America First Credit Union history

In March of 1946, the young credit union was able to purchase its first headquarters on Avenue E in Ensley.

On June 23, 1947, the finance office of the United States 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.

By 1959, the credit union had grown in assets to $5,925,475 and reached 10,000 members.

In 1960, with the addition of the Naval Supply Depot in Clearfield, Utah, the credit union was now affiliated with four military installations, the other three being the Utah General Depot, Hill Air Force Base, and Fort Douglas.

A decade later in 1969, the credit union had grown to over $22 million in assets.

By the end of the 1970’s the credit union served over 62,000 members and had fully automated its systems and added checking and money market accounts and real estate loans to its suite of services.

After several years of steady growth resulting in assets reaching over $48 million and 4 branch locations, the credit union changed its name to the Iron and Steel Credit Union in 1975.

The 1980’s began with the credit union moving into its new home office building at 1200 4th Avenue, North and began expanding its branch network and field of membership to include non-steel related industries in response to the steel crisis of the early 1980’s.

Utah-chartered credit unions began serving anyone in the state and the credit union changed its name to America First Credit Union in 1984.

On July 1, 1985, the credit union’s Board of Directors approved a name change to America’s First Credit Union to reflect a larger and more diverse field of membership that was no longer restricted to steel related industries.

During the 1990’s and beyond, the credit union continued to grow and began offering electronic services that included debit cards, on-line and mobile banking, an interactive website, bill payment and added indirect lending to the consumer loan portfolio.

On December 19, 1994, the federal charter was approved and our name changed to America’s First Federal Credit Union.

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.

In 2005, it announced that it would offer Small Business Administration loans to its members.

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

In 2010, America’s First Federal Credit Union reached $1 billion in assets and had grown to 18 branches serving over 100,000 members.