Salt Lake City: Livability in the 21st Century

America First took action to protect its members
a second time and converted its charter from
state to federal, thereby providing a reasonable
field of membership and maintaining its ability to
make loans to business members. As a result of
these and other efforts that keep the interests of
its members firmly in focus, the company won
the Outstanding Political Action award from the
Credit Union Times in 2007.
A unique and defining characteristic of
America First is that, in seventy-four years, the
credit union has had just four presidents/CEOs:
the aforementioned Ray Hagen, James (Jim)
Dawson, Olin (Rick) Craig, and now John B.
Lund, who was appointed to the top post in 2012
after thirty-seven years of service. In 2012, the
National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF)
presented Craig with its 2013 Herb S. Wegner Memorial
Award for Lifetime Achievement; he is one of only twentyfour
credit union leaders in history to receive this award and
the only Utahn ever to have such an honor.
America First’s mission of service is not limited to
helping people develop and maintain financial well-being. In
fact, it emanates throughout the community. America First’s
employee volunteer program, dubbed the Greater Good,
offers a planned, managed framework that motivates staff
members to effectively donate time and resources to the
communities where they live. Quarterly Greater Good activities
are focused on four specific areas: health and human
services, community beautification, education and Warm
the Soles of Kids, a program sponsored by America First
and other credit unions, providing new shoes to
disadvantaged kids during the holiday season.
Other philanthropic activities engaged in by America
First staff members include mentoring students at Lakeview
Elementary School in Roy, encouraging the children to
excel, achieve and succeed; and fundraising for the
Community Assistance Program (CAP), which benefits
organizations working to end homelessness and help the
impoverished, including the Ogden Rescue Mission,
St. Anne’s Shelter, Catholic Community Services, the
Cathedral of the Madeleine, Christmas Box International,
the Assistance League of Salt Lake, the SHARE food bank
in Ogden and Safe Nest in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Far beyond simply a place to deposit money, America
First Credit Union is dedicated to creating lifetime relationships
with each and every member served. No matter the
life stage they have reached, America First provides the
right products, services, assistance and support to maintain
and improve members’ financial health. For more information
about America First Credit Union, please visit
www.americafirst.com. America First is federally insured
by NCUA and an Equal Housing & Opportunity Lender.
❖
Meeting the financial needs of its members is priority number one at
America First Credit Union, which includes day-to-day services, as well as
free consumer education and counseling.
T H E M A R K E T P L A C E
2 1 7