The colors of Christmas are everywhere—bright red bows, sparkling white snow, and twinkling lights that warm our hearts. This year, Iowa State Bank added a new color to the holiday palette: a proud military blue, honoring the brave men and women serving far from home.
For Senior Lending Assistant Jackie Hoover, the season carries a deeper meaning. By day, she works at the Main Bank, but when evening falls, her responsibilities extend beyond her own family. Jackie’s husband, Brandon, is deployed with the Iowa National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, Alpha Company, serving in Erbil, Iraq. While he serves overseas, Jackie serves here at home as the unit’s Soldier & Family Readiness Coordinator, helping loved ones navigate the challenges of daily life during deployment. “Every family needs a support system, but when your loved one is deployed overseas, sometimes extra support is needed for questions and needs that arise. That is where the Soldier & Family Readiness Coordinator assists,” said Hoover.
As Christmas approached, Jackie felt a calling: to bring joy and comfort to the families of deployed soldiers who would be missing their loved ones. She began planning a special Christmas for Alpha Company families, complete with gifts to remind them they are not alone. When Iowa State Bank’s management team learned of her mission, they didn’t hesitate—they wanted to join fellow Iowans to help Alpha company and its families. The bank matched employee donations, turning Jackie’s vision into an effort to support the military and to support a member of the bank family. “The bank has always been very family-focused,” said Iowa State Bank President Laurie Vitzthum. “Our employees spend each workday together, so we are a family here, too. Our military protects our nation and our way of life, and this is just one way we can show appreciation,” she remarked.
The unit’s gift list topped 130 families – that’s a lot of presents! While many Iowans stepped up to help the unit with all of the gifts and good tidings, the bank’s training center transformed into Santa’s workshop. Co-workers and their families helped wrap presents and load Hoover’s trailer. It was more than gift-giving -- it was a reminder that even in the absence of togetherness, love and support can bridge the miles from Iowa all the way to Iraq.
Though Alpha Company is scheduled to return in spring 2026, these gifts carried a message that transcends distance: You are remembered. You are appreciated. You are loved. This Christmas, Iowa State Bank didn’t just celebrate the season—they celebrated the spirit of giving, gratitude, and community.
For Senior Lending Assistant Jackie Hoover, the season carries a deeper meaning. By day, she works at the Main Bank, but when evening falls, her responsibilities extend beyond her own family. Jackie’s husband, Brandon, is deployed with the Iowa National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, Alpha Company, serving in Erbil, Iraq. While he serves overseas, Jackie serves here at home as the unit’s Soldier & Family Readiness Coordinator, helping loved ones navigate the challenges of daily life during deployment. “Every family needs a support system, but when your loved one is deployed overseas, sometimes extra support is needed for questions and needs that arise. That is where the Soldier & Family Readiness Coordinator assists,” said Hoover.
As Christmas approached, Jackie felt a calling: to bring joy and comfort to the families of deployed soldiers who would be missing their loved ones. She began planning a special Christmas for Alpha Company families, complete with gifts to remind them they are not alone. When Iowa State Bank’s management team learned of her mission, they didn’t hesitate—they wanted to join fellow Iowans to help Alpha company and its families. The bank matched employee donations, turning Jackie’s vision into an effort to support the military and to support a member of the bank family. “The bank has always been very family-focused,” said Iowa State Bank President Laurie Vitzthum. “Our employees spend each workday together, so we are a family here, too. Our military protects our nation and our way of life, and this is just one way we can show appreciation,” she remarked.
The unit’s gift list topped 130 families – that’s a lot of presents! While many Iowans stepped up to help the unit with all of the gifts and good tidings, the bank’s training center transformed into Santa’s workshop. Co-workers and their families helped wrap presents and load Hoover’s trailer. It was more than gift-giving -- it was a reminder that even in the absence of togetherness, love and support can bridge the miles from Iowa all the way to Iraq.
Though Alpha Company is scheduled to return in spring 2026, these gifts carried a message that transcends distance: You are remembered. You are appreciated. You are loved. This Christmas, Iowa State Bank didn’t just celebrate the season—they celebrated the spirit of giving, gratitude, and community.
