Long-time career leads to extended family for 30-year Bank employee

Nicole Young

Nicole Young

At the suggestion of her mother-in-law who worked for Bank of Marin, Nicole Young applied for a teller position in 1993. Little did she know that she was embarking on a journey that would lead her on a path to a successful banking career and, in the process, gaining an extended family. This year, Nicole celebrates 30 years of providing legendary service to the Bank’s customers and leadership to her team.

“I was so young when I started at the Bank and had no idea what my future held,” recalls Nicole. “Looking back, I am fortunate that it all worked out the way it did. I’m proud of the career I have built and am immensely honored to have fostered strong relationships with my customers and colleagues, all who I consider to be an extension of my family.”

Nicole credits the team’s longevity for transforming the branch into something bigger, more personal; the Northgate branch team has worked a collective 77 years for the Bank. It was this village of colleagues and customers who helped lift Nicole when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. “From my Northgate team to my customers, and the Bank’s management and leadership teams, I felt supported every step of that very difficult journey. Words will never truly express the tremendous depth of gratitude I have for everyone who constantly checked in on me then, and now.”

The Northgate branch is Nicole’s home away from home. She has supported the branch in various roles for 20 years—including the past 11 years at the helm as branch manager—and has seen it through three relocations. Most recently, she helped reopen the new, custom-designed branch in San Rafael. Ironically, her mother-in-law—who has since retired—helped open the original Northgate branch on Redwood Highway in San Rafael in 1993.

“Nicole has built more relationships than we could probably count,” says Crissy Sauter, Northgate assistant branch manager, who has worked alongside Nicole for almost a decade. “Her institutional and banking knowledge, as well as her willingness to help, make her a go-to resource for other departments and branches.”

If there is anything time has taught Nicole, it’s that there is always something new to learn. “During these past 30 years, I have welcomed digital and mobile banking, and faced a pandemic, a financial crisis, and the failures of a few banks. My personal mission to stay well informed about events affecting my customers’ financial health and educating them so they make informed decisions. I take great pride in performing legendary service every single day for my customers and my team.”