Bank Iowa to Crowdsource Community Needs for Helping Hand Give Back Program

April 20, 2020 | Bank Iowa

   

I

owans asked to share ideas for ways Bank Iowa can help its neighbors cope with fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic

 

Bank Iowa team members have been busy brainstorming ways to help businesses, communities and neighbors as they continue to experience stresses related to COVID-19. To ensure the needs of many are considered, the bank today launched Bank Iowa Helping Hand, a crowdsourcing initiative to identify both big and small needs across 23 Iowa communities.

 

The premise of the initiative is simple: Anyone can submit a community-focused idea, task or charitable cause, and if selected, Bank Iowa will lend a helping hand through financial sponsorship and / or volunteer manpower to bring the request to fruition.

 

“Helping in a meaningful way begins by listening. We may have our own ideas for supporting local causes, but we’d rather hear what our neighbors think and let them help us determine the best use of the bank’s resources,” said Jim Plagge, Bank Iowa president and CEO. “Our team members are really excited to see what ideas come in and even more excited to get started on bringing support and hope to the people who need it the most.”

 

Bank Iowa’s seven regional presidents will select a minimum of seven ideas based on the overall impact each concept offers the greater community and the number of people who can be positively impacted by the support. “We are a community bank that prides itself on making local decisions, and this program will be a direct reflection of that philosophy,” said Plagge. “Local impact requires local decision making, especially in this case.”

 

No specific dollar amount has been set for the Helping Hand program, as the bank anticipates looking at ideas that range from small to large in terms of overall scope.

 

Plagge believes the program will have the added benefit of contributing to the people-centered culture of Iowa’s second largest family-owned bank. “We encourage our team members to advocate for their community members and to lead with compassion,” said Plagge. “Offering concrete opportunities to enable great things for the people who count on us is just one way we can help our team members live out these values.”

 

To submit an idea for Bank Iowa’s Helping Hand program, visit  the Helping Hand page. (Please note this program is now complete.)