-One lucky winner will be awarded a $500 VISA gift card-

Riverdale, Utah – In the spirit of the Back-to-School season and to lessen the financial burden of costs associated with school clothing and supplies, America First Credit Union has launched a photo contest on its Facebook page, encouraging submissions from parents of children partaking in the first day of school. One lucky winner will be awarded a $500 VISA gift card to help lessen what can be an expensive time for families.

Members and social media followers are invited to participate by submitting a photo on the America First Facebook page through Wednesday, Aug. 26. For more information, read the contest rules and regulations.

For more information, visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst on Instagram and Pinterest. 

Riverdale, Utah – America First Credit Union will welcome residents of Herriman with the opening of its newest location at 5438 West 13400 South Herriman in Herriman, Utah on Monday, Aug. 17. The third branch opening of 2015, the Herriman opening signifies a strong first half of the year for America First, marking 112 branch locations throughout Utah and Southern Nevada. 

Kamille Lopez will serve as branch manager of the Herriman location. Lopez is a Utah native, having graduated from Jordan High School. Her career began with America First Credit Union in December 2006 when she served as a teller and Lopez has progressed through the credit union in such roles as lead teller, assistant manager and branch manager.

A grand opening ribbon cutting will take place on Friday, Aug. 28 with celebratory events held Aug. 28 – September 5. The branch is located at 5438 West 13400 South Herriman, UT 84096. Branch hours are Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

For more information, visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst on Instagram and Pinterest.  

Click-to-Tweet: @afcu offers hot rates and cool prizes during summer loan campaign. Members can enter to win prizes through Aug. 28! americafirst.com/summer

Riverdale, Utah – Diving head first into summer, America First Credit Union is offering low rates on auto, RV and home equity loans and will host a “Summer Better Than Others” campaign of giveaways, running through August 28. Members can take advantage of loan opportunities, while also being entered to win a selection of prizes awarded each day of the promotion, to include concert tickets, electronics, Disneyland vacations, and more.

Members can take advantage of low rates to make their summer purchases, including RVs, automotive and home equity loans. Individuals are automatically entered to have their loan payments made for a month, as well as to win a host of summer giveaways when they are approved for a loan, use an America First credit card or open a new credit card account, become a member or follow America First on its social media platforms.

Prizes will be drawn daily and include GoPro cameras, BBQ grills, Apple watches, iPad minis, beach cruiser bicycles, televisions, Intex above ground pools, Xbox One consoles and more with the grand prize of a $10,000 loan payment.

Members can enter to win a selection of prizes via the America First Facebook page, as well as at americafirst.com/summer. 

For more information, visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union onFacebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst on Instagram and Pinterest. 

Newest branch marks 13 locations servicing Southern Nevada membership

Las Vegas  – America First Credit Union, a leading member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative financial institution, will welcome the public with the opening of its newest location at 10608 South Eastern Avenue, Suite E Henderson, NV. Having officially opened its doors to the public on Monday, June 29, Horizon is the 13th America First branch location servicing members in Southern Nevada.

Kylee Cinnamon will service as branch manager of the Horizon location. Cinnamon is a Las Vegas native, graduating from Silverado High School. Cinnamon began her career as a teller with America First in 2010 and has served in a variety of roles, including receptionist, back-up lead teller, lead teller, assistant manager and branch manager.   

There will be a grand opening ribbon cutting held Friday, July 17 with celebration events held throughout the following week. The branch is located at 10608 South Eastern Avenue, Suite E Henderson, NV. Branch hours are Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

With a strong commitment to servicing its members, Horizon is the second branch opening thus far in 2015. America First has 111 branch locations servicing Utah and Southern Nevada.

For more information, visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst on Instagram and Pinterest. 

Riverdale, Utah –  In efforts to help others achieve something great in academics,America First Credit Union recently donated $2,000 in scholarships to two students during the American Legion Utah Boys State summer youth camp at Weber State University. Recipients Tyler Evans from Duchesne High School and Carter Whitby from the Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering and Science (NUAMES) each received $1,000 in scholarship funds for use at a Utah college or university of their choice.

The recipients were chosen based on economic need. Evans and Whitby will be seniors during the 2015 – 2016 academic school year.

The American Legion Boys State program is the country’s premiere summer youth camp designed to develop leadership and promote civic responsibility in young men. Created in 1935 to combat the rise of radicalized youth groups in other countries, Boys State instills in youth a deeper appreciation of how government works as well as the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Boys State is available to young men who have completed their junior year of high school and receive a recommendation from school officials.

For additional information, visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst on Instagram and Pinterest. 

-Card Guard allows members to manage card use via smartphone device-

Riverdale, Utah –  America First Credit Union today unveiled a revolutionary security tool, known as America First Card Guard, further protecting members and enabling them the power to control when and how any of their credit, debit or ATM cards are used.  Members can be alerted on every transaction and attempted transaction. The free tool, available for download via an iPhone or Android app, allows members to manage their Visa® credit, debit and ATM cards through a smartphone device.

Providing added security in a safe and convenient way, Card Guard enables members to determine where they want to use cards by setting location boundaries or using the location of the member’s smartphone.  Members can also set per-transaction spending limits and/or allow card use only from specific merchants or transaction types.  Members can also turn card capabilities off altogether if they choose.

“This is a colossal advancement in technology that will give our members control over where and when their cards can be used,” said Brice Mindrum, Mobile Services Manager for America First Credit Union. “Our members will love the alerting function that happens in real time on every transaction.”

In efforts to continuously offer the latest technologies and advancements for members, America First Card Guard builds on the way members interact with the financial institution. Members can opt to receive alerts if a transaction is attempted and will receive alerts on all denied transactions. 

“We’re dedicated to providing the utmost security for our members, while simultaneously providing them with advancing technologies to manage their finances,” said Rich Syme, Executive Vice President of Electronic Services and Product Management for America First Credit Union. “We’ve partnered with reputable technology company, Ondot Systems, who created this technology, for this exciting new tool, giving members proactive control and instant visibility over the use of their debit and credit cards.”

America First Card Guard is available for download via Apple’s App store or Android’s Google Play store.

For more information, visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst on Instagram and Pinterest. 

Riverdale, Utah – A true proponent of the credit union philosophy of ‘people helping people,’ America First Credit Union, recently donated $11,000 in scholarships to students of Copper Hills High School from the America First Credit Union Charitable Foundation. The school educates the largest population of students, grades 10 – 12, in the state of Utah.

America First has given $1,000 to 11 students, each boasting a 4.0 grade point average for the duration of their high school career, along with a mostly perfect attendance record. Many of the Copper Hills students are first generation college attenders, holding various ethnic, racial, religious and socio-economic diversities.

“What an honor for us to be able to financially assist these bright Copper Hills High School students on their path to continued success,” said John B. Lund, president and CEO of America First Credit Union. “Their academic achievements are outstanding and we are thrilled to support them in this exciting next step as they enter into college.”

Located in West Jordan, Utah, in the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley near the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, Copper Hills has a history of continuously striving to implement and improve programs to best address student needs. It is part of the Jordan School District.

For additional information, visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst on Instagram and Pinterest. 

Riverdale, Utah – America First Credit Union today unveiled a new online tool to help members manage finances, called Money Manager. The complimentary tool, available via America First’s Online Banking platform, allows members to visually organize, track and manage all facets of their finances in one convenient location.

Features of Money Manager include automatic transaction categorization, a spending tracker, simple and secure budgeting tools, including quick and convenient access to debt a snapshot and the ability to create a financial road map. With free Online Banking and Money Manager, accounts are organized in one location and members are able to add additional accounts from other institutions to view inside the portal.

“With Money Manager, we are truly making life easier for members, enabling them access to all facets of their finances in one accessible location,” said Mike Salerno,Eservices Manager for America First Credit Union. “Convenience for our members is a primary focus and Money Manager is the ultimate money management tool.”

To access Money Manager, members log in via the Online Banking platform on the America First website and select the tab marked ‘Money Manager’ at the top of the screen. For more information about Money Manager, visit Money Manager FAQ’s or call 1-800-999-3961. 

Visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst 

Credit union encourages community and public to participate during ‘Survivor’s Walk’ at Eighth Annual Event May 15 

Riverdale, Utah – America First Credit Union, in support of West Haven Elementary School, will sponsor the eighth annual West Haven Elementary Hawk Walk from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday, May 15. Hosted by West Haven students, the mini Relay-for-Life raises funds for the American Cancer Society. America First will donate cookies, bottled water, a live DJ and $5 for every student walking from 7 to 8 a.m. A ‘Survivor’s Walk’ will be held at 8:45 a.m. Since its inception in 2007, the Hawk Walk has raised more than $41,000 for the American Cancer Society.

The annual event held in May is designed to encourage students and individuals to learn the principle of generosity. West Haven Elementary has continued to support the Hawk Walk by implementing donation programs across campus. Once a month, the school encourages students to participate in ‘wear a hat’ to school day, which allows them to get involved by donating $1 to the cause. Delivery and district workers are also invited to participate by donating $1 if they are wearing a hat on campus.

“The Hawk Walk is an event especially important to our employees and their families,” said John B. Lund, president and CEO of America First Credit Union. “This year, we’re encouraging cancer survivors from throughout the community to partake in a Survivor’s Walk’ and join us in this great cause. We’re honored to give $5 to every student walking, as we all know someone who is affected by this disease.”

Beginning May 11, West Haven will send fliers inviting the students’ families and friends to donate the week leading up to the Hawk Walk. A friendly competition between classes will up the ante, with a traveling ‘Golden Sneaker’ award for the two classes (grades four through six and kindergarten to third), raising the most money each day.

The Hawk Walk began in 2007 when then West Haven sixth grader, Garrett Gallegos, and his mother, Tammy, who is a Senior Vice President at America First, walked together in a Relay-for-Life. Gallegos asked if they could start a similar effort at his school to help his teacher who had two sons diagnosed with cancer. Things snowballed from there as other students wanted to lend support and raise funds for the cancer society. That first year, West Haven fifth and sixth graders held the first mini Relay-For-Life Hawk Walk. 

West Haven Elementary is located at 4385 South 3900 West, West Haven, Utah 84401. For more information on how to donate, please call 801-452-4960 or 801-452-4979.

Visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst on Instagram and Pinterest.