January 2026

A MESSAGE FROM CEO JEREMY SMITH

As we close out the year, I want to extend heartfelt thanks for your trust and partnership. Your support fuels our mission and inspires our team to keep raising the bar for service, convenience, and reliability.


Looking back at 2025, I believe two milestones stand out:


1) Our core system conversion

This was a once-in-a-generation upgrade to the technology that powers your day-to-day banking. We planned carefully, tested extensively, and executed to the best of our abilities to minimize disruption.


The payoff is real: faster service behind the scenes, stronger reliability, and a modern foundation that lets us bring new features to you faster without compromising security.


2) A new online and mobile banking experience

We introduced an updated digital platform designed around your needs. The experience is cleaner, faster, and more intuitive whether you’re checking balances, paying bills, transferring funds, setting alerts, or securely messaging our team.


It’s banking that fits your life, on your schedule.


Looking ahead to next year...


With these upgrades in place, we’re positioned to deliver even more value. Expect continued enhancements to digital self-service, streamlined lending experiences, stronger fraud protection, and new tools to support financial wellness.


We’ll keep listening to your feedback and investing in the features that matter most to you because every improvement should make managing your money simpler, safer, and more personal.


Thank you for being part of Affinity. On behalf of our entire team, I wish you and your families a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. We’re excited for what’s ahead and we’re honored to serve you.

AFFINITY BRANCHES CLOSING EARLY TO CELEBRATE MARGIE'S RETIREMENT

After an incredible 30 years of service, Affinity Credit Union will be celebrating the retirement of Margie Thrapp, a true cornerstone of our organization. Margie has been part of Affinity longer than anyone, and her dedication, knowledge, and heart for our members and staff have left a lasting impact that cannot be overstated.


To honor Margie and her remarkable career, Affinity Credit Union will be closing early at 3:00 PM on Monday, January 12, so our team can come together to celebrate her at a retirement party.



Members and friends are also invited to share their well wishes. A link is included below where you can leave a farewell message for Margie as she begins this next chapter. We are deeply grateful for all she has given to Affinity and wish her nothing but happiness in retirement.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION --- CONSOLIDATE YOUR CREDIT CARD DEBT

Get a fresh start in 2026 by consolidating high interest credit card debt to the Affinity Platinum MasterCard - the savings could be HUGE.


Imagine you owe $10,000 on your card & make payments of $200/month.


THEIR card (national average rate of 19.72% APR)*

$11,154.91 interest paid before zero balance


AFFINITY PLATINUM MasterCard (fixed rate of 11.9% APR)

$3,880.44 interest paid before zero balance

BETTER interest rate. LOWER late fee. ZERO balance transfer and annual fees.

AFFINITY GIVES $8,000 THROUGH BUILDING BETTER HOLIDAYS CAMPAIGN

The holiday season is a time for care, compassion, and community. Through our Building Better Holidays campaign, Affinity Credit Union is proud to have supported several local organizations bringing hope to families across central Iowa.


  • Single Parent Provision – Single Moms Christmas Dinner
  • Our $1,000 sponsorship helped provide an uplifting evening for more than 2,000 single mothers and children, reminding them they were not alone this holiday season.


  • United Way of Central Iowa – HOPE for Stable Families Drive
  • With a $2,000 contribution, we’ve helped provide essentials like cleaning supplies, gift cards, diapers, and baby items to support families working toward long-term stability.


  • YMCA Supportive Housing Campus – Holiday Giving
  • A $2,000 donation assisted their holiday party and gift program, ensuring residents experiencing or emerging from homelessness felt valued, supported, and celebrated.


  • UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Compassion Fund
  • Our $2,000 donation helps cover expenses often not supported by insurance, including transportation, lodging, and equipment, easing the burden for patients and their families.


  • Cradling New Life – NICU Ornament Fundraiser
  • Affinity matched $1,000 in donations, helping provide holiday ornaments and year-round support for NICU families, because even the smallest babies deserve big care.

MONTHLY MORTGAGE MESSAGE FROM VICTORIA

BUYING IN THE SPRING MYTH AND WHY NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!


Most people think spring is the best time to buy a home. Here in Des Moines, the opposite is often true. Winter can be the smartest time to start your home search and here’s why.


1.Less Competition = More Negotiating Power

The number of active buyers drops sharply after the holidays. That means fewer multiple offer situations and more room for negotiation. Winter buyers often secure better pricing or seller concessions simply because there is less competition.


2.Winter Sellers Are Serious Sellers

Homes listed in the colder months are usually from sellers who need to move and not just “testing the market.” Motivated sellers lead to smoother, faster negotiations.


3.You Get Better Insight into a Home’s Condition

Snow, ice, and cold temperatures stress-test a home. You can see and feel how well it’s insulated, how the furnace performs, and whether the windows leak cold air.


4.You Beat the Spring Price Bump

Every year, listing activity rises in March… but buyer activity rises even more. Prices follow demand. Buying now means locking in a lower purchase price before that spring surge hits.


If you're thinking about buying in 2025, getting preapproved now gives you a real advantage before the rest of the market wakes up from hibernation. 


Get in touch!:

515-777-7820

vnesbit@affinitycuia.org

NMLS: 2055515

JOIN THE AFFINITY CREDIT UNION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Every year, leading up to our annual meeting, Affinity Credit Union members are given the opportunity to join the credit union's Board of Directors. This is your opportunity.

Once elected to serve on the Board, you're a voice for Affinity's membership and help set direction for future growth of the credit union. The Board is responsible for duties such as overseeing Affinity's policies, monitoring Affinity's strategic plan, and ensuring Affinity operates in the best interest of its membership.


You have an opportunity to make a difference, which is a very powerful thing.

Do you have a strong desire to help Affinity continue to succeed and grow? Are you willing to take a leadership role in charting the future of Affinity? If so, we would like to hear from you!

Completed applications can be mailed to the address below or dropped off at an Affinity branch. Applications must be submitted by February 10, 2026.

ICUF WARREN A. MORROW MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP NOW OPEN

Guided by the credit union philosophy of people helping people, the Iowa Credit Union Foundation (ICUF) works to champion financial well-being for all. As part of this mission, ICUF promotes the Warren A. Morrow Memorial Scholarship program to encourage high school seniors and post-high school students to learn about credit unions and to prepare them for their financial futures. 


The Warren A. Morrow Memorial Scholarship includes two categories: 



  • High School Scholarship (16 possible awards): open to any high school student with a projected graduation year of 2026 who is entering full-time enrollment in an accredited undergraduate or vocational program.
  • (4) first-place prizes of $3,000
  • (4) second-place prizes of $2,000
  • (4) third-place prizes of $1,500
  • (4) fourth-place prizes of $1,000.


  • Post-High School Scholarship: open to any post-high school student who is entering or continuing enrollment full or part-time in an accredited undergraduate, graduate, or vocational program.
  • (8) eight prizes of $2,000. 


DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 6TH!


UPCOMING CLOSURES

Margie Retirement Celebration (closing 3pm)

Monday, January 12th


Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Monday, January 19th


Presidents' Day

Monday, February 16th


Memorial Day

Monday, May 25th

*National average credit card rate accurate as of 12/31/2025 according to https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/advice/current-interest-rates/

Interest payment calculations per https://www.calculator.net/credit-card-calculator

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