I love my cu dayI love my cu day

Stars, Stripes & Stories

Celebrating America and the stories that remind us why people helping people matters.

Share · Win · Give

For 250 years, communities across America have been strengthened by the cooperative spirit of people helping people. It's the same spirit that built Community First — and it shows up every day in the stories our members tell. 

 

At Community First, we're inspired by the opportunity to help people achieve their goals, overcome challenges and move forward — and we know some of our best stories aren't ones we tell, but ones you do. 

 

So this July, we want to hear yours: a moment when Community First was part of your story or what makes you love your credit union? 

 


Share Your Story, Win & Give 

Every submitted story between July 4 – July 30, 2026 is automatically entered to win by random drawing.  
 

  • 1 Grand Prize Winner — $2,500 Kwik Trip gift card for you, plus $2,500 donated to a veteran-focused non-profit selected from our list of eligible organizations.
  • ​27 Winners — $250 Kwik Trip gift card (one per Community First branch, plus one online submission winner). Each winner may also direct a matching donation to a veteran-focused non-profit from our eligible organizations list. 
Kwik Trip Gift Card

Grand Prize Winner

WIN: $2,500 in Kwik Trip Gift Cards

GIVE: $2,500 Donation to a Veteran-focused non-profit.

Winner to choose from designated list of charities.

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Kwik Trip Gift Card

One Winner Per Branch & Online

WIN: $250 Kwik Trip Gift Card

GIVE: $250 Donation to a Veteran-focused non-profit.

Winner to choose from designated list of charities.

Winners will be announced July 31 on I Love My Credit Union Day. 



 

Community First will make a matching donation to one of the following veteran-focused non-profit organizations selected by each winner:  


Submit the form below or visit any Community First branch to enter.  

One entry per person. See complete rules below for details. 

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Security code:


 
 

Every Story Matters 

Every story reflects the power of people helping people. Your story may inspire another member. Your story may support a local non-profit. Your story reminds us why helping people still matters. Whatever your story, we’re honored to be a part of it. 

 

Here's what other members are saying:

Seeing how invested Community First is in our community. It gives me a good feeling this is not the same faceless cold corporate business. They are definitely involved, and want to be!!!

 

 - Antoinette P.

Bi-weekly mortgage payments helped pay off the mortgage early and reduced overall interest paid.

 

 - Clay R.

Community First helped me through college. They always treated me with kindness and helped me get the loans I needed. I would not have finished school without their support.

 

 - Dale T.

I brought my oldest child in to get a debit card. The representative was so nice explaining all the ways we could protect the account.

 

 - Dawn R.

I brought my son in to get his first car loan. We needed the loan quickly as he was on leave from the Army. He was approved and was able to get back to Fort Carson with his new car.

 

 - Teresa M.

I got married when I was 18 and my husband was 20. Community First was our very first banking experience and has been with us through 44 years of marriage coming up this year!

 

 - Deb V.

I loved the excitement watching my kids open accounts with the staff. They explained money management and savings tips in a way that kept them engaged and encouraged. We all love the ease of online banking and being able to cash checks from Grandma on the app!

 

 - Jacqueline K.

I love the continued support of Community First and their protocols that saved my debit card from being charged when it was hacked.

 

 - Coy S.

I just love the fact that whenever I call a real person answers and can help me - no AI, no transferring the call... I'm helped and I'm done.

 

 - Richard M.

I was in the hospital when my debit card was compromised. I called the credit union. A branch manager came to my hospital room with the necessary paperwork.

 

 - Mary Ann N.

Our water heater had just broken down. We found out the repair bill was going to be $300. I went to check my mailbox. In it was a $300 rebate check for taking out an loan from CFCU for being a member. Totally unexpected and greatly appreciated!

 

 - Justin G.

Thanks to Community First, we unlocked the front door to our very first home. We expected the process to be stressful and overwhelming. Instead, we found encouragement, guidance, and a team that genuinely wanted us to succeed.

 

 - Kelly S.

The people keep me coming back. No matter which branch I stop into, everyone is friendly, helpful, and takes the time to answer questions. I also appreciate how transparent they are.

 

 - Cassandra D.

We needed quick funds for an unexpected surgery for our beloved dog Charly and we knew we could count on Community First to pull through for us!

 

 - Celena L.

What I love about Community First is the feeling that I am part of something bigger. Community First represents the idea that people matter, that every account is a person with dreams, goals, and a story worth supporting.

 

 - Gabriella C.

Without my home loan from Community First I would not have been able to purchase my home and raise my son as a single parent in our own home.

 

 - Kathy S.

Not a member yet?

Official Rules for Community First Credit Union’s “America’s 250th & I Love My Credit Union Day 2026” Prize Sweepstakes

  1. No purchase necessary to enter or win.
  2. How to Enter: Community First Credit Union’s “America’s 250th & I Love My Credit Union Day 2026” Prize Sweepstakes begins on July 4, 2026.
    1. In Person: Entries can be submitted in person inside any participating Community First Credit Union location during lobby business hours. Deadline for in-person entries is the close of business on Thursday, July 30, 2026. See www.communityfirstcu.org/locations for a complete list of participating locations.
    2. Online: Entries can be submitted online at www.communityfirstcu.org. Deadline for online entries is 6:00PM on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
    3. All entries, whether online or handwritten, become property of the Credit Union upon submission.
  3. Drawings: Community First Credit Union’s “America’s 250th & I Love My Credit Union Day 2026” Prize Sweepstakes will consist of three types of drawings.
    1. Grand Prize Drawing: A representative of the Credit Union at each participating branch will randomly draw an entry from the handwritten submissions collected at the location following close of business on Thursday, July 30, 2026, to be included in the Grand Prize Drawing. A singular entry will be randomly selected from all online entries collected by the deadline by a representative of the Credit Union on Friday, July 31, 2026, to be included in the Grand Prize Drawing. All Grand Prize Drawing entry candidates will be combined on Friday, July 31, 2026, whereas a representative of the Credit Union will randomly select a singular Grand Prize winner from the combined entries.
    2. In-Person Entry Drawings: A representative of the Credit Union at each participating branch will randomly draw a winner from the handwritten entries collected at that location following close of business on Thursday, July 30, 2026. This drawing will occur following the Grand Prize Drawing.
    3. Online Entry Drawing: A singular winner will be randomly selected from all online entries collected by the deadline by a representative of the Credit Union by Friday, July 31. This drawing will occur following the Grand Prize Drawing.
  4. Prizes: Prizes awarded in the Sweepstakes will consist of a combination of Kwik Trip Gift Cards and the right to designate where a donation of equal value is made by Community First Credit Union based on a choice by the winner from a list of pre-determined non-profit organizations. Donations will be made directly to the designated non-profit organization on behalf of winners and will not be distributed to the winner.
    1. One Grand Prize Winner of ten Kwik Trip Gift Cards valued at $250.00 each for a total of $2,500.00 will be awarded to one individual selected from a drawing consisting of one entry from each branch location and one entry from online for a total of 27 entries. Grand Prize Winner will also be asked to choose from a list of pre-determined non-profit organizations where a donation of $2,500.00 will be awarded in their name.
    2. One Kwik Trip Gift Card valued at $250.00 will be awarded at each participating branch location. One Kwik Trip Gift Card valued at $250.00 will be awarded from online entries collected at www.communityfirstcu.org. Each of these winners will also be asked to choose from a list of pre-determined non-profit organizations where a donation of $250.00 will be awarded in their name.
  5. Notification & Claiming of Prizes: The Credit Union reserves the right to verify winner eligibility prior to awarding any prize. All winners will be notified by phone and/or email by Friday, July 31, 2026. Prizes will be available to winners during normal business hours starting Saturday, August 1 at the Community First Credit Union location where the winner’s name was chosen, or selected by the winner when notified of prize. Winner must provide official Credit Union-or government-issued identification upon request to claim prize. Any prizes not collected by the designated winner by close of business on Saturday, August 29 will revert back to the property of the Credit Union.
  6. Odds: Actual odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Response provided with the entry form does not improve odds of winning.
  7. Eligibility: Legal residents of the United States at least 18 years of age, except where prohibited by law, are eligible to participate and win.
    1. All participants must have an active Credit Union membership and be in good standing in the Credit Union.
    2. Employees and Board Members of Community First Credit Union, its subsidiaries, and the immediate family of any such persons, spouse, parents, siblings and children and each of their spouses, and persons living in the same household of each of these individuals whether related or not related, are not eligible to win.
    3. Entries are limited to a total of one per person, whether online or handwritten, regardless of location. Entries made at multiple locations will invalidate all entries regardless of when the entry was made.
    4. Winners are limited to one prize per household.
    5. Entry form, whether online or handwritten, must be completed in full to be valid.
    6. All entries, whether online or handwritten, must be received before the specific deadline for the method of entry to be eligible.
    7. All entries, whether online or handwritten, must be submitted with the person’s legal name and legible contact information to be eligible.
  8. Decisions: By entering into the Sweepstakes, entrants agree to abide by and be bound by these Official Rules, and to accept the decisions of the Credit Union as final. Entrants also agree to hold the Credit Union and each of its officers, directors, employees, members and representatives, and agents harmless from any liability arising from participation, or the acceptance of a prize. The Credit Union and each of its officers, directors, employees, members, and representatives, and agents are not responsible for any negligence, claims, liability, injury, property loss, or other damages of entrants and/or winners arising from, or in connection with, acceptance of prizes awarded or participation in this Sweepstakes. The Credit Union is not responsible for stolen, lost, late, misdirected, damaged, incomplete, illegible, or postage-due mail or entries; or for transactions that are processed late or incorrectly, or are lost or not received due to any reason. The Credit Union reserves the right to disqualify entrants who fail to follow these Official Rules or who make any misrepresentations relative to the Sweepstakes and prize redemption.
  9. Publicity: Each participant and winner agrees to permit the Credit Union to use his/her name, submitted responses and likeness in promotional and other Credit Union materials, without additional compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law or where the participant has selected the “opt-out” option at time of entry. Each winner also agrees that their name and prize amount will be given to other entrants upon request.
  10. Compliance with the Law: All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and the Credit Union in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of Wisconsin, without regard to its choice of law provisions.
  11. Taxes: Each winner is solely responsible for any and all applicable federal, state and local taxes and any expenses associated with the prize.
  12. Resolutions of Disputes: Except where prohibited by law, as a condition of participating in this Sweepstakes, each participant agrees that any and all disputes and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Sweepstakes, Sweepstakes Drawing or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and through neutral arbitration; the laws of the State of Wisconsin will govern the enforcement and all proceedings at such arbitration; and judgment upon such arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. Under no circumstances will any participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and each participant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, other than actual out-of-pocket expenses, meaning costs associated with entering the Sweepstakes, and waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
  13. Miscellaneous: This Sweepstakes is void where prohibited. The Credit Union may substitute prizes of equivalent value, amend the rules or discontinue the Sweepstakes at any time. The Credit Union disclaims any responsibility to notify participants of any aspect related to the conduct of this Sweepstakes.

Written copies of these rules are available during normal business hours at any Credit Union location, by mail upon written request to Community First Credit Union, Attn: Marketing, P.O. Box 1487, Appleton, WI 54912-1487 with a stamped, self-addressed return envelope, and on the Credit Union’s Web site at www.communityfirstcu.org.