In 1960, teachers and administrators at Plain Local Schools wanted an alternative to big, for-profit banks. They got together and opened our credit union on January 16, 1961. There was no online banking, debit cards or even checking accounts. Instead, they operated out of a shoe box. It was a place for some people to save money and others to borrow money. Stark Federal continued to grow and expand over the years. In 1965, Stark Federal Credit Union changed its charter to include all local school districts in Stark County. The office was moved to the Stark County Board of Education administration building, then located at Molly Stark Hospital. In 1978, the charter was expanded to include Carroll County School employees. Stark Federal’s charter was changed again in 2025 to include anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Stark, Carroll, Summit, Portage, Wayne, and Tuscarawus Counties. Today, Stark Federal Credit Union serves the financial needs of over 14,000 members. Stark Federal generally offer better rates on loans and savings than commercial banks, due to credit unions' unique operation. While banks must make profits for their shareholders, credit unions exist only to serve their members. More than 2.7 million Ohioans (about 20 percent of the state's population) belong to credit unions. At Stark Federal Credit Union: You're a neighbor, not a number.