Two employees at Orange County's Credit Union will be cruising Southern California's famous freeways
Lynda Hill, the senior vice president of retail services for Orange County's CU, said Margo Wassenaar, an information systems
"It is quite an innovative incentive," said Hill. "It shows our commitment to recognizing and rewarding our associates."
Last year marked Orange County's CU's first annual "Members First Awards" competition. Each month during 2002,
Both managers and peers submit nominations for the monthly awards. Hill said this demonstrates that "everyone realizes how
Each month, the CU chooses one winner from the service side (people who deal directly with members at branches or in the call
The two monthly winners each receive a $250 cash reward, and then are in the running for the respective annual awards.
The competition was the brainchild of Hill and two other senior officers in the CU. She said the trio developed the idea based on
"They told us how important it is to do business at a financial institution where they are treated like a human being, not like a
According to Hill, Orange County's CU is "very pleased" with the program so far. She said the credit union saw a measurable
The credit union is sweetening the pot further in 2003-the grand prize will be two first class tickets to Hawaii, hotel
"There is a lot of enthusiasm among the associates themselves. Many people are talking about that trip to Hawaii," she said.