By Wayne Dominowski, SBA Contributing Writer
(SB) – Theirs is a history that goes way back. Sioux Valley Community Credit Union took off in 1952, when it was granted a State Charter. The long-time resident of Sergeant Bluff started off as Sioux Airbase Credit Union and merged with The Teacher’s Credit Union, then; in 1972, it received its Community charter and its present name: Sioux Valley Community Credit Union (SVCCU).
Now in its 72nd year, SVCCU in Sergeant Bluff recently completed extensive additions and renovations which the public will be able to view Tuesday, June 17, 2025, during an open house at its 105 Sergeant Square location.
Visitors, friends and members will be greeted by an expanded parking lot. The interior added Sergeant Bluff Tax & Accounting with three offices as part of the new facility. Brandon Varros, a former SB-L educator, heads up the latter. A receptionist and three accountants are on duty. SVCCU shares the building with the accounting firm. Both businesses have separate entrances.
John Parks, CEO & Manager of Sioux Valley Community Credit Union.
The entire interior was updated. New, comfortable, spacious offices are now in place. The structure was rewired adding USB ports. An added Break Room is now part of SVCCU. New flooring, new carpeting, and a new ceiling grace the interior. Distinctive open teller portals readily greet patrons, visitors, and new customers. There is a designated large office for conducting new accounts and loans.
The expansion and renovation derived from the increased traffic that Sioux Valley Community Credit Union experienced. Utilizing H&H Builders out of Kingsley, IA., renowned for financial building construction and renovation, the overall result is a marked conductivity for both the Credit Union’s membership and employees. There’s no question the design affords itself very well to overall operational efficiency that exclusively benefits patrons/members.
The dedicated staff of Sioux Valley Community Credit Union. (l-r) Katarina, Maria, Tina, Kelly, Frankie (Head of Barketing), Amie, John, Ashlynne.
Visibility is built into the facility, allowing instant recognition of those entering to conduct their business.
Facilities don’t score unless you have the best people to be there. Along with the Tax & Accounting members, Sioux Valley CCU combines friendliness, knowledge, professionalism wrapped up in a small-town neighbor, down-to-earth charm.
There’s Kelly Dawdy, branch manager for 30 years. Ashlynne Hildreath, a Salix native, and new-comer, Maria Suarez, all making up the Sergeant Bluff team. They are but one of three branches, the others being in Morningside (3450 Lakeport Street), and the main branch in Sioux City (1120-6th Street). Together, there are 12 full-time and five part-time employees, serving 3,573 members.
As with every successful enterprise, the road upward is determined by its leadership, and to this Sioux Valley CCU has one of the best in CEO John Parks. A Moville native, John brings with him a resume of expertise that would fill a full page of Who’s Who in financial service along with the acumen in knowing how to incorporate his knowledge to fit into all the essential facets of credit union daily and long-term operations.
John and the Sioux Valley CCU family have, over the years, formed many friendships, associations, and community relationships.
“We are particularly proud of our involvement and work within our communities. Every employee at each of our three locations, is actively involved with our schools, charitable organizations, and businesses,” Parks said.
There are many family-oriented functions in which SVCCU is engaged both during work hours and after hours. The list is extensive, but points to the depth of involvement the Union actively leads. These include fund raisers for organizations such as Friday Jeans Day, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Siouxland, the Community Action Agency, the Lunch Pack for Sergeant Bluff-Luton, and Character Counts for Morningside Elementary.
Parks said he is particularly proud of the fact that Sioux Valley CCU holds to its motto, “Every Day Making a Difference, for what we seek to do by making a difference in our members’ lives financially – like loans, or purchasing a vehicle, providing assistance that assures members are not paying higher than necessary interest rates on major purchases.” To achieve these goals, Parks said that each SVCCU branch has certified financial coaches – accounting for 100% at all their locations -- all with a link to the Iowa Credit Union Foundation.”
John said, “We help students and we help adults with basic financial planning, budgeting, using specialized notebooks and workbooks to help set up budgets which we use in future loans, discuss loans, and financial counseling.”
The assistance to community in many instances goes beyond, as in the case of education, whereas plans are in the works to instruct students at Sergeant Bluff-Luton this summer in a transition class, talking about financial products, the importance of credit, the importance of knowing and understanding individual credit cards, and payment methods.
Their work in this regard has seen SVCCU provide financial education at Briar Cliff University, Woodbury Central schools, the latter of which Parks dons the attire of Benjamin Franklin during Financial Literacy Month (April), and work with students. In fact, the Iowa Credit Union even purchased financial literacy books for the Moville students.
Thirteen years ago, John said, SVCCU’s asset size was at $21 million, with approximately $4-million in personal and business loans. Since that time, SVCCU ramped up its policies allowing for additional freedom in lending, fair interest rates, the latter of which subsequently saw an increase in Credit Union membership, and mortgage loans, assets increased that today amount to $41-million, with $23-million in loans.
SVCCU has accomplished an astonishing growth that continues to move forward, the beneficiaries of which are its members and the communities they serve. For all its success, Sioux Valley Community Credit Union remains an institution founded on what has made America great. They continue to grow while retaining Iowa values, neighborliness, and old fashion service.
That’s saying a lot.
So, stop by and say hello. Look around. Visit. It’ll be time well spent.
