We have a member who wants to thank a staff member for doing alot of research for him. He needed information on 5 years of wire transfers that he had sent. He wants to give her a gift card to a local restaurant. The work has already been done. Don't sure how to handle. Any thoughts?

It should be addressed in your employee handbook.

Our policy prohibits employees from accepting gifts for performing their related duties as an employee of the bank.

Do you chance mailing the gift card back to them? He is on assignment in China for the next few years.

That would be a call for HR and the Pres to make.

Banks have different policies on this. Some allow gifts up to $25 or $50 (or even $100) for example, but they must be reported.

In a situation where it might offend the customer if a valuable gift was to be returned, the gift might be used "in general" by the bank. Perhaps for the use of the whole department, considered bank property and displayed (in the case of some china, or such type of gift), shared (food), and so forth.

Your bank should establish a policy - this would be a good time.

We are not allowed to accept gifts at all. However, the branches do accept gifts of food typically, such as a local restaurant brings the staff some complementary clam cakes, or some customers bake cookies for the staff near Christmas time.