7 17 CU President/CEO John Demmler speaks at a press conference for the credit union’s new partnership with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Eastwood Field in Niles, Ohio on May 6. (Credit/7 17 CU)
7 17 Credit Union announced a multi-year partnership with the Niles, Ohio collegiate summer baseball team Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Tuesday, which includes a new charitable giving credit card program and financial wellness-focused initiatives.
The $1.8 billion, Warren, Ohio-based credit union is now the official credit union and banking partner for the Scrappers, one of six founding member teams in the MLB Draft League. As part of the deal, 7 17 said it will offer giveaways and special savings opportunities for guests at the ballpark, Eastwood Field in Niles, with a year-round focus on financial wellness. For example, 7 17 is revamping its youth program, the 7 17 Dollar Dog Club, to offer incentives such as free tickets to Scrappers’ home games for new and existing account holders; in addition, its Dollar Dog mascot will be present at games to engage with children.
Recommended For You
“The Mahoning Valley Scrappers bring a vibrant element to our communities – symbolizing pride, community goodwill and the preservation of high-level baseball in our region,” 7 17 President/CEO John Demmler said. “This partnership demonstrates our shared commitment to focus on communities, especially those that are underserved, while enhancing community outreach and improving the overall financial health of our region.”
He added, “We love seeing the community come out and cheer for the home team. We’re excited about the partnership and being able to show and reward fans for their loyalty, because as we believe, banking with purpose leads to stronger communities.”
The partnership also coincided with the rollout of a new credit card for 7 17 members, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers credit card, which is part of the credit union’s larger 717 CU Affinity Partners initiative that directly supports local organizations with funds that return to those organizations. With every swipe and purchase made with the card, 7 17 will donate 7.17 cents to the Scrappers for special programming such as youth outreach and ballpark improvements.
“This is a tangible way to give back to our communities with everyday purchases and illustrates how banking local can send ripples of positive change throughout our community, with the simplicity of every swipe,” Demmler said of the new card program.
What’s more, 7 17 plans to host its second annual Financial Wellness Night at Eastwood Field. As it did in 2024, the credit union will buy out the ballpark to provide a night of free entertainment, as well as free hotdogs and soft drinks, to the community. This year, the credit union plans to present the first-ever drone show at a Scrappers Game (last year, it sponsored the largest fireworks display in Eastwood Field’s history). Tickets to the event will be available exclusively through the Scrappers’ box office beginning May 12, and 7 17 members can receive premium seating by presenting proof of membership at the box office, such as a debit or credit card or an account statement.
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Natasha Chilingerian
Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.
