As Union Bank Place employees finished moving in and began welcoming the community to their new digs in August, we were fortunate enough to talk with a former employee of the bank that originally occupied the building as she recalled another moving day in 1976.

Carolyn Schuerman, a loyal UBT customer, avid UBT Journey program participant, and dedicated former National Bank of Commerce (NBC) employee, was working at NBC in 1976 when the new building was finished. We took her down to Union Bank Place, settled her in with some refreshing iced tea from Stories Coffee Co., and got her reaction to our newest location as she recalled some favorite NBC memories and reflected on community banks.

UBT: Carolyn, you worked for National Bank of Commerce, or NBC — the original builder of this building — for 28 years, is that correct?



Schuerman: Yes, I started in June of 1972 in the old NBC building, filing checks, and I moved into customer service and bookkeeping. I worked in so many different areas… domestic collections, marketing. Those jobs were different than they would be now. I always liked working with people — and problem solving — the best. I worked there as long as it was NBC. I retired so my husband and I could travel, but then I came back and covered vacations. I missed the employees, and I really missed the customers.

UBT: So, it’s President’s Day weekend 1976. The new NBC building is finished at the corner of 13th and O St., right where we are, and the building is ready for the bank staff to move in. But you hadn’t seen the interior yet?



Schuerman: Not really, no. They were so busy building it. They were so many concrete pilings, and so much noise! It felt and sounded as if they were digging to China — the whole downtown would shake!

UBT: Take us back to the excitement of that day. What was it like?



Schuerman: Anticipation! Everyone had to be present, they were very clear about that, but we were all so excited. My mother was having minor surgery that day, and my daughter took her so I could be part of the move.

I remember so distinctly that they wanted us to carry something from our desks that we had worked with. I can’t even remember what I carried. They showed us our departments — mine was downstairs, in customer service and bookkeeping — and they photographed us, then we had a party! It was really wonderful.

UBT: I have this image of you in my head,



Schuerman: Oh, you poor dear.

UBT: …and you’re carrying your typewriter, or box of work items, down the street from your temporary home in the old Sears building. You entered this beautiful, new, Nebraska-shaped building. What was your first impression of the interior?



Schuerman: Wow, wow, wow! The big thing was the Ficus tree — here was this big tree in the lobby! You know the building was built around it, so it’s been here awhile. But it looks wonderful.

It was so open and spacious, certainly different from our temporary location. We all loved the openness. Even the mezzanine was open; there was a railing. Everything was supposed to look clean, almost stark, for impact — I wasn’t even supposed to keep a box of tissues on my desk!

UBT: Did you get to meet anyone special or famous around the time of this move?



Schuerman: I had met I.M. Pei, the architect. He was very nice. I guess at the time I did not realize his importance, you know, the buildings his firm had designed. So no, I didn’t know enough to be nervous. I just went with the flow; I wasn’t senior management or anything. I’d be a lot more nervous now, that’s for sure!

UBT: So, let me ask you: What was your impression of our space, walking in today?



Schuerman: It’s beautiful. It’s different from when we moved in, but familiar. It’s more functional, for sure, with more respect for privacy for your customers, but it’s much more public-friendly, too. Beautiful!

UBT: Did coming in here bring back any feelings of nostalgia? I noticed you got a little teary-eyed.



Schuerman: Oh, my, yes. I really enjoyed working here, and I have good memories. I’ve been wanting to get back in here, and it’s gorgeous. Coming in here brought back such feelings of warmth — those were good days, good people.

The cafeteria was on the eleventh floor; women played bridge up there. When my little granddaughter was two, her mother brought her down to have lunch with me. She jumped on the elevator, and the door closed before her mother and I could get on, taking her up to the cafeteria by herself! One of the employees scooped her up and brought her back to me; he knew she was scared. He and I became good friends. I believe that young man later went to work for Union Bank!

UBT: The original building was designed to be a gift to the community. Senior management at NBC were quoted in a 1976 Journal Star article as saying they “wanted a bank Nebraskans could be proud of.” You’ve seen the coffee shop, the small business hub, the community room, and all this great space. How do you think we did in reclaiming this space for the community after all these years?



Schuerman: You did a beautiful job. It is a gift back to the community again, such a great gift, and so inviting. This is a wonderful place to meet, to people watch. I think it’s gorgeous. I wonder what the (original) architects would think about it.

UBT: I know you were so very loyal to NBC, another great community bank. In your opinion, as someone who had a long career in banking, what sets community banks apart from larger banks?



Schuerman: It’s definitely the connection to the community. Things are different when banks are family-owned, and the owners live in the area. They care about reinvesting in the community, like this building.

UBT: Do you see similarities between UBT and NBC?



Schuerman: Oh, I’ve been treated so well by both! NBC cared about their employees, so does UBT — many of my former co-workers came to work here. Making the community better, taking care of their customers — yes, there’s similarities.

I started banking with UBT such a long time ago. One of your customers was a good friend of ours, and he was always bragging about UBT, how great the service and the interest was. We started going on those good Union Bank trips with them, back in the travel days. I kept moving more and more over here. I had worked with a gal at NBC who worked here, and she was wonderful, she was my banker for a long time. I like a local bank; they take care of you.

UBT: Carolyn, I love your story of your big move into the new space. I just want to thank you for sharing it with us today. Clearly it’s something that made an impression on you.



Schuerman: You’re welcome. Thanks for asking me to tell it. NBC was so good to me, and I have so many memories.