At The Bank of Missouri, serving others extends far beyond the workplace. Through our Above & Beyond series, we highlight team members who are making a meaningful difference in the communities they call home.
Empowering Second Chances
For Retail Sales & Consumer Products Manager Erika Worley, that impact comes through providing financial education to individuals working toward a fresh start.
Working alongside her husband Bobby, who volunteers through a local jail ministry, Erika partners with Perry County's rehabilitation efforts by teaching financial literacy classes inside the county jail.
"Everyone knows someone who has been affected by addiction," Erika said. "Like most people, I have loved ones who have been impacted. It starts simple and can consume lives. However, that does not have to be the end of someone's story."
That connection and wanting to help people build a better future led Erika to become involved in Perry County's rehabilitation efforts, where she now teaches financial education classes for those preparing to reenter everyday life. They focus on practical topics like budgeting, credit, and interest rates.
Her connection to the program began through longtime family friend Mickey Glaub, a Certified Peer Specialist with the Perry County Sheriff's Office. Under the leadership of Sheriff Jason Klaus, the department has worked to expand rehabilitation opportunities by creating support systems that help individuals prepare for life after incarceration. That includes a Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Grant focused on life skills and successful reentry.
As Erika's husband Bobby ministers each week, Erika periodically leads financial education classes for those who choose to participate. Their church also provides recovery Bibles to encourage participants throughout their journey.
"The budgeting conversations we have are the same conversations I have every day," Erika said. "We all earn income to pay for the things we need. Learning how to use our money wisely to meet our needs and the needs of our families is something everyone can relate to."
Her classes cover budgeting using the 50-20-30 method, and through interactive activities and real-life discussions, participants begin thinking about financial decisions in a new way.
One lesson, inspired by Bobby's ministry, often resonates with the group.
"If you don't know what to do, just do the next right thing."
For Erika, that message applies just as much to finances as it does to life. Focusing on needs before wants and making one good decision at a time can create meaningful change.
Sheriff Jason Klaus shares that same philosophy. "Rehabilitation is not simply keeping them safe. If that's all we're doing, it's not enough. We have an opportunity to invoke change. It's the totality of relationships in the community that help build a bigger picture."
While confidentiality prevents Erika from sharing individual stories, the experience has reinforced the importance of hope and second chances.
"If you ever have a loved one who is incarcerated, you pray someone will offer hope, respect, and guidance that there is a good, blessed life beyond this experience," she said.
That perspective has only strengthened her belief in the power of financial education.
"We've all made decisions we're not proud of," Erika said. "Those decisions don't have to define who we are. Some of the strongest testimonies come from people who have overcome incredibly difficult seasons and now inspire others to fight for the life they want."
For Bobby, the success of the program also reflects the support they've received from local leadership.
"None of this would be possible without a county sheriff who is willing to allow and focus on improvement within the corrections facility," he said.
When asked what advice she would give someone wanting to make a difference in their own community, Erika encourages people to begin with what matters most to them.
"Find your passion. For most people, it comes from personal experience," she said. "Once you've found it, start talking to people. We all have different gifts. My husband's is ministering to people in recovery. Mine is financial education. Together, we hope to positively impact someone's life."
Whether she's helping customers plan for their financial future or equipping someone with the tools to begin again, Erika's commitment to serving others reflects what Above & Beyond is all about.
At The Bank of Missouri, we're proud to celebrate team members like Erika who continue to make a lasting impact by helping others build brighter futures, one step at a time.
The Bank of Missouri