10 Years
Phyllis DePaul
Teller
Phyllis is celebrating 10 years as a Teller at Maspeth Federal, but her banking career spans nearly 40 years across Capital One, North Fork Bank and Reliance Bank. “I wish I had come here a lot sooner, maybe 20–25 years ago!” says Phyllis, citing the low-stress work atmosphere. “There’s more community here. It’s more personal. You know everyone here.” With such a long career in banking, what is she most proud of? “The customer service that the whole team and I deliver is something I think is outstanding delivering on that high level. You see your customers all the time, so we can even anticipate what they’re going to need.” As to her biggest influence, Phyllis names Cathy Oelkers, who oversaw retail when Phyllis was first hired at the Main Office. “She was kind to me. She kept her promise to give me a full-time position in Fresh Meadows. She would always say to me, ‘I didn’t forget about you, Phyllis! Don’t worry!’” When Cathy called her one day to say she got the position, Phyllis started just two days after Christmas Day. “I was just so very happy. She was just wonderful to me. She was a dynamo.” Patience has paid off for Phyllis, and she encourages younger employees to give everything a chance. “Things have a way of working even when you don’t think they will.” She also reflects on the relationships that are forged at MFS. “You see people come and go, and they always come back to visit. Especially young kids, they go and get their education, their career. And they come back. They don’t forget us.” She has also seen many former bank colleagues join the MFS community. “A lot of people come in from my old banks that have closed. They either come as customers or new coworkers. There were even young kids in college and that have grown up, 35 years later. They come in and I still see their parents coming in—banking is very generational.” While Phyllis enjoys the comfort and familiarity of MFS, she likes to indulge her sense of creativity and curiosity in her free time by going to museums, cooking, and watching mysteries ranging from Swedish films to Masterpiece Theater. “I’m looking forward to retiring, although I love this job and I love coming here every day.”
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online