At many companies, a bonus is a line item on a paycheck. At Firstrust Bank, it has long represented something much larger: a shared milestone tied to the collective efforts of employees across the organization.
This year, that philosophy is once again taking center stage.
Firstrust Bank, the largest family-owned bank in the Greater Philadelphia region, has announced that employees across the company — from executives to tellers — will once again receive a Richard J. Green SuperBonus after the bank successfully achieved the goals outlined in its most recent five-year vision plan, which ended in 2025. Eligible employees receive 35 percent of their average annual salary through the program, in addition to their regular annual bonuses, commissions, and incentive plans.
“I started the SuperBonus program to reflect a belief that has long guided Firstrust,” said Richard J. Green, Executive Chairman and Owner of Firstrust Bank. “The Richard J. Green SuperBonus reflects our belief that the path to Firstrust’s long-term success begins with serving our customers well and helping them achieve their goals. When we do that consistently, the bank succeeds — and that success should be shared with the people who help create it.”
Since its creation 28 years ago, the program has rewarded employees when the company achieves its long-term strategic goals.
For Annie Mulderig, Senior Vice President of Community Banking and Manager of the bank’s Krewstown branch, the program has been woven into the fabric of her entire career.
Mulderig is approaching her 42nd year with Firstrust, giving her a unique perspective on how the SuperBonus has evolved and how it continues to motivate employees today.
One moment stands out vividly in her memory: the first SuperBonus celebration in 1998.
That year, the payout was a whopping 64 percent of an employee’s annual salary — a figure tied to the bank’s 64th anniversary. For Mulderig, the bonus had an immediate impact on her life.
“It actually afforded me the ability to put a nice down payment on my first home,” she said.
Mulderig recalled that the announcement sparked weeks of excitement among employees. The initial news came during a managers meeting, followed by a holiday celebration at the former Arthur’s restaurant in Northeast Philadelphia.
“It was a huge celebration,” she said. “When Richard announced that we made the SuperBonus, fake dollar bills literally fell from the ceiling.”
The festivities didn’t end there. Employees then gathered for a formal black-tie celebration at the historic Crystal Tea Room at the Wanamaker Building in Center City.
“I remember two of my colleagues — who actually became two of my best friends — we rented a limousine to go to the event,” Mulderig said. “There was a band, fine food. It was really something special.”
While celebrations today may be less elaborate than the original one, Mulderig said the excitement among employees remains just as strong whenever the announcement is made.
More importantly, she said, the SuperBonus program has always served a deeper purpose: aligning employees across the company around a shared long-term strategic goal.
“It gives us a common target,” she said. “In addition to our normal incentives and annual bonuses, this is the extra-extra for ‘super results.’ It brings everyone together.”
Every five years, Firstrust establishes a new vision plan outlining strategic priorities for the company. For employees, the SuperBonus becomes a motivating force throughout the entire five-year cycle.
“We all talk about it,” Mulderig said. “You’ve got five years, and everyone is working toward that finish line.”
The program also encourages employees to think strategically about their decisions — from customer relationships to operational efficiency — knowing that the long-term success of the bank benefits everyone.
“There are times when we tighten things up,” Mulderig said. “Maybe we’re looking for new opportunities to expand our customer base. Maybe we’re being mindful about expenses. It’s a family-owned, privately held organization, so we’re all thinking about the bigger picture.”
Over the decades, Mulderig has seen how the bonus can have meaningful personal impact for employees. For some, it helps finance major life milestones.
“For me, it was buying my first house,” she said. “For others, it might be upgrading their home or helping their family.”
She recently learned that one of her longtime team members, who has worked with her for two decades, plans to use this year’s bonus to take her family on a long-awaited trip.
“She’s never been able to take her family to Disney World,” Mulderig said. “Now, she’s taking her twin boys.”
Others choose to use the bonus to give back. Mulderig remembers donating part of her first SuperBonus to her local church, St. Veronica’s, which was struggling financially at the time.
“You would have thought I gave them a million dollars,” she said. “They were so appreciative.”
That experience stuck with her, and philanthropy has remained part of her SuperBonus tradition ever since. This year, she plans to donate to an ALS organization in honor of her brother, who died from the disease last summer.
“It’s something that resonates with me personally,” she said.
Mulderig credits Firstrust’s leadership, particularly the Green family and specifically Richard J. Green, for creating a culture in which employees feel invested not only in the company’s success but also in the communities it serves.
“I’ve been raised by phenomenal mentors here,” she said. “The Green family really believes in paying it forward.”
That philosophy has helped the bank maintain strong employee loyalty over the years. Many staff members, like Mulderig, have built entire careers at Firstrust.
“People here give more than just what the job entails,” she said. “For me, it’s not really a job. It’s my life. Every SuperBonus has afforded me something that I otherwise wouldn’t have had or been able to do if I didn’t work at Firstrust. And that includes giving back.”
Learn more about Firstrust Bank and how it cultivates prosperity for its customers, employees, and the communities it serves.
