Serve Credit Union Celebrates 2022 Impact

Jami Weems

Serve Credit Union, a financial cooperative founded in the “people helping people” spirit, is celebrating its 92nd birthday this month by recapping its community impact over the past year. 
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Throughout 2022, Serve provided $32.68 million in loans to members, underscoring the credit union’s dedication to its mission of serving those who serve the community. The top three loan categories included new and used auto and first mortgage purchase and refinances. 

Additional highlights from 2022 include:

• CEO Jami Weems was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Iowa Division of Credit Unions Review Board.
• Grew its loan portfolio by 14.73% over the past year.
• Surpassed 100 Blue Shoe Box subscribers to help foster and build relationship with younger members. 
• Hosted several membership appreciation events including Shred Days, Members Day Out, Back to School at the Ballpark, annual Fall Tailgate, and International Credit Union Day
• Created three new job positions, promoted several employees, and restructured current job positions to better serve its members. 
• $12,000+ donated or sponsored to over 15 nonprofits and organizations.

As a financial cooperative, the credit union reinvests earnings back into organizations that are important to its member-owners. Serve's vision to impact the lives of our members and communities for generations to come was carried throughout 2022 through donations and sponsorships. Organizations receiving support included the Iowa Credit Union Foundation, Peer Support Foundation, Iowa Crisis Negotiators, and the Des Moines Police Burial Association to name a few. Collectively, Serve raised and sponsored more than $12,000 to these various organizations. Click here to see a full list of organizations Serve has supported. 

“As a member-owned financial institution, we are proud of the impact our credit union has had on the financial lives of our members and the communities where they live and work over the past 92 years,” said Jami Weems, CEO of Serve. “ Serve's vision to impact the lives of our members and communities for generations to come was carried throughout 2022 through donations, volunteering, and sponsorships.”

Additionally, Serve continues to invest in financial literacy and supports efforts to help younger members strengthen their financial knowledge. The credit union sponsors seven schools in the community to access Banzai, a financial literacy platform. Within this sponsorship, students can access Banzai’s tools for free. Some of these tools include workbooks and online courses, and as a sponsor, Serve can make visits to the schools to teach students certain financial topics. 

Expanding on the success of the Blue Shoe Box program launched in 2021, the program has now grown to 105 subscribers aged 0-17 who receive a free, biannual box to help learn and engage with their finances. Once members graduate from the program, they will be connected with a financial coach in one of the branches to extend their financial training. 

Serve’s membership includes Des Moines public servants like USDA employees, teachers, police officers, first responders like firefighters, correctional officers and EMTs. Read more about Serve and its unique membership at https://www.servecu.org/.  ​

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