BVU, United Bank of Iowa Connect Through Strategic Partnership
Collaboration with Buena Vista University offers additional educational benefits to United Bank of Iowa employees and their eligible family members.
Buena Vista University (BVU) and United Bank of Iowa have formed a Strategic Partnership, providing new opportunities to strengthen the communities and the people both entities serve.
This partnership allows for employees of United Bank of Iowa, as well as eligible family members of full-time employees, to receive grant funding to lower the overall cost of education while enrolled in classes at BVU’s Storm Lake campus. Partner grant funding also lowers the cost per credit hour for students enrolled in BVU’s convenient online undergraduate programs or the organizational leadership graduate program.
“We are excited about partnering with BVU to offer our employees discounted tuition and get more exposure to UBI to attract new employees,” says United Bank of Iowa Recruiting & Development Coordinator Katie Bresnahan.
“BVU was my home away from home. It introduced me to some of my best friends and some great internships. The staff really cared about my success, and that was ultimately why BVU was a great choice for me."
United Bank of Iowa Ag Loan Associate Jamison Frerk, '23
United Bank of Iowa, headquartered in Ida Grove, is a full-service community bank. As a leader in the agricultural banking industry, United Bank of Iowa has been recognized as Iowa’s #1 Ag Bank since 2004. United Bank of Iowa, with assets of over $2.4 billion, employs approximately 330 professionals in 34 additional locations in West Central Iowa: Alta, Anthon, Arthur, Aurelia, Boone, Carroll, Charter Oak, Churdan, Cleghorn, Cushing, Denison, Dunlap, Fort Dodge, Galva, Glidden, Harlan, Holstein, Kingsley, Kiron, Lake City, Lohrville, Lytton, Marcus, Moorhead, Moville, Odebolt, Onawa, Pierson, Pocahontas, Rockwell City, Rolfe, Sac City, Schleswig, and Storm Lake.
“BVU was my home away from home,” says United Bank of Iowa Ag Loan Associate Jamison Frerk, who received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural business in 2023. “It introduced me to some of my best friends and some great internships. The staff really cared about my success, and that was ultimately why BVU was a great choice for me. Like always, defend the lake!”
BVU has long enjoyed strong educational ties in and around Denison and Fort Dodge, home to Western Iowa Tech Community College and Iowa Central Community College, respectively, campuses that have collaborated with BVU for decades. Students enrolled in a program through WITCC or ICCC can seamlessly transfer their credits toward their bachelor’s degree at BVU. Students receive personalized support including admissions and enrollment counseling and academic advising right in Denison and Fort Dodge through BVU’s offices on the WITCC and ICCC campuses.
“Buena Vista University is eager to become Strategic Partners with United Bank of Iowa, extending additional educational benefits to its employees and their eligible family members,” says BVU Director of Strategic Partnerships Laura Todd. “BVU is dedicated to strengthening Iowa’s workforce through increased access to affordable education, and we look forward to the many opportunities this collaboration will create for individuals at United Bank of Iowa.”
For more information about BVU’s Strategic Partnerships and partner opportunities, please visit the BVU website at bvu.edu/strategic-partnerships or contact Strategic Partnerships at StrategicPartnerships@bvu.edu.