What keeps a young person in a job for seven years? Is it the comfort of routine, the reluctance to leap into the unknown, or something less obvious, like the pull of purpose? Today, job-hopping is often seen as a badge of ambition, especially among youths who would change job every two years or so for greener pastures. Which is why it’s almost unfathomable to meet someone like Deborah Wong. At 30, she has spent nearly a quarter of her life working for the Singapore Statutory Boards Employees' Credit Co-operative (SSBEC).

“When I first joined in 2017, I didn’t know much about co-operatives,” Ms Wong says, thinking back to when she was just 23 years old. “But the co-op model was easy to understand. Like banks, credit co-ops offer savings and loans services, but with a stronger focus on community.”

Seven years on, she is now the Assistant Business Development Manager at the co-operative, where she and her team not only assist members with managing loan applications, but also look for opportunities to drive business development, whether through partnerships or organising road shows.

Founded on 8 October 1925, a day after the formation of Singapore Government Staff Credit Co-operative, SSBEC was the second credit co-operative to be established in Singapore.

Today, SSBEC serves more than 11,000 members, primarily employees of statutory boards and government services such as the Public Utilities Board, Singapore Power, Singapore Armed Forces and the Housing Development Board. Its model is simple: members contribute a minimum of $10 monthly into subscription savings accounts, which accrue a competitive dividend of 3 per cent. Members could also take up loans, such as renovation, education, medical loans and personal loans for their financial needs.

There are moments when members turn to SSBEC seeking help to cover unexpected financial needs. For Ms Wong, these interactions carry a quiet gravity. The act of providing relief — whether it’s through a loan or a listening ear — becomes a source of empowerment, not only for the members but for the co-op staff who work tirelessly to support them.

One of her fondest memories at SSBEC involved assisting a member who required urgent financial support for medical expenses. The member, overwhelmed and unsure of how to proceed, sought help, and Ms Wong, along with her team, worked diligently to fast-track the loan processing. They ensured the funds were disbursed in time, providing much-needed relief. Later, the member expressed heartfelt gratitude, sharing how the timely assistance had eased his financial burden and allowed him to focus on his recovery.

As a youth herself, Ms Wong understands the desire for work that feels purposeful. For her, the impact of helping members in meaningful ways reinforces why she has stayed at SSBEC for so long. Every young worker seems to be chasing the same thing these days: a job that feels like it matters. Not just a pay cheque, not just another title to dress up their LinkedIn profile. They’re after something more — the chance to see how their hours, their effort, their care, make a real impact.

For the team at SSBEC, that impact is reflected not just in serving its members but also in initiatives (“Giving Back to Community” projects) that uplift the broader community. From donating masks during the pandemic to distributing festive essentials and cash gifts to families in need, these acts of care ripple outward, embodying the co-op’s ethos of service.

 “Many people are still not aware that there’s such a thing as co-operatives,” she says. “If I’ve never applied for this job seven years ago, I wouldn’t have known about co-ops either.”

Such is a truth that she finds surprising, given how deeply embedded co-operatives are in providing essential financial support to their members. For Ms Deborah Wong, this lack of awareness is an opportunity to share the co-operative story and its impact with a wider audience, particularly younger generations who may find their ideals of purpose and community reflected in the co-operative model.

There are always new members to welcome, more communities to support, and evolving needs to meet. “I want to enhance our members’ experience and help SSBEC grow,” says Ms Wong. “Ultimately, I hope to shape the future of this co-op, so it remains relevant and trusted for years to come.”

Faces of Co-operator is a seasonal column featuring the stories behind co-operative employees and members. Here, we featured Ms Deborah Wong, an employee of Singapore Statutory Boards Employees’ Credit Co-operative.

Words & Photos by Sng Ler Jun