Paying It Forward

One Bank's Holiday Bonus Came With A Catch — That Boosted Community Spirits

(CBS)  You think everyone would have something they dislike about their job - with the notable exception of the people at State Bank and Trust in Fargo, N.D., CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports.

"What do you hate about this company?" Hartman asked some workers.

One said: "I haven't found anything yet."

Another: "No, this is a good place to work?

"What do I hate about management? They're just too nice!" One worker said.

Another worker said, "They care about their employees."

The conclusion: Take this job and love it!

Another worker's reaction to Hartman's question, what do you hate about working here, was: "I have to go home."

State Bank chief operating officer Michael Solberg said, "That's our mission statement: happy employees, happy customer."

What, is this McDonalds?

To accomplish the company's mission, Solberg says the bank gives a year-end bonus of about 5 percent of salary. They contribute 15 percent of salary to the 401-K, and do a full 20 pounds on the holiday turkey. But the best perk by far is the company Christmas party.

In '06 they staged a game show with COO Solberg as the bald host of Deal or No Deal.

The $500,000 prize was split equally among the bank's 500 employees. That meant everyone got $1,000.

Again this Christmas, the bank gave everyone another $1,000.

But this time the money came with a clever little catch. No, the didn't have to pay it back. But they did have to pay it forward.

"There were three rules. You can't give it to your family. You can't give it to a co-worker. And you have to document your good deed. Other than that, the sky's the limit," Solberg said.

The tapes are just now starting to roll in, and they run the gamut: from the woman who paid for an abandoned kitten to get a life-saving surgery to the guy who gave the money to a friend whose car got stolen.

One worker bought DVDs and DVD players for the local cancer ward while another turned her check over to a young, struggling, brand-new widow.

And what did the workers get out of it?

“Just a real good feeling of giving," one said.

Another: “You actually truly see the benefit better by doing it yourself.”

And another: “It actually gets to the people that we know in the community that need it.”

Employees say this gift of giving is truly the best bonus they've ever gotten. And they're already counting the days 'til next Christmas.

“Now the pressures definitely on to come up with something good," Solberg said. "We’re working on it.”

[bjk24]

I enjoyed the Pay It Forward piece 1/11/08. However, I was disappointed with the off the cuff comment at the conclusion. Some would say I was too sensitive but we North Dakotans love visitors (and even new residents) and this is the type of comment that perpetuates a negative view. Thank you for doing this positive piece and come visit us again sometime.

[free2be123]

Steve, You need to apologize, you also let show how much of out-side-the big-city-business culture you are unaware of. ND has been great to us folks in MN. There are family on both sides of the river. The movie "FARGO" did a terrible disservice to ND and as a result those Nor''esters believe that is how ND citizens are in real life....Sadly there are many more folks who thought a fictional movie was true...

like a good neighbor....I think of ND not the insurance company. I won''t trade ND for anybody.

[richardr8-2009]

I am a fan of Ms. Couric and so am disappointed by the needless slur of North Dakota at the end of the piece about the Bank. It is big state chauvenism and ignorance. Although I have practiced law for 30 years in Seattle, studied law in San Francisco, and travelled the world with the US Navy and otherwise, I have never forgotton, nor stopped loving, my real home state - ND. Every year it places in the top one two or three of the states in SAT scores, % of high school students who graduate, % of graduates going on to college, amount of state assistance paid per college student, and is always at the top of the list of least stressful places to live and lowest crime rate in the USA. The people of ND are wonderful. Shame on you Katie.

[bjk24]

I enjoyed your Pay It Forward piece on 1/11/08. However, as a North Dakotan, I was disappointed by the off the cuff comment at the end. Though some would say I am being too sensitive we love having visitors (and even new residents) and your comment only perpetuates a negative view by many. Thank you for the positive, uplifting piece and come visit us again sometime.

[bjk24]

I enjoyed your Pay It Forward piece on 1/11/08. However, as a North Dakotan, I was disappointed by the off the cuff comment at the end. Though some would say I am being too sensitive we love having visitors (and even new residents) and your comment only perpetuates a negative view by many. Thank you for the positive, uplifting piece and come visit us again sometime.

[unicycle6869]

Awesome!

[justfun1111-2009]

This story has hit the heart strings of many people around the nation and if Steve wants to insult North Dakota that is fine.
We really don''t want everyone to know our secrets of the fine quility of life that we have living in the wide open spaces, clean air, low crime rate, good jobs, great schools and so much more that we appreciate by living here in our small friendly state of North Dakota.
As far as I am concerned the reporters can continue insulting us.
That will keep the rif raf out of here and let us enjoy what we have so much more.

[debrandall-2009]

Steve: I was excited to hear that you were doing the story about the Pay If Forward program here in Fargo as I have seen (and been impressed by) your work in the past. The story was very well done. However, it was overshadowed, at least for my husband and I, by your comment at the end. I was suprised that you would choose to alienate the very people you had just reported on with such an insult. I hope your experience here wasn''t as bad as your comment portends, but if it was I hope you will have the chance to come back and see North Dakota for what it really is.

Thank you,

Deb Randall

[miriamgrace]

I thought Steve Hartman''s story on the bank in Fargo was excellent...that is, until his final insulting comment that it is "in North Dakota." I really can''t understand why he would make such an insulting comment. I guess we who are from ND should be used to the cheap shots but I wish people like him would THINK before shooting off their mouth. North Dakota is a beautiful place that I''m very proud of, as his own story demonstrated so well. THINK before speaking next time, Steve!

[samsam221]

Come On Everyone! Let''s not lose our sense of humor. Yes John, it was a funny sarcastic comment, not meant to hurt anyones feelings, nothing personal. It was a great story, ''sarcastic'' comment and all. I''m sure the millions of viewers that saw it thought "Right On for that North Dakota company!", not "Go figure, it''s in North Dakota!" Steve, no need to apologize....Katie, your tears said it all!

[snugzusa]

For people who read this post and would like to get involved please feel free to contact me with the words PAY IT FORWARD in the subject line. I started a PAY IT FORWARD campaign 6 months ago with the silicone bracelets. You simply do something nice for someone, take the bracelet off and put it on their wrist and ask them to PAY IT FORWARD. We purchased a few hundred thousand bracelets simply to give away and to get more people paying it forward. It''''s been getting so big that the actual author of PAY IT FORWARD, Catherine Ryan Hyde has been in contact and thousands of bracelets were also sent to tonights feature, the people at the State Bank and trust in North Dakota. Please feel free to request some bracelets and I will ship them your way.

Charley Johnson
www.snugzusa.com

[johnmfunk]

Steve,
Thanks for coming to Fargo, ND to cover the "Pay It Forward" story on State Bank & Trust. I am a employment recruiter and provide staff for State Bank. The management, staff and customers here in Fargo, ND are second to none. The only disappointing part of your story was the sarcastic comment that it is in North Dakota. Implying that moving or living here would be a bad thing!
Now I know our ND weather and rural image are things the media loves to poke fun at. When a story such as this is gaining national attention and showing those viewers around the country how much GRACE there is in this area I think it was uncalled for. Had this been in a metro area somewhere else in the country you would have not had made a comment like that.

I had tears in my eyes like Katie did and thought that feeling would have been more than enough.

Please come again, and if not we North Dakotans will keep living the American Dream.

Regards,
John Funk

[keverett6]

Steve: I think your piece portrayed the generous people of ND in a positive light---until your last comments. Please consider apologizing to the people of ND for your dismissive comment at the end, which were words to the effect that "it is ND, afterall" to account for the bank''s employee retention.