DUBUQUE, Iowa—Dupaco Credit Union has completed a renovation at its Sycamore Street branch—a branch with deep historical roots in both the Dubuque and credit union communities. The refreshed space invites members to reconnect with a slice of Dubuque history while experiencing a branch that was intentionally designed with their financial needs in mind.
The Sycamore branch sits steps away from the former Dubuque Packing Company, where the financial cooperative got its start nearly 78 years ago, when 10 meat packing employees pooled $5 each to start their own credit union. These 10 employees borrowed six letters from their employer's name and called their credit union Dupaco.
Like many credit unions at the time, Dupaco originally served its members out of a cigar box in the office of its employer group. This was until 1958 when the financial cooperative became the first Iowa credit union to construct its own office building, located at 1465 Sycamore St. in Dubuque. While this branch has been rebuilt and remodeled over the years, its newest renovation honors the history that shaped the credit union from its earliest days.
“Dupaco’s Sycamore branch is foundational to who we are as a credit union,” said Kevin Weber, AVP, Branch Manager at the financial cooperative’s Sycamore branch. “This remodel is both a celebration of our history and a reflection of how we continue to evolve to meet members’ needs today.”
Weber said the refreshed branch was intentionally redesigned to enhance the member’s experience while preserving meaningful connections to the credit union’s past. The updated space includes additional private offices to support in-depth financial conversations and an improved layout that creates a more welcoming experience from the moment members enter the building.
Throughout the space, visual storytelling pays tribute to the people who built the credit union—employees, directors and members who have all had a hand in making the credit union what it is today.
“We want members to feel a sense of nostalgia when they walk in,” said Joe Hearn, President and CEO of Dupaco. “Each photo inside the branch tells a story—real members and real employees who helped shape our cooperative and strengthen our communities.”
“Everyone who works at this branch loves experiencing members' reactions when they walk into the branch for the first time in a long time,” said Weber. “It’s like taking a step back in history. They share stories from their personal experience or stories that were passed down to them from their family who worked at the Pack. It’s been such a fun experience to be able to reminisce and take a walk down memory lane together.”
Dupaco’s Sycamore Street branch remodel is now complete. Members can visit the branch or explore the space through a virtual tour.
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ABOUT DUPACO COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION:
Dupaco Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa. It is dedicated to the financial well-being of its members, and specializes in personalized financial counseling, money advice and education. It offers savings, loans, investments, insurance and wealth management products for individuals and businesses. Dupaco serves residents in 118 counties throughout Iowa, northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin. Founded in 1948 by ten Dubuque Packing Company employees, membership has grown to more than 180,000 with assets exceeding $3.6 billion. It has over 600 employees and 22 branch office locations. Learn more at www.dupaco.com.