Posts in category News & Events

Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union Supports Children’s Miracle Network on Miracle Jeans Day

Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union employees participated in Children’s Miracle Network’s Miracle Jeans Day on Wednesday, September 9, 2020. Employees from the Hermitage and Sharon, PA offices showed their support by wearing jeans along with their “Credit Unions for Kids” t-shirts. A $500 check was presented to the local area Akron Children’s Hospital from donations collected from employees and the credit union. Since 2015, Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union has donated over $3,000 in support of initiatives that benefit the local Akron Children’s Hospital.

Mercer County Community FCU Partners with Newtek to Provide Business Services

Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union is proud to announce that it has partnered with Newtek Business Services Corp. to offer a variety of business services to small business owners. Partnering with Newtek, Mercer County Community FCU can now offer the following additional services to credit union members:

Paycheck Protection Loans (CARES Act – PPP)
Business Lending
Merchant Solutions
Personal/Commercial Insurance
Payroll, HR, and Employee Benefits Solutions
Managed Technology
Managed IT Solutions

Newtek (NASDAQ: NEWT) is a publicly traded business development company that has a long-standing history of serving the small business community across the United States. “We are excited to be able to offer these extended services to our business members,” stated Sandi Carangi, Mercer County Community FCU CEO. “It’s important to us that our members have access to the resources they need to support their businesses.”

Mercer County Community FCU is Proud to Offer the PENNVEST Homeowner Septic Program

Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union is pleased to be of assistance to the residents of the City of Hermitage who are in need of funding for the current homeowner septic project. We will assist Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and PENNVEST with loan processing and funding.

This special funding program is available to eligible homeowners who need to:

Repair or replace their existing lateral to a public sewer system.
Connect an existing home to the public sewer system for the first time.
Repair or replace their individual on-lot septic system.

Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union is a member owned, not-for-profit organization and we serve all of Mercer County. We are federally chartered and regulated by the National Credit Union Administration.

Information on the Pennvest Homeowner Septic Program can be found here or by contacting Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union at 724-981-9410. We look forward to serving you.

Shenango Valley Chapter of Credit Unions Presents $6,500 in Scholarships

In May 2020, the Shenango Valley Chapter of Credit Unions, in conjunction with Cross State Credit Union Association, presented area credit union members with $6,500 in scholarships. Each student was presented a $500 Scholarship through the Shenango Valley Chapter of Credit Unions Annual Essay Contest. The awards were presented to students, between the ages of 17-24, pursuing post-high school studies at a college, university or vocational trade school.

This year’s Shenango Valley Chapter of Credit Unions 2020 Scholarship recipients were:

Allayna Allwine, First Choice FCU
Alliya Allwine, First Choice FCU
Joseph Bornes, Mercer County Community FCU
Emily Hazlett, Mercer County Community FCU
Stephanie Johnson, First Choice FCU
Nicole Kanary, First Choice FCU
Justin Kurelko, Mercer County Community FCU
Ellis Law, Mercer County Community FCU
Christopher Litrenta Jr., First Choice FCU
Gabrielle Lucas, Mercer County Community FCU
Cambyl Schry, SCA FCU
William Shaffer, GNC FCU
Nicholas Viggiano, SCA FCU

Congratulations to all the winners!

*Mercer County Community FCU Members in Bold

Mercer County Community FCU Recognizes the Work of First Responders

May 7, 2020: Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union is pleased to be one of several participants in the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce “Support Our Valley Initiative.” Mercer County Community FCU was honored to recognize the work of our first responders by providing lunch to the City of Hermitage and City of Sharon Police Departments in the month of April.

“Mercer County Community FCU commends our first responders for their commitment and service to our community. Purchasing food from local small businesses and providing lunch to our first responders during this crisis is a small gesture to show our great appreciation for their ongoing devotion to the citizens and businesses of our community,” said Sandi Carangi, CEO of Mercer County Community FCU. The Shenango Valley Chamber initiative has been providing lunches to healthcare workers, police, fire and other first responders in the Mercer County area during the months of April and May.

Pictured: Members of the City of Hermitage Police Department enjoying lunch prepared by Subway in Hermitage and supplied by Mercer County Community FCU.

Pictured: Members of the City of Sharon Police Department enjoying lunch prepared by Pizza Joes in Sharon and supplied by Mercer County Community FCU.

Mercer County Community FCU Staff Wear Blue in Support of Healthcare Workers

On Friday, May 1^st, Mercer County Community FCU staff members wore blue in support of frontline healthcare workers. Staff members in the Hermitage and Sharon offices express their sincere appreciation for all employees in the healthcare industry.

Mercer County Community FCU Hermitage Staff Wearing Blue in Support of Healthcare Workers

Mercer County Community FCU Sharon Staff Wearing Blue in Support of Healthcare Workers

Tips for Our Credit Union Members

Unfortunately, there are people who choose to try and exploit others during difficult times. We recommend you read the National Credit Union Association Fraud Prevention Center tips on how to protect yourself against scammers.

Fraudsters are leveraging fears over the coronavirus as an opportunity for new scams. Please be on the lookout for the following scams that we have been made aware of:

Individuals and businesses selling fake cures and tests for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud.
Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Malicious websites and apps that appear to share virus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received.
Seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations.

Additional information on coronavirus scams can be found on the Federal Trade Commission’s website.

The IRS urges taxpayers to be on the lookout for scam artists trying to use the economic stimulus payments as a cover for schemes to steal personal information and money. Please remember, the IRS will not call, text you, email you or contact you on social media asking for personal or credit union account information. Also, do not open attachments or click on links claiming to have special information about economic stimulus payments or refunds.

If you think you are a victim of a scam or attempted fraud involving COVID-19, individuals can report it through:

The National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via email at disaster@leo.gov
Report it to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov
If it’s a cyber scam, submit your complaint through https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
Contact your local law enforcement

We care about you and want you to stay safe!

Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union Earns 5-Star Rating

April 2020: Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union has been recognized on its achievement of a 5-Star Superior Rating by BauerFinancial, Inc., the Nation’s Premier Bank and Credit Union Rating Firm. Earning this 5-Star rating indicates Mercer County Community FCU closed out calendar 2019 excelling in areas of capital adequacy, earnings, asset quality and much more.

“On behalf of Mercer County Community FCU, we are honored to earn BauerFinancial’s top 5-Star rating,” reflects Sandi Carangi, CEO. “Because credit unions are formed by people with common ground to begin with, employees and members already have commonalities we can build on. This intimacy allows our credit union to work with our members through every life stage. Doing this well is how Mercer County Community FCU remains financially safe and sound.”

Mercer County Community FCU was established in 1957 and has been working side by side with its members for 63 years, helping bring success to the members and to the credit union. Today, Mercer County Community FCU operates through two conveniently located offices in Hermitage and Sharon and can also be found online at mercomfcu.org.

Mercer County Community FCU: “Making a Difference in Our Community”
Member NCUA and an Equal Housing Lender

BauerFinancial, Inc., Coral Gables, Florida, the nation’s leading independent bank and credit union rating and research firm, has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of U.S. banks and credit unions since 1983. No institution can pay for or opt out of a BauerFinancial rating.

Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union Announces 20th Annual Continuing Education Awards

Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union announced their 20th Annual Continuing Education Awards during the virtual annual meeting on April 18, 2020.

Five $1,000 awards were presented for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Alexandria Anderson, Wilmington Area High School
Dylan Evans, Reynolds Jr/Sr High School
Ja’Mia Jackson, Sharon High School
Justin Kurelko, Sharpsville Area High School
Ellis Law, Hickory High School

In addition, the following students received $500 Continuing Education Awards:

Allie McMahon, Sharon High School
Nicole Lynn Bornick, Mercer Area High School
Tanner Niemann, Conneaut Area High School

Awards were open to any 2020 high school senior pursuing an academic, professional, or vocational post-high school education at a college, university, or accredited trade school. Applicants were required to be a member of MCCFCU prior to submitting their application.

A Message to Our Credit Union Family from Sandi Carangi, CEO

Updated: April 22, 2020

We are here for you

As your credit union, we continue to monitor the latest updates regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and want you to know we are here for you as we always have been. Your deposits are safe and insured. We’re not going anywhere, because at its core, our credit union is not a building or a business, it’s people unified for a common goal.

Access to your money

The safest and easiest way to access your money 24 hours a day during this outbreak is through our online banking services. If you don’t currently have access on your mobile phone, now is a good time to initiate this feature from your home banking screen and then download our mobile app. While our lobbies are closed, we encourage you to use our drive-thrus that are operating during normal business hours, or our ATMs. You may also call our offices for assistance with transactions.

Here to help you

If you’ve been financially impacted by this pandemic, our staff is prepared to discuss your options and help guide you through these uncertain times. Now, more than ever, we are here to support members like you. We have the following new offerings to share with you:

Emergency Loan – a special loan up to $3,000 with a rate of 4.99% APR* with a term of 24 months.
Extension of first payment due date is available on all new auto loans and personal loans for 90 days from the date of the advance.
No late charges for all loan types will be assessed for the months of April, May and June 2020.
Special Loan Deferral Skip-a-Pay program is available on existing eligible loans for the months of April, May, or June 2020.
Special VISA Skip-A-Pay program is available for May or June. Eligible members will see a message in their VISA statement and the minimum payment will show as “NONE”.
*Annual Percentage Rate. Loans subject to credit approval. Available through June 30, 2020. Interest continues to accrue during extended payment period for Skip-a-Pay programs.

Please call with questions or for more details on any of these special offerings.

Protect yourself from cyber scams

Scammers are taking advantage of fears surrounding the Coronavirus. They’re setting up websites to sell bogus products, and using fake emails, texts, and social media posts as a ruse to take your money and get your personal information. It is important to note that if we reach out to you, we will NEVER ask for confidential information such as your account number, password, personal identification number (PIN) or other account information. You can review the Federal Trade Commission’s advice for consumers at www.consumer.ftc.gov. Visit Tips for Our Credit Union Members for additional information.

Promoting health and safety

We at Mercer County Community FCU are proud to be a part of your lives and are honored by the trust you place in us. We are not only thinking about your financial security, but your health as well. We are working diligently to ensure we are utilizing the best health practices during this pandemic and staying up to date on the latest protocols and recommendations from public health authorities. Our number one priority is protecting the health and safety of our employees who are here to serve you.

We’re here if you need any additional assistance

If you want to learn more about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s resource center www.cdc.gov or the PA state health department website www.pa.gov. Please take care of yourself and those around you, and do not hesitate to contact us for any assistance.

Sincerely wishing you the best of health,

Sandi Carangi, CEO,
Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union