Photo by Richard Hurd
Supporting workforce well-being: Dupaco leads the way in financial education
DUBUQUE, Iowa — Employers have traditionally offered their workforce benefits like healthcare insurance, retirement saving plans and paid time off. With consumers continuing to feel budget pinch points, a recent study by PNC (What Today’s Workers Value Most, Across Generations) found 68% of workers are financially stressed and spending four hours per week at work worrying about money. Partnering with a local credit union, employers are supporting their teams and adding a new, no-cost benefit their teams are requesting: financial wellness programs.
Dupaco Credit Union’s Community Outreach and Education team now partners with over 1,000 employers in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois to provide financial wellness programs with 1-on-1 coaching, on-site financial education classes and on-demand webinars—all at no cost to businesses or employees.
These programs are designed to help employees manage their personal finances more effectively— reducing financial stress and distractions while improving overall well-being and productivity.
“When money worries follow people to work, it impacts everything—from focus and safety to retention,” says Erin Engler, VP Community Outreach and Education at Dupaco Credit Union. “That’s why we bring financial education and coaching directly to the job site and back it up with Dupaco’s digital tools they can use anytime. We meet workers where they are and help them build habits that reduce stress and improve outcomes—for the employee and the employer.”
Engler leads Dupaco’s Community Outreach and Education department—a team of employees who travel to businesses across Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois providing no-cost on-site, online and on-demand support for companies and their employees.
In 2025, this team served select employer groups by providing 1,124 on-site visits and delivered 253 presentations on financial topics like budgeting, debt reduction strategies and credit improvement.
“We’re essentially a mobile version of Dupaco’s branches and Learning Labs. We’re bringing Dupaco to members and non-members at a place where it’s convenient to them: their employer,” said Engler.
According to PNC, only 29% of employers surveyed said they offer financial education; this is down from 36% in 2024 and 30% in 2023. The same study also found 81% of U.S. workers are more likely to stay with an employer that offers more financial wellness benefits and 61% of workers without access to financial education say they would use these benefits if offered.
Dupaco has been supporting area businesses and their employees with no-cost financial wellness programs for decades.
“Providing financial wellness programs is part of our DNA. Dupaco was formed in 1948 by employees of the Dubuque Packing Company to serve the financial needs of their co-workers and families. Dupaco employees would travel to the various meat packing plants to provide financial education and resources. We continue that same service today, traveling to employers and supporting their employees,” said Engler.
Regardless of company size or hours of operation, Dupaco’s Community Outreach and Education team offers no-cost financial wellness programs for employers. For more information, please visit https://www.dupaco.com/business/employee-benefit-program/.
###
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 178,000 with assets exceeding $3.5 billion. It has over 600 employees and 23 branch office locations. It is a Forbes Best-in-State Credit Union, Forbes America’s Best Small Employer, and a Des Moines Register Top Workplace. Learn more at www.dupaco.com.