule and a $50,000 gift to a financial wellness program for Wisconsin residents.

The financial gift will go to ELEVATE Wisconsin, a program created by the state's Department of Financial Institutions to offer Wisconsinites interactive and unbiased help on personal finance and investing, according to a North Shore Bank news release.

The donation, which kicks off phase two of ELEVATE, is expected to support financial resources for nearly 12,000 employees in Wisconsin, the bank said.

The commemoration drew attendance from a variety of community partners and politicians, including Wisconsin's Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez, Brookfield Mayor Steven Ponto and Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow, North Shore Bank said.

The local officials and partners were invited to place a memento inside the time capsule at the celebration. The bank said it plans on positioning the capsule inside its corporate headquarters during summer renovations.

A variety of documents like an original bank ledger from 1923 plus century-old paper money and other mementos were placed in the capsule, the bank said.

A history book about Shorewood, where the bank was founded in 1923 by a group of teachers in a hardware store backroom, could be seen among the mementos placed in the time capsule.

“We are honored that so many state, regional, local and community partners joined us to celebrate our past 100 years and look forward at the next 100 years,” said Jay McKenna, president and CEO at North Shore Bank, in the release. “This year, we’re focusing on causes especially important to us such as this donation to supply thousands of Wisconsin employees with financial resources while we also show thanks to our hundreds of loyal employees, and celebrate our dedicated customers and community members.”

The mutual savings bank said it has over $2.6 billion in assets and 43 offices in Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

Other centennial celebrations are planned throughout the summer, the bank said, and have so far included random $100 giveaways to customers and a partnership with professional basketball player Pat Connaughton.