Popular with employees: Somerset's "Lunch with the President" program gives each employee the opportunity to participate at least once a year.

Popular with employees: Employees get their birthdays off and the CEO hosts monthly birthday lunches.

Many of the bank's policies bubbled up through meetings of the Employee Excellence Council, a group of roughly 50 volunteers — from tellers to senior vice presidents — that offers input on benefits, working conditions and anything else that comes to mind.

An employee committee that goes by the name CHEER has one mission: make the $1.5 billion-asset Boiling Springs Savings Bank a fun place to work.

Popular with employees: Each summer the bank sponsors a Thursday afternoon outdoor concert series called Sonic Lunch in its hometown of Ann Arbor.

Popular with employees: Central employees can buy up to three extra vacation days per year and get reimbursed if they fail to use them.

Location: Mount Dora, Fla.

Popular with employees: Employees get an extra day off as a reward for the bank's inclusion in American Banker Magazine's Top 200 Community Banks ranking. It has been on the list for more than five years.

Popular with employees: On-site fitness classes, including hula, Zumba and yoga, take place at various times throughout the day.

Popular with employees: At the close of each quarter, FirstCapital hosts a catered breakfast, with prizes for exemplary accomplishments.

Popular with employees: Surprise breakfasts are a hit.

Popular with employees: Jeans are acceptable office attire any day of the week.

Popular with employees: Ice cream is provided to employees on a hot summer day, thanks to the bank's Cheer Committee.

Some might question the payoff for lavish parties, fitness centers and even career-development programs. But a growing body of academic evidence suggests that there is a link between employee happiness and bottom-line results.

The thriving Colorado institution keeps its employees happy — and minimizes turnover — by offering one of the industry's most generous retirement packages.

Popular with employees: On the first Thursday of June, July and August, employees enjoy drinks and games at a happy hour on the roof of the bank's headquarters.

Popular with employees: First National sponsors an annual communitywide Father-Daughter Date Night. Young women dress up and share the night with their fathers or grandfathers.

Popular with employees: Full benefits are extended to all employees who work more than 20 hours a week.

Popular with employees: An outdoor walking path that circles the office park is lined with scenic views.

Community service initiative: Employees fund and lead a grant-giving foundation, and CoBiz matches their contributions. Recipients are determined through an annual community involvement survey.