A journey rooted in trust
GIBSONVILLE, N.C.—When it comes to managing his money, Tommy Kwai takes it as seriously as he does his partnership with Dupaco.
Tommy first arrived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 2008 to help the community recover from flood damage through his work with FEMA. While settling in, he needed a financial institution—and found one that felt like home.
“I liked the look of Dupaco’s building, so I walked in,” he said. “The people were kind, and I opened a savings account. That’s where it all started.”
Moved by the warmth of Iowans, Tommy has kept his Dupaco account—even after relocating to North Carolina.
“I have a lot of friends at Dupaco, and I trust folks in the Midwest more than anywhere else in the country with my money,” he said.
Building credit
Tommy’s financial journey wasn’t always easy. Born in Africa, he came to North Carolina for school with limited resources. When he needed something, he often relied on small loans. He didn’t understand credit cards and was hesitant to open one.
That changed during a visit to Dupaco. Instead of simply offering a loan, the team took time to explain credit cards, interest, debt-to-income ratios and how to build credit.
“Dupaco helped me understand that credit was necessary to buy things,” Tommy said. “Paying cash for everything wasn’t realistic, so I got a credit card and started building my credit.”
His credit score improved, and he began contributing up to $600 every other week to a retirement account.
Finding a home
Though he now lives in North Carolina, Tommy remains a loyal Dupaco member. He also financed his car and recently purchased his first home—all digitally through Dupaco.
“He did everything right to be able to accomplish his dream of being a homeowner,” said Dupaco’s Joyce Meester. “It was an honor and pleasure to work with him. He also knows he can always reach out to me for anything, and I will guide him in the right direction.”
Tommy agrees.
“I find Dupaco to be people-first,” he said. “They know me. When I send documents, things move quickly because they recognize my name. I’ve built a personal relationship with them. Becoming a homeowner has been a dream come true—and it couldn’t have happened without Dupaco.”
