Celebrating 85 Years of Service

by Thayne Shaffer, President & CEO, America First Credit Union On March 16, 1939, 59 people met without fanfare at the Hotel Newhouse in Salt Lake City to form a small financial cooperative. The members of that group believed they would be stronger together, and that by pooling their resources they could create opportunities that would be unavailable to them individually. More than that, they believed in the worth of their dreams, and in each other. That unassuming gathering was the charter meeting of the Fort Douglas Civilian Employees Credit Union—or, as it has been knowns since 1984, America First…
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America First Credit Union is a Forbes Top 100 Best Midsize Employer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For six years running, America First has been recognized as a great place to work.     OGDEN, Utah – Feb. 15, 2024 – America First Credit Union has been named as one of America’s Best Midsize Employers by Forbes. America First is the highest ranked credit union in the midsize category, and the second highest ranked midsize financial institution overall. “At the core of every successful organization is a remarkable group of people,” said Kent Streuling, senior vice president of human resources at America First Credit Union. “Our employees’ regard for America First is a big…
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America First Credit Union Opens State-of-the-Art Branch in Utah County

New, western Utah County location is built around a tech-centric member experience EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah (Jan. 22, 2024) – America First Credit Union (AFCU) today announced the opening of one of its most technologically advanced branches in Eagle Mountain. The new, state-of-the-art facility, which incorporates technology inside and out, is the first America First branch built exclusively around video teller machine technology. This new technology provides on-demand support from remotely located America First experts and will allow members to efficiently conduct many additional types of financial transactions through the drive-through. The Eagle Mountain branch will serve a community of approximately 54,000, including more than 11,000…
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The No. 1 credit union SBA lender is hanging out the help wanted sign

Six years ago, when America First Credit Union in Salt Lake City decided to move into Small Business Administration lending, CEO John Lund gave his team simple instructions. "He told us to be No. 1," Blake Weathers, America First's senior vice president of commercial lending recalled.   America First Credit Union in Salt Lake City is angling to grow its 7(a) lending business by hiring additional loan officers.   The $19.1 billion-asset America First responded. Its volume of loans closed under the 7(a) loan guarantee program — SBA's largest program — jumped from $2.1 million in the agency's 2017 fiscal…
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America First Credit Union Donates to Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona Through its ‘Touchdowns for the Hometown’ program

For every Wildcats touchdown America First Credit Union donates $100 to the non-profit FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUCSON, AZ – December 1, 2023 – America First Credit Union (AFCU), in partnership with University of Arizona Athletics, is supporting the community through its ‘Touchdowns for the Hometown’ program. For each Wildcats’ touchdown during the 2023 season, AFCU donates $100.00 to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, which means the more touchdowns U of A scores, the more the community scores. The program culminated with the final game of the season on November 18. By the end of the final game, the…
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America First Credit Union Donates to Little Lambs Foundation for Kids Through its ‘Blue Zone’ program

Every time the Aggies get into the ‘Blue Zone’, America First Credit Union donates $100 to the non-profit LOGAN, UT – November 29, 2023 – America First Credit Union (AFCU), in partnership with Utah State Athletics, is supporting the community through its ‘Blue Zone’ program. Every time the Aggies get into the Blue Zone during the 2023 season, AFCU donates $100.00 to Little Lambs Foundation for Kids, which means the more touchdowns Utah State scores, the more the community scores. The program culminated with the final home game of the season on November 18. Wrapping up a successful season, America…
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America First Credit Union and the Real Salt Lake Announce Winner of Inaugural Small Businesses Spotlight

Snider Brothers Meats receives an America First-donated RSL marketing sponsorship agreement SALT LAKE CITY – Nov. 28, 2023 – America First Credit Union (AFCU) and Real Salt Lake are excited to announce today Snider Brothers Meats as the grand prize winner of its inaugural “Small Business Spotlight” contest. The Cottonwood Heights-based company was announced as the contest winner during a live finals event at America First Field. As the winner, America First Credit Union will provide Snider Brothers Meats with single-season assets for a marketing sponsorship with RSL and at America First Field, which are tailor-made to assist in their…
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America First Credit Union Ranked Top SBA Credit Union Lender in the Nation for the Second Year

West coast-based credit union supports small businesses with more than $71M in SBA Loans FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SALT LAKE CITY, UT – November 28, 2023 – America First Credit Union (AFCU) ranks as the top Small Business Administration (SBA) credit union lender in the United States. The list ranks all financial institutions across the country based on the approved dollar amount of SBA loans. As the top credit union on the list, AFCU has $71,754,300 in approved SBA loans, averaging $1,176,300 per loan. “America First Credit Union is proud to be ranked as the number one credit union SBA lender…
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Utah Athletics and America First Credit Union Announce Naming Rights Agreement for On-Campus Ballpark

Multi-year partnership will name Utes’ on-campus home America First Ballpark FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, November 14, 2023 SALT LAKE CITY—The University of Utah Athletics Department and America First Credit Union today announced a multi-year partnership to name the Utah baseball program’s future on-campus home America First Ballpark. The 10-year naming rights agreement comes as part of the fundraising drive that began in the spring of 2023 after the University of Utah’s Board of Trustees granted contingency approval for the construction of an on-campus ballpark to be located on the site of the current Utah Baseball practice field on Guardsman Way.…
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America First Credit Union Unveils New, Limited-Edition Utah Jazz Visa® Debit Card

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Utah Jazz fans can support their favorite NBA team with a limited-edition 2023-24 season AFCU debit card SALT LAKE CITY – Oct. 25, 2023 – America First Credit Union is proud to be the official credit union of the Utah Jazz. As the team prepares for the upcoming 2023-24 Season, America First is debuting a new, limited-edition version of the exclusive Utah Jazz Visa® debit card. The 2023 limited edition card showcases the bold Utah Jazz yellow and black colors and features the signature Jazz note logo. The Utah Jazz Visa debit card is available at no…
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