CU SoCal Wins Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award for Second Year in a Row
We’re proud to share that Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal) has been named a recipient of the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award for 2025, marking our second consecutive year of receiving this prestigious honor.
The Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award is based on employee engagement, a key measure of an organization’s ability to foster a positive workplace culture through strong leadership, employee wellbeing, transparent communication, and shared belief in the organization’s mission.
Winning this award demonstrates that CU SoCal employees feel valued, empowered, and dedicated to our organization’s purpose: Exceed Members’ and team members’ expectations, inspiring them to achieve their financial goals and dreams.
The Power of Engagement
Employee engagement is the involvement and enthusiasm of employees in both their work and workplace. Highly engaged teams outperform the rest in business outcomes critical to the success of an organization. According to Gallup, engaged employees are knowledgeable and attentive. They take personal ownership for making Members happy, and they are willing to go the extra mile. As such, a highly dedicated workforce that delivers Member-centric experiences can foster more loyal Members.
This is certainly true at Credit Union of Southern California where we do more than just help the people of Southern California with their personal and business finances — we build relationships with our Members, based on trust, care, and community engagement. In fact, 87% of CU SoCal Members say they are “very satisfied” with the service they receive from us.
Our people-first organizational culture also means recognizing that our employees play a central role in Member satisfaction. Our success reflects their commitment to our Mission: Build better lives through exceptional Member experiences, every time.
About the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award
CU SoCal is among this year’s 62 award recipients who, “have elevated the employee experience while strengthening business outcomes, demonstrating that investing in people fuels long-term success.” Gallup notes that its Exceptional Workplace Award winners change the way people work around the world, achieving this by focusing on the engagement and strengths of their people and investing in their development. Gallup created the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Awards to honor and recognize this commitment to developing human potential. This prestigious recognition honors organizations that go above and beyond in creating a workplace where employees feel engaged, supported, and empowered.
Organizations considered for this honor must place in the top percentile of engagement as defined by Gallup each year. Those that qualify are then invited to apply, submitting extensive evidence of their culture of excellence. A panel of Gallup experts evaluates the submissions to determine the final award recipients.
For the CU SoCal Team, it’s more than an accolade—it’s a reflection of who we are, what we value, and what we strive to provide in our work.
Why Engagement Matters
At the heart of this achievement is CU SoCal’s belief that when people feel seen, heard, and valued, they do their best work. Gallup’s research backs this up. Highly engaged employees demonstrate higher productivity, personal commitment to their organization and co-workers, and provide exceptional Member service resulting in greater Member satisfaction.
What makes CU SoCal an award-winning organization for employees?
- Leadership focus on culture. We recognize that each of us is a valuable contributor to our collective success. We have a strong culture of learning and accountability in a collaborative team environment.
- Team member development programs. Free financial education, virtual learning opportunities, a reimbursement for education expenses up to $1,500 a year, and more.
- Commitment to purpose-driven work. We’re a team of passionate, committed professionals dedicated to the same goal of helping our Members achieve their financial goals and dreams.
At CU SoCal, employee engagement is a culture that’s present every day in everything we do. It’s sharing ideas in brainstorming meetings. It’s the manager who leads by example and listens with empathy. It’s the recognition of a team member going the extra mile, and the laughter shared between colleagues who genuinely care for one another.
Our team members are more than just people performing a task—they’re people who care about what they do and are dedicated to improving the lives of the Members they serve. Our employees are the reason CU SoCal has a superior five-star financial rating from BauerFinancial, holds more than $2.9 billion in assets, serves more than 155,000 Members, and continues to grow.
“We are honored to receive this recognition for the second year in a row, which is a testament to the incredible culture we have built at CU SoCal,” said Dave Gunderson, CU SoCal President and CEO. “At the heart of our success is a commitment to developing our team members both personally and professionally. By fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous growth, and care for one another, we ensure that our employees feel engaged and inspired to serve our Members with excellence every day.”
Moving Forward Together
Earning this award two years in a row didn’t happen by chance. It took a deep commitment to continuous improvement throughout every level of our organization. Through regular feedback with employees and Members, leadership development programs, and a strong focus on employee satisfaction, we ensure every team member has the opportunity to succeed.
To our CU SoCal Team: Thank you! This award is a tribute to your work ethic, dedication, and passion for making CU SoCal not just a great place to work, but a workplace of purpose and pride and outstanding Member service.
To our Members: Thank you for giving us the privilege of serving you. It is through our service and dedication to your financial wellbeing that we have the opportunity to shine.
Together, we’re doing more than providing financial services and jobs for employees, we’re advancing an exceptional organization that will serve the Southern California community with excellence.
