As a member-owned financial cooperative, America First exists solely to serve you and help promote your financial well-being. That singular focus is why we work every day to make your membership in our credit union even more valuable and relevant to your needs. One of the many ways you can see those efforts in practice is by looking at the wide range of financial products, tools, and services we offer, and at all the ways in which we are continually enhancing and adding to them. However, one of the unintended challenges that comes with having such a broad selection is that many of our offerings often go overlooked or underutilized. So, I’d like to highlight just a few of the hidden gems you might not realize you can access as members of America First.

You’re probably already familiar with one or more mobile payment services. Over the last several years, their popularity has skyrocketed, and people now use their digital wallets and payment apps more than traditional payment methods. But what you might not know is that Zelle®, a payment service that lets you quickly and easily send and receive money to and from your friends, family, and others you trust, is available for free inside of Online and Mobile Banking. You don’t need to download anything new to use it, and it’s protected by the same state-of-the-art security we use to safeguard your accounts.

If you use free America First Direct Deposit, you might receive payroll funds a day earlier than you expect. Although it depends on the timing of the payer’s submission of the payment file, we generally make deposited funds available the same day we receive the file, which can be up to one day earlier than the scheduled payment date. As America First members, you also have access to free financial counseling, and investment, Medicare, and retirement services. No matter what stage of life you’re in or what your financial goals are, whether you need help building or repairing your credit, advice on maximizing your 401(k), tips on making and sticking to an effective budget, help creating a long-term financial plan, or any number of other things that might apply to your specific goals, these services can help you make the most of every dollar you earn, save, or spend.

There are so many more benefits to being an America First member and I invite you to stop by your neighborhood branch or visit americafirst.com to discover the ones that best fit you. Thank you for being a member, for trusting us to provide you with world-class financial solutions, and for choosing us to help you, your families, and your businesses reach your unique financial goals.