It’s not exactly a financial conversation taking place at the drive-up window.

A customer is talking about macaroni and cheese and getting her kid to eat dinner. The teller sympathizes and wishes her well as she drives away.

AMY J. CORRENTI | ROCKFORDWOMAN.COM
Lynn Wilsie is a vice president at Rock River Bank, where 28 of the 32 employees are women.

“We’re definitely a family bank,” says Lynn Wilsie, vice president of Rock River Bank. She and Vice President Beth Thacker manage the business, 2470 Eastrock Drive. Rock River Bank is part of a family of privately owned companies, which include six independent banks in Illinois and Arizona.

Like the Curves fitness center Wilsie owns in Rochelle, this is female-dominated. Of 32 employees, 28 are women. That has its advantages, Wilsie says.

“You’ll find a nurturing environment. You’ll find flexibility and general support for family responsibilities. Most of the people here are mothers or caregivers.”

Her desk is adorned with photos of her sons. Like most of her co-workers, she’s active in community organizations, volunteering in a performing arts guild.

She got interested in banking because of her father, who was president of Rock River Bank from 1987 until his death in 1994. When she was growing up, her family changed locations to follow his career. She was born in Quincy, moved to Peoria and went to high school in Winchester.

“I wasn’t an Army brat,” she says. “I was a banker brat.”

Her first job, at age 16, was working as a bank teller. She attended Western Illinois University, where she majored in communications and marketing and minored in dance theater. That’s where she met her husband.

She started working for the bank group in 1986, moving to Phoenix for a banking internship. She returned to Oregon, Ill., to be near her mother after her father died. She started working at Rock River Bank in 1995.

“They’ve seen me through two pregnancies,” she says. “I went part time for a while. They’re supportive of the fact that we have lives outside of the bank, as we should.”

Many employees work part time to meet family demands and cover the ever-expanding definition of banker’s hours. Some have worked together for more than 20 years, but that doesn’t mean that they necessarily socialize after hours.

“They’ve grown up together. They’ve raised children together. We spend more time with these people than we do with our children and spouses sometimes.”

The staff plans potlucks several times a year. They bring treats on their birthdays — and for no particular reason. The family atmosphere extends to their clients.

“Our female staffers nurture each other and nurture our customers,” Wilsie says. “Year after year, we see the same people. They’re our best referrals.”

But Wilsie wouldn’t want to work in a male-free environment. Male higher-ups have always been supportive of her career, and she’s learned from male colleagues to remove what she calls “that sensitivity chip.”

“Women can be more emotional and take personal offense, to a degree. I’ve had to have tough conversations with customers in these tough economic times. It’s business.”

The benefits go both ways. Male co-workers get to hear sage advice, such as: “It’s Valentine’s Day. Did you get your wife anything?” and “Your wife looks great. You told her that, right?”

“We’ve taught them a lot about women,” she says. “Diversity is a good thing. When it comes to problem-solving and teamwork, it’s always good to have a mix.”

As a manager, she tries to listen to employees and always find common ground. While everyone has separate
responsibilities, they help each other, disregarding chain of command or gender.

“Your job should benefit your quality of life, regardless if you’re a man or a woman.”

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