Press

Credit Union of Southern California shows its appreciation for members

ANAHEIM HILLS, CA (March 27, 2019) — Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal), through its new WHAM (Whenever, However Appreciate Members) program, showed gratitude for its members—by giving away $90,000 in gifts of appreciation in 2018.

The WHAM program officially started in February 2018. As part of the program, each of Anaheim Hills, CA-based credit union’s 17 branches get a monthly sum of funds they can use however they want to show appreciation or wow members.

Among the WHAM gifts presented include a member who was in a recovery center, and whose only way to communicate with his sons was via cell phone. When the Costa Mesa branch staff found out the family’s cell phones were going to be turned off because they couldn’t afford to catch up on the bills, the branch made the decision to “WHAM” the family by paying their bill. Another member, who had recently given birth to her first girl, received not only a gift for the new baby but also for her two older boys. One long-term member who was in a car accident received a gift to lift her spirits during her recovery.

“The WHAM program is a wonderful way to really find the ‘story behind our members’ faces’, connect with them, and make a difference in their lives,” said CU So Cal Vice President, Business & Talent Development Melissa Manning.

In 2019, the CU SoCal Helping Hands non-profit charity is providing an extra $1,000 per branch to “Mega WHAM” one member of its choosing. So far, the credit union is on track to provide members with $116,000 in WHAM gifts (and that’s including the “Mega WHAM” items) this year.

Jennifer Ojeda

Susan Geli

About Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal)

Founded in 1954 as Whittier Area Schools Federal Credit Union, CU SoCal is a credit union open to those who live, work, worship, or attend school in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. CU SoCal has a superior five-star financial rating from BauerFinancial, holds more than $2 billion in assets, and serves more than 130,000 Members. For more information, visit CUSoCal.org.