Dupaco Community Credit Union celebrated the official start of construction at the site of their soon to be Learning Lab with a Chamber led groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
Located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Hickman and S. Alice’s Roads, the retail space will be the cooperative’s second in the Des Moines metro area.
Construction on the 7,800 square foot branch is scheduled to be complete this winter.
The planned learning lab branch will focus on teaching members how to improve their financial well-being. It will include hands-on demonstration of Dupaco desktop, tablet, and mobile deposit services, and more. It also will provide loans and other financial services for small businesses.
Increased Dupaco member demand in the Des Moines area spurred the move, according to Dupaco Chief Marketing Officer Dave Klavitter.
“We’ve served members for 75 years and many have moved all over Iowa, including Polk and Dallas Counties,” he said. “These members love their credit union and technology allows them to stay connected wherever they live. This trust and affection has resulted in members wanting a branch to send their friends and family to join.”
In addition, the branch will feature a service delivery technology called video teller, which allows live tellers to conduct real-time, face-to-face transactions from a distance. Dupaco employees located at a central location in Dubuque remotely will operate the Waukee lobby and drive-through video teller machines.
The new video teller technology is intended to boost the credit union’s mission to improve each member’s financial position, according to Klavitter.
“Video tellers will give members more access to Dupaco branch employees in order to have deeper conversations about goals, planning and financial independence,” he said. “We also expect the video tellers to increase future opportunities for member convenience—to serve more members, in more places, with expanded hours of service.”
In addition to the video teller technology, Dupaco’s newest Learning Lab Branch will feature:
- iPad training counters to help members learn how to use Dupaco’s increasing number of convenient mobile services;
- Interactive laboratory tables for small group discussions and offices;
- Built-in electronic wall displays to aid in consultations about money; and
- Signage and lighting which use LED illumination to conserve energy and reduce electricity costs by more than 35% annually.
In addition to financial products and advice, Dupaco also offers insurance and investment services.
The Waukee location will be the credit union’s 24th branch. The credit union serves members in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Its Iowa locations include Carroll, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Dyersville, Grimes, Manchester, Marion and Waterloo.
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 156,000 with assets exceeding $3.1 billion. It has more than 650 employees and 23 branch office locations. Dupaco is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). It is a Forbes Best-in-State Credit Union and a Des Moines Register Top Workplace. Learn more at www.dupaco.com.
