Thigpen has spent his entire career in the banking industry, joining the former Cleveland Trust Company in 1971 and serving in a variety of positions, culminating with his election and president and chief executive of the Ameritrust Development Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ameritrust Corporation.
By JAMES W. WADE III
Staff Reporter
After 20 years of service to Third Federal Bank, Charles Thigpen has retired. Among many friends and co-workers, a short program was held in his honor at the bank. The featured speaker was President & CEO Marc A. Stefanski.
Stefanski shared many jokes about his relationship with Thigpen.
As senior vice president of Community Development Services, Thigpen and his staff develop, implement and market loan products and educational and outreach programs with the focus of adding value to the communities which the association serves.
Thigpen began his career at Third Federal Savings in 1992 as regional manager responsible for branches in the City of Cleveland. He now has overall responsibility for the strategy, planning and implementation of community development service programs, such as HomeToday, throughout the association’s branch system in Ohio and Florida.
Thigpen has spent his entire career in the banking industry, joining the former Cleveland Trust Company in 1971 and serving in a variety of positions, culminating with his election and president and chief executive of the Ameritrust Development Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ameritrust Corporation.
Third Federal Savings and Loan was founded in 1938 with a simple mission: help our customers live better by offering low-interest mortgages, high-interest savings accounts and personal service that makes everyone who walks through our doors feel like family.
To be a real value to customers, shareholders, the communities they serve as well as associates, they base everything they do on four guiding principles: concern for others, trust, respect and a commitment to excellence.
“Now after more than 70 years, the bank still work’s hard to make sure these principles show in everything we do. From our financial strategies, to our products and services, even to the way we answer the phone,” Thigpen shared.
Thigpen earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Grambling State University, Grambling, Louisiana. He also holds specialty banking certificates from the Ohio School of Banking (Ohio University) and the School of Bank Management (University of Virginia).
He serves on the board Martin Luther King Holiday Scholarship Committee and boards of several civic and charitable organizations and has received numerous awards for his work in the Greater Cleveland community.
He also serves on the Deacon board at Antioch Baptist Church and is a board member for the Antioch Development Corporation. Thigpen sings in the Antioch Gospel Choir as well.
Thigpen and his wife Denise are the proud parents of two children Christopher, Christina and grandparents of three wonderful grandchildren.
