AmFirst Selected for National Credit Union Foundation’s At-Risk Youth Financial Well-Being Grant

AmFirst Selected for National Credit Union Foundation’s At-Risk Youth Financial Well-Being Grant

AmFirst is one of 24 credit unions nationwide chosen to receive funding to expand financial well-being programs for at-risk youth

BIRMINGHAM, AL—September 28, 2026— AmFirst has been selected to receive funding through the National Credit Union Foundation’s At-Risk Youth Financial Well-Being Grant. AmFirst is one of 24 credit unions nationwide chosen for this year’s cohort, following the strongest response to a call for applications in the program’s history.

AmFirst will use the grant to support its partnership with Vox Academy and to expand Music, Movement & Money, an interactive financial well-being program designed to connect financial education with how young people learn, communicate, and experience the world around them. Through music, creative expression, movement, and real-life money conversations, the program will help at-risk youth explore budgeting, saving, credit, banking, and financial goals in ways that feel relevant and engaging.

“Financial well-being is about much more than teaching someone how to budget; it’s about helping young people see what is possible for their lives,” said Nikita Mathews, Financial Education Program Lead at AmFirst. “When we reach young people early, meet them where they are, and provide practical tools, support, and opportunities to apply what they learn, we can help change the trajectory of not only their financial future but also their families’ and communities’ futures.”

Mathews leads the financial wellness program at AmFirst. The program aims to expand access, build confidence, and ensure people have the support and resources they need to grow, thrive, and build a future they can believe in. 

“A young person’s financial well-being is the throughline that influences nearly every opportunity that follows, from education and employment to housing and long-term stability,” said Lauren Culp, executive director at the National Credit Union Foundation. “What we saw in this grant cycle was extraordinary commitment from 24 credit unions eager to address those challenges in their communities.”

The grant period runs from September 30, 2026, through September 30, 2027. AmFirst joins 23 other credit unions nationwide selected for this year’s cohort.

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About AmFirst: Established in 1936 by members of Birmingham’s steel industry, AmFirst is a federally chartered community credit union serving more than 200,000 members across 22 locations in 13 Alabama counties, with over $2.7billion in assets. Recognized as one of the nation’s strongest credit unions, AmFirst provides affordable and innovative financial services while building meaningful relationships within the communities it serves. AmFirst has been named one of Forbes and Newsweek’s best credit unions for multiple years. The credit union ranks as the #1 credit union in Alabama by F&I Tools USA, based on Best APR, and has earned local awards for Best Credit Union and Best Financial Advising Group. For more information about AmFirst, visit www.amfirst.org.

About the National Credit Union Foundation (ncuf.coop): The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) is the charitable arm of the U.S. credit union movement and exists to improve financial well-being with and through credit unions. Through innovations, grants and programs, the Foundation is strengthening financial well-being, energizing purpose, instilling knowledge about the credit union difference, and uniting resources to help credit union people during disaster. Donations to the Foundation ultimately enable credit unions to help their members reach life-changing goals and achieve financial well-being.