When Sarah walked into the Winona branch to open a new account, no one expected how much her visit would impact the day. She didn’t have proof of address, so after chatting with Neelie, she headed to the Winona State Housing office and returned shortly after. While waiting, staff overheard Sarah on the phone with Winona Volunteer Services, asking for clothing. She had recently been kicked out of her family’s home, and all her belongings were locked inside.
Neelie sprang into action. Drawing on her local connections, she shared resources to help Sarah get back on her feet. Then, Neelie remembered something personal — she had just cleaned out her closet and had two bags of clothes in her car. Together, they walked outside, and Sarah picked out some “new-to-her” shirts.
“Wow … thank you. I am so grateful. And I promise, this isn’t the last time you will see me!” Sarah said, smiling through what had been a very hard day.
This story could have been just about opening a new account. But it became so much more, a reminder that banking is what we do, and people are who we are. It’s about noticing, caring, and stepping in when it matters most.
This story was submitted by Danielle Johnson, Content & Public Relations Specialist, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union.
