America First Credit Union
TypeCredit union
IndustryFinancial services
Founded1939
HeadquartersRiverdale, Utah
United States
Area served
Western United States
ProductsSavings; checking; consumer loans; mortgages; credit cards
Total assets$11.7B USD (2020)
Websitewww.americafirst.com

America First Credit Union (AFCU) is a federally chartered credit union headquartered in Riverdale, Utah, United States. As of January 2020, America First was the sixth largest credit union in the United States in terms of total membership and eighth largest credit union in assets in the U.S.[1][2]

Description

As of January 2020, America First has 131 branch locations, more than 1 million members, and has over USD 11.713 billion in assets.[3] America First is also a member of the CO-OP Network of ATMs which provides its members free ATM access to the network's almost 30,000 ATMs nationwide.

Eligibility for membership at America First is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school, conducts business, or volunteers in any counties or cities within their field of membership[4] in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada.[5] Eligibility is also open to all those who live within a 12-mile radius of the Mesquite, Nevada, city post office and the members of the immediate family or household of an existing member or those eligible for membership, as well as owners, employees, suppliers and their employees, or associated companies and their employees involved in the food industry, an affiliated association, or select employee group in the state of Utah.[6]

History

America First Credit Union was founded on March 16, 1939.[7] It was established at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City, Utah after 59 members of the National Federation of Federal Employees, Local No. 650, instituted the Fort Douglas Civilian Employees Credit Union. On June 23, 1947, the finance office of the U.S. Army at Fort Douglas was moved to the Utah General Distribution Depot in Ogden, Utah, and the credit union moved with it and renamed itself Federal Employees Credit Union. In 1960, with the addition of the Naval Supply Depot in Clearfield, Utah, the credit union was now affiliated with five Federal Government installations, the others being the Utah General Depot, Hill Air Force Base, Fort Douglas and the Internal Revenue Service Building in Ogden, Utah. Utah-chartered credit unions began serving anyone in the state and the credit union changed its name to America First Credit Union in 1984. This is the year when the credit union opened its membership to the public.[8]

In 1994, it marketed residential mortgages with incentives such as no fees for first mortgage refinancing, a quarter-point reduction in the interest rate if payments were to be deducted automatically from an America First checking account, and a quarter-point reduction for mortgages of less than half the residence's appraised value.[9]

Beginning in 1998, a series of legal and legislative restrictions were placed on America First Credit Union's field of membership and its ability to make business loans. In 2003, America First became federally chartered to protect its membership and serve its business members. In 2004, it opened its first branch in Summit County, Utah, since the federal charter allows it to serve that county as well.[10]

In 2005, it announced that it would offer Small Business Administration loans to its members.[11] In 2007, the credit union, many of whose members serve in the military, hosted Operation Best Wishes.[12]

On August 12, 2009, America First acquired Las Vegas-based Community One Federal Credit Union following its closure by the National Credit Union Administration.[13]

In June of 2018, America First announced it would be merging with the Arizona based Altier Credit Union, expanding to include Maricopa County within America First's field of membership.[14]

In November of 2019, America First announced it would be merging with the Utah County based City Center Credit Union.[15]

On March 14, 2022, America First opened its first branch in the state of New Mexico, following its approval to add several counties and cities in New Mexico to its field of membership in 2020.[16]

Technology

In 1999, the credit union used Novell's NetWare.[17]

In 2001, it began to offer wireless banking to its members using technology from SensCom Inc.[18]

In 2006, it agreed to adopt Oracle Corporation's Siebel Branch Teller application to capture check information at the teller's terminal.[19]

Field of Membership

America First Credit Union is approved by the National Credit Union Administration to accept members who live, work, regularly conduct business, worship, volunteer, or attend school in the follow areas.

Maricopa County, Arizona, Mohave County, Arizona, Page, Arizona, Pima, Arizona, St. Johns, Arizona

Bannock County, Idaho, Bear Lake County, Idaho, Bingham County, Idaho, Bonneville County, Idaho, Boise County, Idaho, Canyon County, Idaho, Caribou County, Idaho, Clark County, Idaho, Elmore County, Idaho, Franklin County, Idaho, Gem County, Idaho, Jefferson County, Idaho, Madison County, Idaho, Owyhee County, Idaho, Power County, Idaho

Carson City, Nevada, Churchill County, Nevada, Clark County, Nevada, Douglas County, Nevada, Esmeralda County, Nevada, Lincoln County, Nevada, Lyon County, Nevada, Mineral County, Nevada, Nye County, Nevada, Storey County, Nevada, Washoe County, Nevada

Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Chaves County, New Mexico, De Baca County, New Mexico, Guadalupe County, New Mexico, Harding County, New Mexico, Mora County, New Mexico, Quay County, New Mexico, Sandoval County, New Mexico, San Miguel County, New Mexico, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, Torrance County, New Mexico, Valencia County, New Mexico,

Malheur County, Oregon

Cache County, Utah, Davis County, Utah, Iron County, Utah, Juab County, Utah, Rich County, Utah, Salt Lake County, Utah, Utah County, Utah, Washington County, Utah, and Weber County, Utah. Additionally, owners, employees, suppliers and their employees, or associated companies and their employees involved in the food industry, in Utah also qualify.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Facts and Financials". Archived from the original on 2020-04-24. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  2. ↑ "America First Credit Union | Company Overview & News". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  3. ↑ "Facts and Financials". Archived from the original on 2020-04-24. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  4. ↑ "Becoming a Member - America First Credit Union". www.americafirst.com. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  5. ↑ "Share Savings/Membership". Archived from the original on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  6. ↑ "Select Employee Groups (SEGs) and Affiliated Associations". Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  7. ↑ Ellis, Camee (2018). Images of America: Riverdale. Charleston, NC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-4671-2852-0.
  8. ↑ Pugmire, Genelle (1992-07-22). "GROUND BROKEN FOR OREM BRANCH OF AMERICAN FIRST CREDIT UNION". Deseret News. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  9. ↑ "America First Credit Union Announces No-fee First Mortgage Refinancing". The Deseret News. April 26, 1994. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  10. ↑ "America First Credit Union opens first Summit branch". The Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah). January 24, 2004. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  11. ↑ "America First Credit Union.(NORTHERN)". Utah Business. July 1, 2005. Archived from the original on 19 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  12. ↑ "America First CU Hosts Operation Best Wishes.(America First Credit Union )(Brief article)". Credit Union Journal. January 29, 2007. Archived from the original on 19 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  13. ↑ "Community One FCU Closes, Members Now Served by America First FCU". Tradewind, Inc. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  14. ↑ Lund, John B (June 1, 2018). "America First and Altier Credit Unions Merge, Forming A Mutually Beneficial Partnership".
  15. ↑ "City Center Credit Union". www.creditunionsonline.com. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  16. ↑ Cypers, Nicole (March 14, 2022). "America First Credit Union Expands Into New Mexico".
  17. ↑ "Novell Case Study: America First Credit Union". Novell Case Study via ZDnet Asia. 1999-11-30. Archived from the original on 18 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  18. ↑ Cole, Kelleigh (May 1, 2001). "America First Credit Union. (SensCom Inc.)(Brief Article)". Utah Business. Archived from the original on 19 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  19. ↑ "America First Credit Union Selects Oracle's Siebel Applications For Fully Automated Teller Solution. P". Oracle Corporation press release via PR Newswire. November 14, 2006. Archived from the original on 19 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
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