A member of the $325 million Neighborhood Credit Union won $25,000 in a contest designed toencourage better savings habits.

“This is one of our favorite days of the year,” saidNeighborhood CEO Chet Kimmell, who along with several senior staffmembers, presented member Adam Kobos with an oversized check at hisfront door on Jan. 3, the first Friday of the year. “Adam is a goodexample of a loyal, long-time member who sees value in savingmoney.”

Kobos participated in a contest offered by the 30,000-member,Dallas-based credit union that made him eligible for cash drawingsbased on his deposits into a savings account.

“I don't know what to say,” said Kobos, after making sure theprize delivery was not a joke. “The timing couldn't be better, asI'm driving a rental car right now and I can put this toward a newvehicle. And my wife and I have just been talking about someimprovements we want to make to our house.”

Neighborhood's grand prize drawing is held at the beginning ofthe year, but the credit union holds subsequent drawings forsmaller prizes during the rest of the year.

“Starting off the New Year with a windfall or even justproviding that extra incentive to encourage more Texans to start'paying themselves first' is what the Prize Savings Account is allabout,” Kimmell said. “We want to help our members achieve theirfinancial goals, now and into the future.”

“Being part of a credit union helps me achieve a lot morepersonally and professionally. And the service I get fromNeighborhood Credit Union and the friendly faces I see there allthe time … it's a pleasure doing business with them,” said Kobos,who has been a member of the credit union for 10 years.

“It's never too late to start saving,” said Kobos, who notedthat New Year's resolutions are a great way to start. “Set asidesome money all the time because you never know when you're going toneed it.”