For many people, buying their first home is a one-of-a-kind experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives. Excitement, nerves, and a sense of accomplishment fill the room as the final paperwork is signed. For Tracy Bergstrom of Teachers Credit Union, there is no greater feeling than helping the members of Northwest Indiana get into the home of their dreams.
Bergstrom, a Mortgage Loan Originator at Teachers Credit Union in Valparaiso, views her role as an opportunity to help the members of the Region achieve their goals.
“It’s a rewarding role,” Bergstrom said. “It’s one of those positions that you really get to know your members on a really personal, one-on-one basis. It’s so rewarding, especially with first-time home buyers, when you finally get to the day of closing. It’s always such a great feeling to see the excitement on everybody’s face that they have accomplished one of the major goals in life, to own a home. To be a part of that is super rewarding.”
Bergstrom demonstrated her passion for finance from the moment she left high school. Beginning at a small bank in Whiting, Bergstrom’s love for finance and working with the community blossomed. She began as a teller before working her way to Assistant Manager at Teachers Credit Union, and finally entering the Mortgage Department.
“Finance has always been my forte,” Bergstrom said. “It’s always what I have enjoyed doing, so when the opportunity came about to go into the mortgage role, I was all about it.”
Alongside her husband in their home in Kouts, Bergstrom finds the Region to offer the quiet life while being near cities that offer lots of opportunities for entertainment and community events.
“My husband and I were in Valpo for a while, and when it came to us looking for homeownership, it was a great opportunity to move into a slightly smaller town,” Bergstrom said of living in Kouts. “We like the quiet. We came from Illinois, and as we’ve moved further south and into Indiana, we liked the feel of the quiet, small town.”
When Bergstrom and her husband are looking for an evening out, they find themselves gravitating to Valparaiso, where Bergstrom works during the day.
“Valparaiso is just beautiful,” Bergstrom said. “I’m excited to be in the Valparaiso area as the Mortgage Originator developing myself and getting to know everyone and giving back to the community.”
Bergstrom appreciates the giving spirit of Northwest Indiana, noting how willing the people of the Region are to serve their community.
“Northwest Indiana is a beautiful community to be a part of. The amount of people who give back to the community and volunteer in their community is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Being part of a community that really does participate like that is amazing.”
Bergstrom attributes part of her success in the finance industry to having a strong support system encouraging her and rooting for her success.
“There’s been a lot of people along the way who have supported me and given me the opportunities to get me where I am today,” Bergstrom said. “There’s been a lot of people since I started at Teachers. Roxann, the manager of the Valpo South Branch, really saw a lot in me and pushed me forward in my career, and I definitely have to thank her for that.”
Bergstrom’s love for finance and her love for the community fit right into the philosophies of Teachers Credit Union.
“The main point that Teachers tries to implement is that we are very member based,” Bergstrom said. “We do whatever we can to make the situation and the process as smooth as possible for our members.”
With a passion for helping people, for finance, and for the community, Tracy Bergstrom has found happiness and success by helping people to achieve their dreams of being homeowners.