On February 6, 1940, nine employees of the Owens-Illinois Glass Plant in Clarion, acting as incorporators, signed the organization certificate of Clarion Onized Federal Credit Union. The certificate was duly notarized and sent to The Farm Credit Administration in Washington, D.C. The approval to create a credit union was granted on February 20, 1940 and charter number 3655 was assigned. On February 21, 1940, 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.
In 1972, the Credit Union began extending membership opportunities to those who worked at other area businesses. 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.
The original office of the Credit Union was located in the lower level of the Owens-Illinois Glass Plant. A branch was eventually built on Wood Street, just down the street from the Owens-Illinois plant. In the Summer of 2009, the Board of Directors decided that it was time to expand the Credit Union’s physical presence once again as it had outgrown the Wood Street office. This led to the construction and opening of the modern-day Clarion location at 144 Holiday Inn Road. Construction was completed in June 2010.
The Credit Union opened the Brookville Branch in May of 2015, followed by the Cranberry Branch in October of 2020.
In 2021, the Credit Union expanded its charter from 4 counties to 13 counties in Northwestern PA and also acquired land for future branch locations in Butler and Hermitage.
On August 1, 2022, Clarion Federal Credit Union officially changed its name to Top Tier Federal Credit Union. The name change reflects the Credit Union’s strategic goal to modernize, expand and offer top tier service to its credit union members.
In November of 2023, the Butler Branch of Top Tier Federal Credit Union opened.
In August of 2024, the former Klingensmith’s Healthcare Building in Clarion was purchased for future expansion. According to CEO, Mark A. Lauer, “The expansion is not just about needing more space. It’s a testament to Top Tier’s commitment to exceeding member expectations and cementing its status as a leading financial institution in the region.”
Late Summer 2025 will mark the opening of a fifth branch in Hermitage, PA.
Throughout its eighty-five years, one thing that has never changed is the Credit Union’s mission to take care of its members. “Because credit unions work for their members, not stockholders, the objective is to take care of and do what is best for the membership which translates into lower fees, lower loan rates and higher returns on saving products,” Lauer stated. He continued, “The focus of credit unions is on their members’ financial well-being. That member-centric approach is what credit union members appreciate and benefit from.”
From an original nucleus of nine members; from $100 in assets; from part-time help; from the corner of someone’s desk or lathe, over the course of eighty five years, what began as an organization for a singular employee group has evolved into a community mainstay, thanks to the dedication of volunteers, the Board of Directors, staff and members.
