Newsweek has named Dupaco Community Credit Union one of the Best Regional Credit Unions in the United States for 2025. This recognition was awarded to only 500 credit unions nationwide.
Dupaco is one of just three credit unions in Iowa listed in the publication’s rankings.
Newsweek conducted research with Plant-A Insight Group, aiming to assess both the financial strength of institutions and consumer confidence with credit unions and banks. Starting with a list of approximately 9,170 financial institutions, including all regional banks and credit unions in the U.S., and data from over 71,000 customer interviews, the findings were narrowed down to the best 1,000 regional institutions (500 banks, 500 credit unions) in the United States.
The research evaluated areas such as overall financial health, profitability, exposure to risks and potential losses, lending and leasing activity, and more. Additionally, the study also collected more than 1.9 million social media reviews and 129 million Apple and Google Play store reviews to support their scoring model.
Nancy Cooper, Global Editor in Chief of Newsweek, said, “Credit unions are operated as member-owned cooperatives, driven by a mission of service rather than profit. This approach often translates to lower fees, competitive loan rates and a genuine focus on member satisfaction. Credit unions serve as more than just financial institutions—they are partners in their neighborhoods, actively participating in local events and initiatives that strengthen bonds among members.”
“For the second consecutive year, we are honored to receive this recognition,” said Joe Hearn, Dupaco President and CEO. “Although we did not seek out this recognition, we are thrilled to begin 2025 with such a great accolade. Newsweek’s independent research, based on thousands of data points, highlights our financial health as a member-owned cooperative.”
To maintain its focus on regional institutions, the study excluded nationwide banks and credit unions from the ranking.
