On February 6, 1940 nine employees of Owens-Illinois Glass Co. at Clarion, acting as incorporators, signed the organization certificate of the Clarion Onized Federal Credit Union. The certificate was duly notarized and sent to The Farm Credit Administration in Washington, D.C. The approval was granted on February 20, 1940 and charter number 3655 was assigned.
On February 21, 1940 an interested group of members assembled in the Ross Memorial Library to organize the Credit Union. From this small group, a credit union to serve the needs of the Owens Illinois employees was formed. Since 1972 the credit union has continued to add payroll entities extending our membership far beyond Owens-Illinois employees. In 1985, a merger with Gateway Knox FCU in Marienville was approved by the National Credit Union Administration. This merger allowed the credit union to continue operations at the Clarion office. In more recent years the credit union has continued to grow in terms of asset size, membership eligibility, and service offerings. In late summer 2009 the Board of Directors decided that it was also time for the Credit Union’s physical presence to expand. A lot was purchased along Holiday Inn Road in Monroe Township, and construction began on a new main office that is approximately twice the size of the Wood Street location. Construction was completed in June 2010. From an original nucleus of twenty members; from $100 in assets; from part-time help; from the corner of somebody’s desk or lathe, over the course of seventy years what was once a simple convenience for a singular employee group has matured into a community mainstay. Factors in the accomplishment of the credit union’s growth and success have been the work of many dedicated volunteers, the Board of Directors, the staff, and the credit union’s members.
Beginning on March 19, 2010 the credit union became known as “Clarion Federal Credit Union” a name that reflects an ever- growing commitment to community-wide service.
The Credit Union has expanded its field of membership and you are eligible to join if you live, work, worship, attend school, or regularly do business in Clarion, Jefferson, Forest or Venango counties in Pennsylvania. The Credit Union offers a wide variety of financial products including saving accounts, checking accounts, single and joint accounts, debit cards, low interest rate auto loans and home equity products, IRA’s, term certificates, Christmas and vacation club accounts.
A $5 deposit is required to open your account. The $5 remains in your account until you wish to close it permanently. We ask that you keep your account active - either through payroll deductions or regular deposits. Credit Unions are a great alternative to banks and the Clarion Federal Credit Union wants to extend our products and financial services to you! The character of the Credit Union is that our products will save members money – whether it is through low to no service costs on deposit products or getting a great rate on a loan.
If you wish to open an account please have the following items with you:
• Social Security NumberBenefits of Credit Union Membership:
• Members are the ownersWe establish business partners with area business’s and bring the Credit Union to you and your employees by having Credit Union Days at your place of business. We bring our financial knowledge and are available to answer any questions you should have about an existing account, opening a new account, refinancing loans, etc. The Credit Union offers this special service free of charge.
To find out more about how we can become a great benefit to you and your employees— contact Elicia Mealy by phone at 226-5032 x126 or by email at emealy@clarionfcu.org. If you’re currently a business partner and aren’t receiving monthly emails from Elicia please contact her at the information listed above.
Board Volunteers | |
Deborah Boyles | President |
Nancy Kadunce | Vice President |
Sherry Kahle | Secretary |
Robert Ciancio | Treasurer |
Michael Meals | Director |
Gary Wolbert | Director |
Betsy Stewart | Director |
Linda Pappas | Director |
Todd MacBeth | Director |
Supervisory Committee | |
Nancy Kadunce | Chairperson |
Kim MacBeth | Member |
Sally Moore | Member |
Officers | |
Mark A. Lauer | CEO |
Sherry A. Kahle | Operations Officer |
Chris Duncan | Lending Officer |
Each year you, the membership, decide by way of voting, the candidates that will best represent you to sit on the Credit Union Board of Directors. This election is in April. On the Board of Directors there are 9 seats, 3 of which will be available to fill.
All decisions made by the Board of Directors must be guided by the best interests of the membership.
Responsibilities of the voluntary board members include:
It is vital for all aspects of the Credit Union that quality people continue to serve as a Director. Candidates need to be able to serve the members of our Credit Union and be able to think strategically. The Board meets in the evening on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
If you are interested in becoming a board member, please e-mail us at info@clarionfcu.org or complete the nomination form available in the office or here on the web ( Click here ) and return it to our Clarion office:
Clarion Federal Credit Union – Election Committee
114 Holiday Inn Rd
Clarion, PA 16214
Board of Directors Election Committee
A credit union is a cooperative, not-for-profit financial institution organized to promote thrift and provide credit to members. It is member-owned and controlled through a board of directors elected by the membership.
The board serves on a volunteer basis and may hire a management team to run the credit union. The board also establishes and revises policy, sets dividend and loan rates, and directs certain operations. The result: members are provided with a safe, convenient place to save and borrow at reasonable rates at an institution which exists to benefit them, not to make a profit.
Most financial institutions are owned by stockholders, who own a part of the institution and intend on making money from their investment. A credit union doesn't operate in that manner. Rather, each credit union member owns one "share" of the organization.
The user of credit union services is also an owner, and is even entitled to vote on important issues, such as the election of member representatives to serve on the board of directors.
The first credit union cooperatives started in Germany over a century ago. Today, credit unions are found everywhere in the world. The credit union movement started in this country in Manchester, New Hampshire. There, the St. Mary's Cooperative Credit Association, a church-affiliated credit union, opened its doors in 1909. Today, one in every three Americans is a credit union member.
The primary purpose in furthering their goal of service is to encourage members to save money. Another purpose is to offer loans to members. In fact, credit unions have traditionally made loans to people of ordinary means.
Credit unions can charge lower rates for loans (as well as pay higher dividends on savings) because they are nonprofit cooperatives. Rather than paying profits to stockholders, credit unions return earnings to members in the form of dividends or improved services.
Yes. All savings accounts are insured to at least $250,000.00 by the NCUA, the National Credit Union Administration, an agency of the federal government.
The Clarion Federal Credit Union accepts persons who live, work (or regularly conduct business in), worship, or attend school in, and busi-ness and other legal entities located in Clarion, Forest, Jefferson and Venango Counties, Pennsylvania.