WASHINGTON-One Alaskan bank has initiated a contest recently to get their employees more involved in the banks' opposition to the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act (H.R. 3579). First National Bank is holding drawings for airline miles, jackets, and restaurant gift certificates to get employees to write their members of Congress in opposition of CURIA. All they have to do is carbon copy their e-mail to their lawmaker to the bank's marketing department. An advertisement for the contest states the American Bankers Association has a goal to obtain 150,000 letters by Aug. 1, 2004 opposing CURIA. Fifteen `early bird drawings' that were due June 23 had the choice of five 2,000-mile packages from Alaska Airlines, five nylon jackets, and five Hawaiian shirts. Team prizes were also offered when 85% of employees from any division sent a letter. The two grand prizes were 5,000 airline miles or a $125 gift certificate to an Alaskan restaurant. "Your bank, First National, along with every other community bank in the country, competes with credit unions on an uneven playing field-and soon the scales might be tipping even more in favor of credit unions," the advertisement read. "But you can help."