Posts in category News & Events

Mercer County Community FCU Staff and Junior Achievement Board Members Volunteer at JA BizTown®

On March 3^rd, Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union (MCCFCU) staff had the opportunity to volunteer at Junior Achievement (JA) of Western PA’s experiential learning lab JA BizTown®. JA Board of Directors members and MCCFCU employees, Sandi Carangi and Elaine Patton, were joined by fellow JA board members Brad Mantzell and Jake Rickert. Additional volunteers included Abby Postlewaite, Tammy Calderwood, and Tessica Campbell of MCCFCU, as well as Ligaya Kurelko of Penn-Northwest Development Corporation.

Designed for fourth through sixth-grade students, the JA program begins with an in-class curriculum that encompasses financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. After completing the coursework, students are invited to spend a full day at JA BizTown®, located in South Fayette Township, PA.

JA BizTown® is a fully interactive mock town that simulates the daily operations of a thriving community. Students assume professional roles within their businesses, designed to expose them to real-world scenarios through hands-on experience. Some activities include holding company meetings, processing payroll, setting up a storefront, and doing business at a credit union, all while working to repay a startup business loan.

“JA BizTown is a wonderful experience designed to foster financial literacy and entrepreneurship,” said Sandi Carangi, CEO of MCCFCU and JA board member. “I’ve seen students leave the simulation with more confidence than they came in with after discovering a new role they enjoy. We are honored to be a part of this unique program.”

More than 50 students from West Hill and CM Musser Elementary Schools in Sharon, PA, participated in the simulation. Later in March, 150 students from Ionta Elementary in Hermitage, PA, will travel to BizTown® to experience their own version of the mock town. Earlier this year, MCCFCU donated $1,000 to Junior Achievement of Western PA, which the credit union received through Visa’s Community Investment Program. This contribution supports JA’s financial literacy initiatives and helps expand educational opportunities for students throughout the community.

March 16, 2026

2026 Candidates for Board of Directors Announced

Currently there are two (2) positions open for the Mercer County Community FCU Board of Directors, each with a three (3) year term. The Nominating Committee has announced its nominations for these board positions. The nominees are: Reneda Eakman and Sandi Carangi.

The above candidates are currently serving on our Credit Union Board of Directors and have agreed to continue to serve if elected. If the nominees run unopposed, an election will not be necessary.

Election results will be announced at the Annual Meeting which will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Location of the meeting will be: Avalon Golf & Country Club, 1030 Forker Blvd., Hermitage, PA 16148
Please see our website for more information. www.mercomfcu.org

March 2, 2026

Mercer County Community FCU is Now Accepting Applications for the 2026 Scholarship Awards

Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union (MCCFCU) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Scholarship Awards. Awards are open to any 2026 high school senior pursuing an academic, professional, or vocational post-high school education at a college, university, or accredited trade school.

Applicants must be a member of MCCFCU prior to submitting an application. However, anyone in the counties of Mercer, Lawrence, Crawford, and Venango in PA, and Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana in OH can join. New members are welcome!

MCCFCU will announce the winners of the awards at the Annual Meeting on April 18, 2026. Six awards will be presented for $1,000 each.

Download an application here or visit one of our offices for a copy. Please return the application and essay by mail or in person to either office by Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Good luck!

2026 Shenango Valley Chapter of Credit Unions Scholarship Program

The Shenango Valley Chapter of Credit Unions, in conjunction with CrossState Credit Union Association, will award $500 scholarships to qualifying students between the ages of 17-24 who are pursuing post-high school studies at a college, university, or vocational trade school. Applicants must be a credit union member or become a member prior to submitting an application.

Download an application here for the Shenango Valley Chapter of Credit Unions Scholarship Awards or visit one of our offices for a copy.

Please return the application by mail to First Choice Federal Credit Union, SVC Scholarship, 2209 W. State Street, New Castle, PA 16101 by Friday, April 10, 2026.

February 4, 2026

Mercer County Community FCU – Advancing Financial Wellness

At the core of Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union’s (MCCFCU) mission is a strong commitment to advancing financial wellness in the community. This dedication focuses on delivering programs and services to support not only its members but also the communities it serves across seven counties in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Over the past year, MCCFCU has expanded access to expert financial guidance for community members through several key initiatives. Staff members earned Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor designations, complementing the multitude of services provided through the credit union’s online partnership with GreenPath Financial Wellness. In addition, workshops on financial wellness, improving credit scores, and home buying have been hosted at the credit union’s training center. Together, these efforts enhance MCCFCU’s ability to provide trusted guidance, empowering members to make confident, informed decisions about their financial well-being.

Dedication and support for financial literacy initiatives in schools also remains a key focus. Directly engaging with students, credit union staff teach financial literacy lessons in local schools and participate in career fairs. Through the credit union’s scholarship program, high school seniors receive $1,000 scholarships to further their education. MCCFCU also offers student accounts specifically designed for teenagers, providing young members with the tools to start managing their money responsibly, build healthy savings habits, and achieve financial independence.

In 2026, MCCFCU will continue to support financial education in the community by offering additional workshops focused on money management, investing, and fraud prevention. Other plans include enhancing online services and expanding physical branches in the surrounding counties. In addition, the credit union plans to expand services for small businesses through partnerships with local organizations. As the credit union looks forward to 2026, it remains committed to engaging in activities that bring about positive changes that directly benefit the local community.

January 28, 2026

Mercer County Community FCU Contributes $5,000 to Local Charities

Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union (MCCFCU) was recently awarded $5,000 through Visa’s Community Investment Program. The credit union was excited to donate the award to five local charitable organizations in the community.

“The goal of this contribution is to further the financial literacy initiatives these organizations are doing in the community,” said Sandi Carangi, CEO of MCCFCU. “We are thrilled to use this award as an opportunity to demonstrate our ‘People Helping People’ philosophy through community support.”

The credit union presented $1,000 checks to the following five organizations: Junior Achievement of Western PA, Prince of Peace Center, The Salvation Army, Shenango Valley Urban League, and United Way of Mercer County.

January 13, 2026

1099-INT Statements are included with December 2025 account statements

Follow these steps to access:

1) Log on to It’sMe247 Online Banking

2) Sign up for eStatements

3) Go to Member Services > eStatements > Tax Statements

All IRA activity and loan interest will be reported on standard IRS forms and will be mailed.

For assistance, please contact one of our offices 724-981-9410 or 724-342-2246.

To read the ‘Instructions for Recipient‘ information from the back of a standard 1099-INT form, click here. These instructions will explain how to read the tax information that will appear at the end of your December statement.

January 5, 2026

Notice of Elections

NOTICE OF ELECTIONS
CANDIDATES FOR BOARD OF
DIRECTORS ANNOUNCED

In accordance with Article V, Section 2 of our
Bylaws, notice is hereby given that nominations for
the Board of Directors for the 2026 Annual Meeting
election of officers may be made by petition to the
Nominating Committee. Such petitions must be
signed by at least 122 members qualified to vote at
the Annual Meeting. The date of the Annual Meeting
is set for Saturday, April 18, 2026.

The Nominating Committee appointed by the
Board of Directors may also make nominations.
Currently there are two positions open for the
Board of Directors, each with a three year term.
The Nominating Committee has announced
its nominations for these board positions. The
nominees are: Reneda Eakman and Sandi Carangi.
These candidates are currently serving on the Board
of Directors and have agreed to continue to serve if
elected.

Members wishing to run for a seat on the Credit
Union Board must file an Official Nomination and
Petition Form which can be obtained by stopping
by the credit union or writing to the Nominating
Committee Chair. Completed Nomination Petitions
must be postmarked by March 1, 2026 and sent to
the following address:

Nominating Committee Chair
MCCFCU
P.O. Box 1304
Hermitage, PA 16148

Nomination Petitions received after the closing
date or incomplete nominations shall be disqualified
by the Secretary. Elections will not be conducted
by ballot and there will be no nominations from
the floor at the Annual Meeting if there is only one
nomination for each position to be filled. Election
results will be announced at the Annual Meeting.

December 4, 2025

Mercer County Community FCU Recognizes Employees

Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union (MCCFCU) is pleased to recognize a leadership advancement and welcome a new addition to its dedicated staff.

Cheryl Deschand has been promoted to Vice President of Lending. She previously served as Indirect Lending Manager, overseeing financing and auto dealer relationships, as well as day-to-day lending functions. In her new role, she will oversee all lending operations at both the Sharon and Hermitage Credit Union branches.

Additionally, Dan Blair has joined MCCFCU as Vice President of Finance. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Hiram College. Dan brings over 15 years of experience in accounting and credit risk analysis to the role. In this new position, he will be responsible for the Credit Union’s financial budget and overseeing all accounting operations to ensure compliance and support of the Credit Union’s objectives.

“We are proud to recognize the hard work and commitment of our team,” said Sandi Carangi, CEO of MCCFCU. “These advancements reflect our focus on continued growth and delivering exceptional service to our members.”

December 3, 2025

MCCFCU Spreads Kindness and Gives Back to Local Community

In October, Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union (MCCFCU) joined credit unions across Pennsylvania and New Jersey in celebrating CrossState Credit Union network’s CU Kind initiative. MCCFCU demonstrated this commitment of spreading kindness throughout the community through a variety of events, donations, and volunteer initiatives, exemplifying the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People.”

To kick off the initiative, the credit union hosted a month-long food drive benefiting the Mercer County Food Bank. Thanks to the kindness of members, staff, and board members, MCCFCU collected and donated 758 pounds of food. Other events included Member Appreciation Day and MCCFCU’s annual Shred Day.

Throughout the month, staff and board members were also encouraged to volunteer their time or donate to a local agency or event. In return, the credit union matched their goodwill by donating $100 to the nonprofit of their choice. Some of the organizations included the local animal shelter, food bank, and historical society. This resulted in the credit union contributing over $2,000 to local charities.

“We’re incredibly proud of the generosity of our members, staff, and volunteers,” said Sandi Carangi, CEO of MCCFCU. “Kindness is at the core of everything we do. It’s what being a credit union is all about. October was a wonderful reminder of how small acts of kindness can make a big difference in our community.”

November 19, 2025

October 2025 Food Drive

We wrapped up CUKind month with a donation to the Mercer County Food Bank of 758 pounds of food. To the generous members and staff who donated, we can’t thank you enough for your kindness. Your donations will make a big difference for local families in need. We’re proud to be part of such a caring community.