About America First Credit Union

America First Credit Union (AFCU) is a federally chartered, member-owned cooperative headquartered in Riverdale, Utah, holding $23.3 billion in assets and serving 1.5 million members. Founded March 23, 1939 to serve military personnel at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City, AFCU now operates 116 branches across Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, California, and Oregon, ranking as the 6th largest credit union in the United States and the largest by membership in Utah.

Our history — from Fort Douglas to seven-state coverage

America First Federal Credit Union was chartered on March 23, 1939, in the depth of the late Depression era, to provide a member-owned savings and lending cooperative for military families stationed at Fort Douglas. The original field of membership covered active-duty personnel, civilian employees of the post, and their immediate family. Over the following decades AFCU expanded its charter scope to add employees of partner organizations, opened additional branches throughout the Wasatch Front, and eventually broadened to a community charter covering the major counties of Utah and several adjacent states. The 2000s brought a multi-state expansion into Nevada and Arizona, followed by Idaho, New Mexico, California, and Oregon. Today AFCU serves residents of any of those seven western states, plus family members of existing AFCU members and employees of an extensive list of select employer groups.

Scale — the numbers that define AFCU today

AFCU's most-cited statistics paint the picture of a major regional cooperative. Total assets stand at approximately $23.3 billion, placing AFCU 6th among US credit unions by asset size. Membership is approximately 1.5 million accounts, served through 116 physical branches and the AFCU online banking platform at secure.americafirst.com. The credit union's debit and credit cards work fee-free at 30,000+ ATMs through the CO-OP and Allpoint networks. AFCU funds residential mortgages, auto loans, home equity lines of credit, business loans, credit cards, and consumer loans — with the loan portfolio diversified across consumer, residential, and small-business categories. Member services run 24/7 at 1-800-999-3961. The credit union's ACH routing number is 324377516.

Leadership and governance

1. Member-elected board of directors. As a not-for-profit cooperative, AFCU is governed by a board elected from the membership at the annual meeting. Directors serve staggered terms and oversee strategy, audit, and risk policies.
2. Executive leadership team. A professional executive team — including the president and CEO, chief financial officer, chief lending officer, chief information officer, and chief member experience officer — manages day-to-day operations across the 116-branch footprint.
3. Supervisory and credit committees. Independent committees made up of credit union members provide oversight on lending decisions and annual audit review, an arrangement required of federally chartered credit unions.
4. Federal regulator oversight. AFCU is regulated by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the federal agency that charters and examines credit unions. NCUA also provides the federal share insurance of $250,000 per depositor per ownership category.

Key institutional facts

Programs and member benefits

Beyond standard banking products, AFCU operates several member-focused programs worth noting in any company profile. Youth Savings accounts are designed for members under 18, often with promotional bonuses on the first deposit. The annual Bump CD certificate gives members a one-time chance to reset their certificate rate higher if market rates rise. Member Advocacy is AFCU's financial education and counseling program, available to all members at no cost. The credit union also operates a Repossession Sales channel where members can purchase repossessed vehicles, boats, and powersports at member-only pricing. Branch hours typically run Monday through Friday 9 AM to 6 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 2 PM with variation by location.

Featured AFCU programs

Overview & Key Features

America First Credit Union is a member-owned cooperative chartered March 23, 1939, originally to serve military families at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City. Today it ranks 6th among US credit unions with $23.3 billion in member assets, 1.5 million members, 116 branches across seven western states, and a corporate office in Riverdale, Utah. AFCU is federally regulated by the NCUA and federally insured up to $250,000 per depositor.

• Founded: March 23, 1939 to serve Fort Douglas military families
• Headquarters: Riverdale, Utah at 1344 W 4675 S
• Assets: Approximately $23.3 billion under member ownership
• Members: 1.5 million across seven western states
• Branch Network: 116 physical locations in UT, NV, AZ, ID, NM, CA, OR
• ATM Access: 30,000+ surcharge-free CO-OP and Allpoint ATMs
• Regulator: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)
• Insurance: NCUA federal share insurance up to $250,000 per depositor

People also ask about AFCU history and structure

When was America First Credit Union founded?

AFCU was chartered on March 23, 1939 to serve military personnel and their families at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City, Utah. The credit union has operated continuously since that date.

How big is America First Credit Union?

AFCU holds $23.3 billion in assets, serves 1.5 million members, and operates 116 branches across seven western states — ranking 6th among US credit unions by asset size and largest in Utah by membership.

Where is AFCU headquartered?

America First Credit Union is headquartered in Riverdale, Utah, at 1344 W 4675 S. The corporate campus serves as the operational hub for all 116 branches across seven states.

Who runs America First Credit Union?

As a member-owned cooperative, AFCU is governed by a board of directors elected from the membership at the annual meeting, plus a professional executive leadership team managing day-to-day operations and a federally required supervisory committee.