CalNational Recruiting

Everybody Loves Perks

Everyone loves employee perks.  Starbucks offers employee who works 20 or more hours a week one free pound of coffee per week. Anheuser-Busch gives all adult employees two free cases of beer each month. Most airlines offer employees and their immediate family members free airline flights. When General Motors turned the tables and offered everyone the "Employee Discount for Everyone" incentive program for one month, they posted their biggest sales month in 19 years. Everybody loves a discount.

At a bank, we cannot compete with these kinds of unique perks. We can't give our employees free money. But our employees do get perks too.  CalNational Bank offers its employees free checking accounts with no monthly service fees, no minimum balance required and free checks in selected styles.  We offer One Free IRA Account and waived fees on a number of services. In addition, we offer discounted rates on CDs, equity and mortgage loans.

As for the "unique perks" CalNational offers, there are several including Thanksgiving turkeys. Yes, that's right! CalNational is one of only 2% of companies that still gives employees Thanksgiving turkeys. (Actually, we give a gift certificate so employees can buy the turkey of their choice.) We also offer 100% paid parking. For those people who work in downtown Los Angeles, this can be a major expense. In addition, we have an on-site car wash in our corporate office, domestic partner benefits, courtyard café with discounted prices for employees, discounts on cell phone service, discounts on Microsoft software and discounts on entertainment and event tickets.

Oh, and just like Starbucks . . . every morning we offer free coffee!

Quality Health Care Insurance

Let’s face it… we all spend more time at work than any other place. We interact with our co-workers and customers more often then our families. So, it’s important to enjoy the place you work and the people you work with. It’s also important to know that the place you work, and the people you work with, appreciate you. Not just your bank account, but actually your well-being.

Fewer and fewer companies are offering quality health care insurance. According to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research Educational Trust, since 2000, health premiums have gone up 73%, while wages have grown 15%. The Kaiser Foundation survey, published each fall before workers choose policies in open-enrollment periods, is considered the definitive measure of what coverage will cost workers and employers.

As the Kaiser report was being released, Starbucks Corp. Chairman Howard Schultz said his company would spend more on health insurance for its employees this year than on raw materials needed to brew its coffee - a sign, he said, that American businesses face a healthcare crisis.

This year researchers, who collected data from 2,995 randomly selected U.S. employers, estimated that premiums for family coverage grew 9.2% from last year. The average worker's share of premiums for family health coverage was $2,713 in 2005, or about a quarter of the total cost. The average employee contribution increased by more than  $1,000 in three years.

According to the article, employers, equally hard-pressed by the rising costs,

Increasingly are dropping health coverage as an employee benefit or offering high-deductible plans that shift more cost - and more risk - to employees. Just 60% of businesses offered health insurance this year, down from 69% in 2000, the study found.

Despite the rise in health premiums, CalNational Bank has continued to offer quality health insurance at a low cost. According to the article—the average share of premiums for family health coverage is $2,713, as compared to CalNational Bank’s $861.64 cost. In three years, CalNational has not increased its health coverage premiums, while other companies have steadily increased costs by almost 40%.

Another example of how we are Making a difference in the lives of our co-workers.

Make your resolution a reality

Proclaiming a New Year's resolution is a time honored tradition. The New Year offers a fresh start to wipe the slate clean of last year's procrastinations and unfulfilled year-end promises. "I'll lose weight." "I'll pay off a debt." "I'll spend more quality time with family."

One of the most common resolutions - "Find a new job." According to recent survey by Careerbuilder.com, "More than a third of 2,200 workers polled this month plan to hunt for a new job in the New Year, and 32% said their prospects of finding one were strong."

So, why are people looking to leave their current jobs? According to the survey, 58% want to leave because they are unhappy with promotion prospects in their current jobs. 

Banking offers people an opportunity to build their careers. It's a chance for you to take control of your career. At CalNational Bank, we conducted our own poll. We found that 64% of our Branch Managers began their banking careers at Customer Service Representatives or Tellers. On average, it took 8 years to become a Branch Manager earning a salary between $71,000 - $106,000 plus incentives and 100% paid medical benefits.

We also found that between January 2005 - January 2006, 119 employees received promotions within the organization. That is more than 15% of our staff!

In addition, each year CalNational Bank honors its tenured employees with a luncheon hosted by the President and CEO. In 2005, we recognized more than 30 employees for reaching their 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25+ years of service and commitment to excellence. In 2004, we honored 94 employees for reaching their employment milestones.

This year, if you re looking for an opportunity for a promotion and career advancement - consider CalNational Bank. Make your resolution a reality.

Making a Difference

The holiday season has always been a time of giving. At CalNational Bank, we strive to make a difference in the lives of our customers, co-workers and our community.

As our President and CEO recently wrote,

“Before on-line banking and ATM’s, a face-to-face encounter between customers and community bankers was common in

America

.  And for the bankers, that was a good thing. Bankers were able to meet the members of the community, know their names, their family, and where they worked.  In turn, bankers became an important and trusted part of their customer’s daily life.  Equally important, we were members of the community whose services were valued and depended upon like the daily mail.  What a great feeling you had when you shopped, dined or worshipped in the town where you worked and everyone knew…. You were their banker!

Times have changed.  While people still hunger for warm and human interactions with their banker, many banks have become “cold” and impersonal.  Banks have made this shift away from traditional community banking citing “competitive pressures” and the “commodization” of banking.  Cal National is different!  Our employees want to make a difference in the lives of their customers and take pride in what they do.  We also believe that random acts of kindness and consistent customer appreciation take very little effort and pay big dividends to our customers and ourselves.  Rather than limiting our interactions to our local branch or loan office, we extend ourselves investing our time, talents and treasures within the communities we live and work in.”

At CalNational Bank, we make a difference in our communities by giving generously to local charities. We make a difference in the lives of our co-workers by offering employees paid time to volunteer in their community. And we make a difference in the lives of our customers by not being just another transactional bank – but a community bank.

We wish you all a wonderful holiday and a prosperous 2006!

The generosity of a few is the hope of many."

- Anonymous

California National Bank is one of the founding sponsors of the Verbum Dei High School Work-Study Program in Los Angeles, California Verbum Dei is an all-boys, college-prep high school in Watts/South Central L.A founded in 1962. Verbum Dei offers a safe, structured and disciplined educational environment for students motivated to attain an education. Historically, nearly 100% of Verbum Dei students have graduated, and 80% to 90% have gone on to college. The Work-Study Program is modeled after a highly successful program that was started in Chicago in the 1990’s, which has now spread to other inner-city schools in the country. All students at the school are in work-study.

The bank sponsors one "job", which is covered by four students. The sponsorship fee of $25,000 covers approximately 70% of the student’s tuition, with the balance paid for by the student’s family or financial aid (25%) and by grants and gifts (5%). This is not a contribution and is not meant to be - both Cal National Bank and the school expect the students to work within their abilities to be productive for the bank.

Other sponsors of the Work-Study Program have included many downtown banking, insurance, legal, accounting and real estate firms.

This year, Cal National Bank is proud to welcome back four students who are working in Human Resources, Accounting, Property Management, and General Services. For more information about the Verbum Dei Work-Study program, go to: www.verbumdei.us

Another way, we are making a difference!

Cal National Support for Hurricane Victims

In response to the recent hurricane disaster in the South East United States, our CEO, Greg Mitchell, has sent out the following emails to all employees:

“There but for the grace of God go I… “

                                    

Anonymous

This oft quoted phrase is used by many to recognize their personal good fortune while simultaneously expressing deep concern for the misfortune experienced by others.  The tragedy in Louisiana and Mississippi has moved me beyond words and once again reminded me of how fragile life truly is.  Through floods, fires or earthquakes, each of us could be experiencing the same level of loss and sorrow now shared by our neighbors in the south east.   As I reflect upon this tragedy, I once again count my blessings and feel compelled to share some of my good fortune with others in need.   

With this in mind, I am pleased to announce that Cal National will once again provide a dollar for dollar match on contributions made by employees of Cal National to any of the following three relief organizations. 

American Red Cross

• General relief assistance to communities and people in need
• 80% of every dollar raised is committed to relief work

Children’s Hunger Fund

• Immediate shipment of food, water, clothing and medical supplies to families displaced by the hurricane
• 99% of every dollar raised is directed to relied work

Salvation Army: 

• General relief assistance to communities and people in need
• 83% of every dollar raised is committed to relief work.

The need is great and donations of any amount will be appreciated.  Thank you for your generosity!  Working together we are making a difference.

Bank Branch Management – Do You Have What it Takes?

Check out this link to an article from Monster Management, Bank Branch Managers: More Than Just Number Crunchers.

Matt Krumrie, who writes about what makes a bank branch manager successful hits it right on the head.  Here at Cal National, we are really looking for those people who have strong sales, people-management, customer service skills AND can crunch numbers!

As a “big” community bank, we have many advantages to help you become successful as a branch manager.  We do focus on individual customer service, but also have many people at corporate to back you up on your day-to-day activities.  So we really do offer the best of both worlds.

Opportunity is knocking in the banking industry.  Open the door and come build your career at Cal National!  Check out our open positions here!

Linda Filep is the Recruiting Supervisor at Cal National Bank.

Spending all your money? WHY?!!!

In a recent article, Spendthrift Nation, a new report from the Commerce Department showed that the personal savings rate of Americans fell to zero in June 2005.  ZERO – as in nothing, nada!!!  Needless to say, the report is causing alarm throughout the financial world, including many consumer groups.

We all agree that consumerism is running rampant in this country; anything and everything we could ever want is available to us very easily (interest free for 90 days, with just 3 easy payments if you act NOW!).  But we also have so many convenient vehicles available to encourage savings.  For example, here at Cal National Bank, we have a matching 401(k) plan.  You can put up to 6% of your salary into the program and we will match it at the 50% level (effectively, up to 3% of your salary in FREE money every year).  So while you’re saving, we’re helping add to your nest egg.  And with the money coming out of your check pre-tax, you’ll hardly miss it.  Since you’re not paying taxes on it, your net paycheck will look very much the same as if you weren’t saving at all.

In addition, the bank offers many different products to help you save – from checking and savings accounts to IRAs to Certificates of Deposits (CDs) and more.  As an employee, you even have access to reduced rates on Home Equity Lines of Credit and Mortgage loans.  In addition, we’ll give you a bit extra on our regular CD rates, too.

In my own financial life, I’ve found that if I can’t touch it, I won’t spend it!  In other words, I structure my savings to be automatic – I contribute to our matching 401(k), I utilize payroll deductions for Healthcare and Dependent Daycare expenses and I also utilize automatic withdrawals from my checking account for college savings for my child.  Since I don’t have to think about it, my savings grows all by itself, without me interfering my spending it all!

Just a thought – don’t put your entire nest egg into one basket.  As an employee, utilize the programs we have available for you.  As a customer, pop into one of our conveniently located branches and talk to someone about ways that you can boost your savings.  Even if you save only 5 % of your savings, it’s still better than zero.  We’re here to help!

Linda Filep is the Recruiting Supervisor at Cal National Bank.

Employee Discounts – they’re everywhere!!!

Here's a recent article talking about the perks that many companies offer employees (like a pound of free coffee at Starbucks, free lunch everyday at Google, etc.).  Recently GM boosted the low sales of vehicles by offering the “employee discount” to everyone.  And as we’ve read lately, Chrysler has followed suit.

I thought this was a great chance for me to let you know some of the employee discounts and perks we receive here at Cal National.  As my parents still say, every little bit helps!

Besides the matching 401(k), which can add 3% of your base salary into your retirement account annually (if you contribute the requisite 6% to qualify for the full match.  In addition, your contribution can be only be up to the federal limitation for that year.), we have many items that add money into your pocket.  Here are some of the special products and offers you are eligible to receive:

One Free Checking Account:  No monthly service fee. No minimum balance required. Free checks in selected styles.

Free Online Banking and Bill Pay.  Why write a paper check when you can pay electronically?

One Free Savings or Money Market Account:  No monthly service fee. No minimum balance

One Free IRA Account:  No annual fee

Waived Fees:  The following fees will be waived assuming these are unusual /occasional occurrences.  Stop payments, wire transfers, cashier checks, money orders, and travelers checks.

ATM/VISA Check Card:  Free. All foreign ATM fees charged by Cal National are waived for the free accounts outlined above (excludes surcharges imposed by other institutions).

Equity Loans:  Employees will receive a .25% discount in the margin during their employment with Cal National.  Other program discounts will still apply, so the employee may qualify for Prime minus .25%.

Mortgage Loans:  Employees will not have to pay the standard $350 processing fee.  On fixed rate loans, employees will receive at least a .125% discount on the rate for the life of the loan. On ARM loans, employees will receive a .25% discount in the margin during their employment with Cal National.

CDs:  Employees will receive an interest bonus of .25% over the current rate.  Any bonus above this level must be negotiated and approved.

Overdraft Protection:  If the employee has qualified for an Instant Reserve overdraft protection line, the annual fee will be waived. The transfer fees for CheckRight overdraft protection are waived.

All of this and more!  Of course, these perks are exclusively available to employees – so come join our team!  Just click on the Careers page to submit your info or to send to a friend.

Linda Filep is the Recruiting Supervisor at Cal National Bank.

Is Bigger Always Better?

Recently, the very large Bank of America has purchased the largest credit card issuer, MBNA.  They will make a very large and formidable team!  Here's the complete story.

But the question still comes down to whether bigger is really better.  For the 6,000 employees that are facing lay-offs, I’d assume it is definitely NOT better for them.  And even though the job market continues to improve, (Jobless Claims Fall), when you are the one out of work, the world can seem pretty bleak.

Here at Cal National, we are very small compared to the big banks of the US (Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo, etc.), but we believe we more than make up for it in customer service, attention to detail and just knowing your name when you walk into the branch!  You could say we’re BIG on you!  What’s more important, is that customers get to know US – they often have dealt with the same people over many years of banking.  Sure, we have new faces arrive as we continue to hire.  And because of our strong internal posting program, employees do move from branch-to-branch as they are promoted.  But no matter what branch you arrive in, you’ll be greeted with a friendly face, a smile and someone who might even know you by name!

We like being a community-based bank. We like to know that we’re making a difference in our own small way.  But we are a growing bank and expect to become bigger, relatively speaking.  In our “small” world of banking, we think we’re doing a pretty good job of making you feel important – because you are!  And don’t forget!  We’re always looking to add more people to our world – check out the careers section of the website today.  We’ve got some BIG opportunities waiting for you!

Good Service is Key!

Today I came across an article in USA Today, Companies give front-line employees more power about giving good service, especially after a mistake has been made.

Here at Cal National, we try very hard to provide good customer service and to make sure to meet your needs.  It’s nice to know that others in the business world are realizing that the front-line people ARE the face of your business.  Even though Greg Mitchell, our CEO, pops into the branches from time to time, he’s not usually the one providing service to you and your account.  Those men and women at the teller window and sitting at the desks truly are the faces of Cal National.  It’s up to us to empower them and to paraphrase Jerry Maguire, “Help THEM help YOU!”

So while we admit we’re not perfect, we keep trying!  If we make a mistake, we’ll apologize and try to make it right.  We’re here to build a successful relationship with you – our banking customers.  And we’re always looking for good people that demonstrate strong customer service and understand that a great attitude is key to being successful in our industry.  If you think you have what it takes, we’d love to have you on our team!  Check out our Careers page and apply today – whether you’re a teller or a branch manager – we need your smile, your listening ears and your willingness to provide our customers with a positive experience!

Linda Filep is the Recruiting Supervisor at Cal National Bank.

Sometimes, it’s okay to think about it….

As our Senior Recruiter, I am pretty intimate with the hiring process here at CalNational.  On any given week, I extend employment offers to candidates that we feel would be valuable assets to our organization.  Typically, once we identify a candidate we would like to hire, the entire process, from interviewing, testing (if applicable), background and reference checking, can take a few weeks.  During the hiring process, I keep in close contact with my candidates, updating them on their status and in general, getting to know them a little bit better each time.  Hopefully, when the day comes that an offer is extended, it’s a fun and easy phone call to make with no surprises.  What do I mean by “no surprises”? Simply put, prior to the offer is officially made, I make sure that each of my candidates knows what the salary offer is going to be, what their title and job functions are, and that we agree on an approximate start date.  I do this so that the candidate knows exactly what to expect if and when an offer is made.

Sometimes, even after all the phone calls, emails and meetings detailing what we are willing to offer, the candidate gets cold feet when I actually do make the official offer.   There are probably lots of reasons for this, but typically the most common reason is fear of change.  In the years I have been in recruiting, I have encountered candidates who really want to change careers for reasons ranging from distasteful work environments, lack of career growth or they just plain don’t like their boss.  These candidates almost always seem ready to give their current employer notice once they receive an offer from a new employer. Yet, some of them, at the moment of truth, shrink away.

While some recruiters and hiring managers take this as a sign of indecisiveness, I see it as an opportunity to show the candidate that their career choices are important and even though we’ve spent considerable amount of time discussing the opportunities awaiting them here, they need to feel comfortable.  I believe hesitation is often a need for more information, reassurance or further thought.  So when I’m faced with this situation, I give them all the information they ask for and then I ask them to think about it for a day or the weekend and then call me back.  I want our potential employees to know that it’s important for them to not feel pressured into making what typically is a big decision.

So, my point is, if someone offers you a job and you’re not ready to say yes right there on the spot, it’s okay to think about it.  Any employer who is demanding you to make an immediate decision may not have your best interests at heart.  Changing a job is a major life event – we want you to feel comfortable and happy in your choice!

Josh Heydorff is the Senior Recruiter for CalNational Bank.  When Linda offered him the job, he thought about it -- for five seconds.

CalNational Recruiting-Summer Tour-‘05

In the month of June, we will be at three (yes three) job fairs.  Job Fairs are a great way for us to get out there and meet a lot of potential candidates face-to-face and answer lots of questions about the bank.  It gives us the chance to promote the bank and our products and services as well.  Here’s where we’ll be this month:

Friday, June 3, 2005

The Career Info Fair

Location-Azusa High School

240 North Cerritos Ave.

Azusa, California 91702

Channon will be there along with Carolyn Gialamas, Branch Manager from our Azusa location.

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Diversity.com Job Fair

Location-Los Angeles Convention Center

1201 South Figueroa

Los Angeles, CA 90015

10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Linda and Josh will be there. 

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

City Career Job Fair

Location-Embassy Suites-LAX

1440 East Imperial Ave.

El Segundo, CA 90245

12 p.m.-5 p.m.

Channon and Linda will be there. 

Stop by and say hello! Bring resumes! Tell us how you like the blog!

Josh Heydorff is the Senior Recruiter for California National Bank.

Cal National Bank Announces 2005 University Scholarship Recipients

Los Angeles, California – Cal National Bank today proudly announced the 70 recipients of the Cal National Bank University Scholarship. Each recipient will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Cal National Bank created the University Scholarship Program for the benefit of high-achieving university-bound high school students from low- and moderate-income families.

The Cal National Bank University Scholarship program benefits students residing in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties. Cal National Bank University Scholarship applicants are evaluated on demonstrated leadership qualities, involvement in the community, clarity of direction and goals, academic achievement, letters of recommendation and financial need. “We are extremely proud of this year’s scholarship recipients. This scholarship recognizes those students who excel and lead despite significant challenges. We are confident that this year’s class will continue to excel and act as role models to others who face similar challenges,” said Cal National Bank Senior Vice President Jesse Torres. “The University Scholarship is our way of recognizing the achievements of these individuals with the expectation that they will lead and inspire future generations.”

The following list identifies the recipients of the 2005 Cal National Bank University Scholarship:

Babar Ahkhter - Granada Hills Charter High School

Babak Amini - Bellflower High School

Aditya Bapna - Palisades Charter High School Oscar

Alexander Benitez - Santa Monica High School

Joseph Benson - Hillcrest Christian School

Kristal Bradford - Mayfair High shool

Katherine Lynne Brooks - El Camino High School

Andrea Campos - John H. Francis Polytechnic High School

Theresa Minh Cao - Bolsa Grande High School

Alexander Cardenas - Palmdale High School

Roxana Castro - Herbert Hoover High School

Tyffany Chen - Westlake High School

Ben Gibson Roberto Dixon - Polytechnic School

Pamela Escobar - James Monroe High School

Lisandra Flores - John Burroughs High School

Brittney Foster - Laguna Hills High School

Nicole Elizabeth Gil - Ulysees S. Grant High School

Ashley Gleason - Newport Harbor High School

Sandra Gonzales - John Marshall Fundamentals

Lanny Gov - Verdugo Hills High School

Julia Greeenberg - Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies

Amy Hallas - Rosary High School

Amisha Hansji - Esperanza High School

A.S.M Rakibul Haque - Magnolia High School

Guadalupe Hernandez - Crenshaw High School

Helen Hoang Ho - Irvine High School

Julie Huang - Abraham Lincoln High School

Trish Hubbard - Tustin High School

Gina Huynh - Bolsa Grande High School

Jiah Kim - South Torrance High School

Kelesha Kinney - Crenshaw High School

Christina Koeul - Century High School

Isabella Lai - Garden Grove High School

Yu Lai - University High School

Connie Lam - John Marshall High School

Hyung Suk Lee - Palisades Charter High School

Haeri Lee - Glendale High School

Celina Lemon - Ramona Convent Secondary School

Nancy Idalia Limon - Inglewood High School

Maria Linarez - La Habra High School

Belinda Lorn - Woodrow Wilson Classical High School

Thach Luong - Valley High School

Tsung Han Lyn - Arcadia High School

Michael-Robert Macatangay - Don Bosco Technical Institute

Jose G Macias - Valencia High School

Judy Thao Mai - Orange High School

Alejandra Ceballos Marquez - Costa Mesa High School

Gloria Itzel Montiel - Santa Ana High School

Yoselin Munoz - Alexander Hamilton High School

Katherine Ngo - Oxford Academy

Alexander Thanh Nguyen - Westminster High School

Cindy Kim Minh Nguyen - La Quinta High School

Marcos Efren Nieves - Santa Ana High School

Judith Hae Jin Oh - Sunny Hills High School

Shasta Ott - Rio Mesa High School

Sergio Pacheco - Moorpark High School

Miriam Alejandra Pantoja - Loara High School

Kaylyn Bich-Hong Pham - Bolsa Grande High School

Ashley Phan-Weston - Ocean View High School

Bupendra Ram - Hawthorne High School

Daisy Sanchez - Valley High School

Grace T Shen - Villa Park High School

Ju Lie (Julie) Shin - Glendale High School

Maria Adilene Sotelo - Loara High School

Andrew C Tang - Katella High School

Joanna Renee Tripet-Diel - John Burroughs High School

Daisy Vargas - Huntington Park High School

Ricky Vides - Cathedral High School College Preparatory

Shawanda Walker - Diamond Ranch High School

Yang Yu - Arcadia High School

Cal National Bank is currently accepting scholarship applications from students who will be attending a community college in the fall. Eligible students must enroll as full-time students. The application deadline for the Cal National Bank Community College Scholarship is July 1, 2005. Applications can be requested from Rita Reed at (213) 443-1811 or RReed@CalNational.com. Cal National Bank, with 64 branch locations throughout Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties, is a leading provider of financial solutions to the people of California and the communities we serve.

Building New Careers

This is a follow-up to our April 29, 2005 blog titled “Bank Teller Training Class.”  You might recall that Linda and I had the opportunity to visit with a group of students graduating from Bank Teller Training class at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.  I’m proud to announce that one of the students, Marisol, has accepted a Customer Service Representative position with our company!

Marisol was informed about Cal National employment opportunities from our presentation at LA Trade Tech.  She submitted her resume by mail to my attention on Tuesday, May 3, 2005.  After reviewing her qualifications, I proceeded with a phone screen that same day.  Our conversation lasted about 30 minutes.  The purpose for the phone screen was to find out about her work experience, skills, and future career goals.  Marisol had previous experience in the food industry for almost two years.  She began her career as a Crew Member and was later promoted to Shift Leader.  Some of the qualities I liked about Marisol were that she set goals for herself and was very motivated to achieve her goals.  She was very determined to enter the Banking industry.  After talking to Marisol, I forwarded my comments to the hiring manager.  The Branch and Operations Manager interviewed Marisol on Monday, May 9, 2005.  They were also impressed with her.

The next step in the hiring process was to check Marisol’s credit history and prior employment.  The credit was returned back to me within 24 hours.  Marisol’s background check came back clear.  I contacted her to schedule a face-to-face interview with myself in our corporate office.  The interview includes taking our pre-employment test and completing the fingerprint process.  Marisol interviewed with me on May 11, 2005.  Her fingerprint report was mailed back to me on Monday, May 16, 2005.

After receiving approval signatures to hire Marisol, I contacted her by phone.  She wasn’t home but she returned my call in less than an hour.  Then I proceeded to make a verbal employment offer to Marisol.  She accepted the position immediately.  Marisol started with Cal National on Wednesday, May 18, 2005.

I look forward to watching Marisol build her career at Cal National Bank.  In addition, I continue to look forward to hiring future graduates from the Bank Teller Training Class.

Channon Kelly is a Recruiter with Cal National Bank.

Jelly Belly Gourmet Jellybeans

One of my favorite things in the whole world is a packet of Jelly Belly Gourmet jellybeans.  Jelly Belly beans are truly a unique product -- there are over 50 different varieties and each one really does taste like the flavor it’s supposed to be.  Compare Jelly Belly’s to say, a packet of regular old jellybeans.  The plain beans are larger, and really don’t taste like anything except maybe gritty, sugary rubber. 

Just because something is bigger, doesn’t make it better.  CalNational Bank is kind of like the Jelly Belly jellybeans of the banking world because like that product, we do what we say.  We “walk the talk” and strive to deliver exceptional customer service every chance we get.  We know that if we do, we’ll have a strong and loyal customer base that will want to bank with us.

Delivering great customer service requires having great employees.  Sounds simple and it is.  We make sure that our bankers are trained and up-to-date with the latest techniques and tools in the banking industry.  We also make sure that we take care of our employees by recognizing them, promoting from within and encouraging their feedback as to what works for giving great service.

Josh Heydorff is the Senior Recruiter for CalNational Bank. He likes to eat Jelly Bellys by the fistful.

Today is Linda’s Birthday!

Today is Linda’s Birthday. I’m not going to tell you how old she is today because she might throw a stapler or hole punch at me, but let’s just say it’s a milestone.  Anyhow, one of the things that happens around here on employee birthdays is that Greg Mitchell, our CEO, calls you and tells you Happy Birthday.  It seems like a really small thing, but it’s not.  It shows you that everyone around here matters and everyone around here is part of a family.

I know lots of companies will say “oh but we’re a family around here,” but really, do you get that feeling?  In my short time here at California National Bank, I’ve witnessed all sorts of instances where I see that people care about each other.  From potlucks, to bake sales, to people doing nice things for their co-workers, it happens all the time around here.  That attitude seems to permeate from department to department here at corporate and it filters down to the branches as well.  Like phone calls on your birthday, or someone in one of our branches taking the time to ensure that you are getting the best service possible, it’s the little things that matter.

Josh Heydorff is the Senior Recruiter at Cal National Bank.  Linda did not put him up to this post.

Health Care Costs a Huge Worry for Americans.

Check out the latest info from a poll from Kaiser Family Foundation about health care costs.  Here's the original article.

Quoting from the article, “More Americans are personally worried about health care costs than about losing their job, paying their rent or mortgage, losing money in the stock market, or being a victim of a terrorist attack.”  That’s a pretty amazing statistic!  What gets more of the news hour these days – terrorism or healthcare?  Clearly, terrorism does, but we worry MORE about our healthcare.

I’d venture to say that none of the full-time employees here at the Bank would have responded that way in the poll.  We enjoy great coverage, low payroll deduction costs and accessibility to thousands of doctors, dentists and eye care specialists in our network.

Check out our previous blog – “Got GOOD Benefits?  CalNational Employees DO!” for more details about the benefits we enjoy.  We love to talk about them – since there’s just not enough good news in the news anymore!

Want a career at Cal National Bank?  Be sure to check out our open positions at www.calnational.com.

Linda Filep is the Recruiting Supervisor at Cal National Bank.

Mount San Antonio College Job Fair

On Wednesday, May 4, 2005, I went searching for new employees for Cal National Bank.  Mount San Antonio Community College (Mt. SAC) sponsored a free job fair for students from 11am – 2pm. The day started out really gloomy and overcast. I thought this might be great because the job fair was being held outdoors -- the less sun the better (as long as it didn’t rain!).

The directions that were provided for the event were great. Parking was free and close to Miracle Mile where the job fair was being held. Fortunately, I didn’t have an excessive amount of materials to carry, since I did have a minor hill to travel. Signs were provided so there was no possible way to get lost. Once I arrived, I signed in and selected a table. The career placement staff provided gift bags to the employers who participated. I must say I liked the gifts that were provided -- a calendar scheduling book, t-shirt, and information about the school.

Other companies that participated were Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Babies –R- Us, Knott’s Berry Farm, Office Depot and various law enforcement agencies, just to name a few. There were at least 20 employers, which was a pretty good amount of employers. However, I still felt we had the best story to tell and the best environment to work in!

The event was very organized and lunch was provided. Since I was alone, one of the representatives brought my lunch to me and other vendors that couldn’t leave the booth. I thought that was great by going the extra mile to ensure we were fed.

Throughout the day, I had various students approach the table and inquire about our company. Some students were prepared with their resume and some weren’t prepared. I met some interesting students that I thought were very intelligent and confident in their skills.

Currently, Cal National Bank doesn’t have many branches in the area, but we hope to expand that direction. However, I do have a Customer Service Representative position in Azusa, and I believe I spoke to some qualified applicants with the necessary skills to do the job. Their resumes have already been forwarded to the Branch Manager for interviews. We hope we can hire a student from the job fair.

I would like to thank everyone from the career placement services who made this experience a pleasure. I would definitely participate in future job fairs sponsored by Mt. SAC.

Channon Kelly is a Recruiter with Cal National Bank.

Tribute to Our Moms!

Where did Mother’s day come from? (Here's the link)

Historians claim that the holiday of Mother's Day emerged from the ancient festivals dedicated to mother goddess. In the ancient Greek empire, Rhea, the wife of Cronus, and mother of Gods and Goddesses, was worshipped.  In Rome too, Cybele, a mother Goddesses, was worshipped, as early as 250 BC. It was known as Hilaria, and it lasted for three days, called the Ides of March, that is from March 15 to March 18.  However, neither of them meant for the honoring of our immediate mothers, as is done in our Mother's Day.

Rather more closely aligned to our Mother's Day, is the "Mothering Sunday."  England observed "Mothering Sunday" or the "Mid-Lent-Sunday”, on the fourth Sunday in Lent.  In the United States, Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948) is credited with bringing the celebration of Mother's day.

Anna Jarvis intended to start a Mother's Day as an honoring of mothers.  And the first one was not a Mother's Day service in the sense it came to be celebrated later.  But Miss Jarvis had struck deeper than what she knew with her intention.  The idea itself was so great that it did not take long to be spread all over.  The governor of West Virginia issued the first Mother’s Day proclamation in 1910. Oklahoma celebrated it in that same year.  And by 1911, there was not a state in the Union that did not have its own observances for Mother's Day.  Soon it crossed the national boundary, as people in Mexico, Canada, South America, China, Japan and Africa all joined the spree to celebrate a day for mother love.

The immense popularity of the Day led to foundation of Mother's Day International Association on December 12, 1912.  Its purpose was to promote and encourage meaningful observances of the event across the world.  It was in 1934 Postmaster General James A. Farley announced a stamp to commemorate Mother's Day. The stamp featured the famous painting Arrangement in Grey and Black. The painting was a portrait of the mother of James Abbott McNeill Whistler, an English artist.  It was brought in to the United States as part of an exhibit in the year 1934.

The governor of West Virginia issued the first Mother’s Day proclamation on a state level in 1910. And by 1911, other states followed. But it took a couple of years still to obtain the Presidential proclamation.  The House of Representatives in May 1913 unanimously adopted a resolution requesting the President, his cabinet, the members of both Houses and all officials of the federal government to wear a white carnation on Mother's Day.  On May 7,1914, a resolution providing that the second Sunday in May be designated Mother's Day was introduced by Representative James T. Heflin of Alabama and Senator Morris Sheppard of Texas.  It passed both Houses and on May 9 President Woodrow Wilson issued his Mother's Day Proclamation:

"...Now, Therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the said Joint Resolution, do hereby direct the government buildings and do invite the people of the United States to display the flag at their homes or other suitable places on the second Sunday in May as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country."

How did our Mom’s do raising us?  A recent Fox News poll says that we think she did pretty well!

So, now that you’ve had your history of Mother’s Day – go out and do something nice for her!!  She’s the reason you’re here, after all!

Linda Filep is the Recruiting Supervisor at Cal National Bank.