About

America First Credit Union was founded on March 16, 1939 at the Hotel Newhouse in Salt Lake City, Utah. Among the 59 who attended the charter meeting of what was then the Fort Douglas Civilian Employees Credit Union was R.D. (Ray) Hagen, a volunteer who eventually became their first full-time employee (treasurer/manager) and later president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The credit union was established in a small office housed in Fort Douglas' Building 207, with service hours on Fridays only from 3:30 to 4 p.m. A Prince Albert tobacco can was used to hold all cash deposits at the time; total assets and membership were $788 and 79, respectively. A unique characteristic of America First is that, in 80 years, the credit union has had just four Presidents/CEOs: the aforementioned Ray Hagen, James (Jim) Dawson, Olin (Rick) Craig, and John B. Lund.