Powerco Credit Union (formerly known as C&SOE Credit Union) was originally formed in February, 1973 to serve the employees of Columbus & Southern Ohio Electric Company. Like many credit unions, C&SOE was started by a small group of employees who wanted to provide an avenue for savings and low cost loans for their fellow employees.
By 1976, the credit union reached $1 million in assets and continued to grow steadily through the 1970s and 1980s. In 1988, the credit union changed its name to Powerco and soon after began its next phase of aggressive growth as Columbus & Southern Electric Power merged with AEP to form one of the largest electric utility companies in the country.
At the time it became part of Pathways Financial Credit Union, Powerco provided financial services to more than 8,000 members and had total assets of $65 million. Powerco had evolved from a credit union that once served a single company to one that served over 100 central Ohio companies, as well as anyone who lived, worked, worshiped or attended school in Franklin County, Ohio.