BIRMINGHAM, AL (July 13, 2026) |
AmFirst is proud to celebrate its 90th anniversary, marking more than nine decades of improving the quality of members’ lives by maintaining a strong, secure, and innovative credit union that builds trust and shows respect.
What began as a small, member-owned cooperative has grown into one of Alabama’s largest credit unions. Today, AmFirst is not just a place to keep money; it’s a trusted financial partner and a foundation for generations of member relationships.
To commemorate its 90th anniversary, AmFirst has celebrated its members all year long. Most recently, AmFirst held a two-week celebration across all branches, offering special 90th-anniversary merchandise to mark the milestone and thank members for their loyalty.
Founded in 1936 as the Iron and Steel Workers Credit Union, AmFirst’s roots tie directly to the working class of Birmingham’s steel industry. Nineteen men employed by United States Steel Corporation, formerly Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railway Company, pooled their resources—just $1,500 and 115 members—to create a credit union of their own. Located at United States Steel’s Ensley Works and open only three days a week, the credit union stored cash in a cigar box and offered two simple products: a share account and a co-signed loan.
Over time, the credit union evolved from serving only steelworkers and their families to serving a diverse and growing membership with a full range of financial services.
“We’ve had a purpose, a mission to bring value to our members’ lives,” said AmFirst Board of Directors Member Barney Hatten. “In 1936, they didn’t know how this organization would grow over the years, but, more importantly, they had one mission: to put our members first.”
Today, AmFirst has 22 branch locations, 200,000 members, and more than $2 billion in assets. As one of the largest credit unions in the state, AmFirst has stood the test of time while remaining grounded in its founding principles.
“Over those 90 years, we have stayed true to that purpose,” Hatten added. “I think they would be very proud of where we are.”
To learn more about AmFirst’s 90-year commitment to its members and communities, watch the anniversary video here: https://youtu.be/6IpYv_ZsCww
