At C1st, we believe that financial success is a right for everyone. Rooted in our mission of “people helping people,” we empower individuals and families with the tools, resources, and support they need to achieve financial success—no matter where they are on their financial journey.
Our Mission.
Community 1st Credit Union is committed to the fundamental goal of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) movement. We strive to provide financial empowerment for everyone, especially the underserved and underbanked, through affordable financial services designed to make a meaningful difference in their lives.
Community Development Financial Institution
- What does it mean to be a CDFI?
Community Development Financial Institutions—or CDFIs—are mission-driven financial institutions dedicated to providing financial services to economically disadvantaged individuals within underserved communities.
CDFIs invest in local communities and their residents by providing critically needed financing that is often unavailable from mainstream financial institutions.
CDFIs are certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, also known as the CDFI Fund. To become a certified CDFI, the financial institution must primarily promote community development, provide financial products and services, serve one or more defined low-income target markets, maintain accountability to the community it serves, and be a legal non-governmental entity.
All CDFIs share a common mission of serving low-income communities. CDFIs are commonly loan funds, credit unions, community banks, or venture capital funds.
As a CDFI, Community 1st Credit Union puts the community first and values local economic growth.
Our Services.
We believe in offering accessible financial solutions to help you thrive. Our services include:
- Financial Solvency
- Home Purchase Assistance
- Vehicle Purchase Loans
- Retirement Savings Plans
- Low-Cost Loans for All
- Financial Education & Counseling
- Affordable Checking & Savings Accounts
- IRA Accounts
- Competitive Dividends on Savings
- Bilingual Services (including Spanish)
Our Impact.
C1st's CDFI certification is designed to support the communities we serve. This certification enables us to apply for competitive CDFI grants from the U.S. Treasury. Since 2020, C1st has proudly provided over $2.5 million in Mortgage Down Payment Assistance to more than 580 members, helping them achieve homeownership.
Since 2018, Community 1st Credit Union has distributed 4.7 million Payday Alternative Loans through CDFI funds, helping more than 6,550 members.