What makes a credit union different? Dupaco celebrates ICU Day

DUBUQUE, Iowa—Today, on International Credit Union Day, Dupaco Community Credit Union joins credit unions around the world in celebrating a financial model built on a simple but powerful idea: people helping people.

Founded in 1948 by 10 Dubuque Packing Company employees, Dupaco was created to provide access to affordable financial services and give members a voice in how their financial cooperative is governed. Nearly eight decades later, those same cooperative principles continue to guide the organization and its mission of helping its members build a life worth loving.

What makes a credit union different is ownership. Unlike publicly traded financial institutions, credit unions are owned by the people they serve. Each member has an equal voice through a one-member, one-vote structure, regardless of how much money they have on deposit or in loans.

“International Credit Union Day is an opportunity to celebrate what makes credit unions unique,” said Joe Hearn, Dupaco president and CEO. “At Dupaco, our members are more than customers—they're owners. They influence every decision we make, from the products and services we offer to the investments we make in the cooperative.”

Today, Dupaco serves more than 180,000 member-owners. While financial services have changed since the credit union's founding, Dupaco's commitment to improving members' financial well-being remains unchanged.

As a financial cooperative, Dupaco returns value to members in many ways, including personalized financial guidance, innovative tools, competitive rates, lower fees, fraud protection resources and financial education programs designed to help members make informed financial decisions.

“The cooperative model has stood the test of time because it puts people first,” Hearn said. “When our members succeed financially, our communities become stronger. That's something worth celebrating—not just on International Credit Union Day, but every day.”

International Credit Union Day has been celebrated worldwide since 1948 and recognizes the positive impact credit unions have on their members and communities.

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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 10 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.