July 2025 - America First Newsroom

Help America First Deliver 1,500 Backpacks to Students This Summer

Backpack Bonanza runs through August 10 — join us in making a difference

RIVERDALE, Utah – July 25, 2025 – The America First Charitable Foundation Backpack Bonanza is in full swing, and there’s still time to help students in need gear up for the school year. Now through Aug. 10, employees, members, and anyone who would like to are invited to donate new school supplies at any of the credit union’s branches, or contribute funds as part of this annual back-to-school giving campaign.

The foundation’s goal is to collect and donate more than 1,500 fully stocked backpacks to young students in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah — an increase of 50 percent over the 2024 goal.

“As we work closely with community partners throughout the Western U.S., it’s clear there’s significant need as the school year approaches,” said Amber Greenwell, Director of Community Outreach and the Charitable Foundation at America First Credit Union. “If every AFCU employee contributed $5, we could reach our goal. But we also know our members care deeply about our communities and together, we can help thousands of kids start school with the essential supplies they need to be successful.”

There are specific items that are needed to fill the backpacks, as well as several ways to donate:

Drop Off School Supplies

Donated items can be brought to any America First branch. Needed items include:

Backpacks
Paper and notebooks
Binders and folders
Crayons, colored pencils, markers
Glue sticks, rulers, scissors, highlighters
Pencil boxes and other classroom supplies

Make a Monetary Donation

Members can use their AFCU mobile app or online banking to transfer funds to Savings account #5502281 (last name: AFCU)
When donating at a branch, use “backpack” in the description field
Community members can contribute through an online donation portal

All donations will help supply students in partner schools and youth organizations across the six-state AFCU footprint. In 2024, donations from employees, members, and the community helped the foundation exceed its target — and with continued support, AFCU aims to do it again in 2025.

To learn more or to donate online, visit americafirst.com/community.

America First Federal Credit Union and Meadows Bank Enter into a Purchase and Assumption Agreement

Strengthens Business Lending Capabilities and Adds Meadows Bank’s Premier Team of Local Business Advisors in Nevada & Arizona

July 25, 2025

America First Federal Credit Union and Meadows Bank are pleased to announce that we have entered into an agreement under which America First will purchase substantially all of the assets of Meadows Bank and assume substantially all of its liabilities. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory and Meadows Bank shareholder approvals. Upon closing the transaction, Meadows Bank will operate under the name: Meadows Financial: a division of America First™.

Meadows was founded in 2008 and is a full-service community bank with six locations across Nevada and Arizona. Meadows is committed to developing valued partnerships with its clients, and its relationship-based approach to banking focuses on making decisions locally. Meadows offers a full suite of lending and deposit offerings and is a National SBA Preferred Lender.

America First was founded in 1939 and has grown into one of the strongest and most progressive credit unions in the country. It is the sixth largest credit union in the nation with $22 billion in assets and 113 locations across Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, and serves 1.5 million members. America First is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative financial institution dedicated to building communities and helping its members do more with their money.

The integration of our two organizations will further strengthen America First’s ability to provide its members with comprehensive business solutions and provide Meadows’ customers with access to a full suite of consumer products and services. It is an important milestone in meeting the financial needs of this dynamic region.