Standing with members: AmFirst’s rapid response when banks walked away
AmFirst's commitment to community was never clearer than when a local restaurateur—shut out by two well-known banks for needing a modest $28,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan during the COVID-19 crisis—turned to its downtown Birmingham, Alabama office.
"When I called him and told him that we were able to get him approved, he immediately started crying," recalls LeAnn Streetman, AmFirst's director of business services. "And then it was just the thankfulness in his voice that the credit union he had been a member of for years was willing to process his PPP request and get it done for him."
After swift Small Business Administration (SBA) approval, Streetman and a two-person team processed his request—then did it again in round two—each ultimately forgiven in full.
That restaurateur isn't an outlier. Between spring 2020 and early 2021, AmFirst disbursed 384 PPP loans totaling $5.3 million, with an average ticket of just $13,802—far below the bank-focused minimums that left many small businesses scrambling. Today, many of those same borrowers return for vehicle, equipment, and even commercial real estate financing, cementing AmFirst's role as a trusted partner when it matters most.
AmFirst's approach shows how a member-first ethos—even when the risk is high because of what is happening around us—translates into rapid relief, lasting loyalty, and measurable community impact.
Emergency relief tailored to small businesses
When mid-March 2020 COVID lockdowns began, Streetman and a colleague raced to secure SBA lender status.
"We kept having small business members reach out … they wouldn't even see them at the larger banks," says Streetman. Within weeks, AmFirst was funded to process PPP loans.
"We were truly trying to help these small businesses in our communities survive the pandemic," she explains. Every approval meant another payroll cycle saved, another family kept afloat. Members remembered who helped them when they needed it."
Beyond emergency relief, AmFirst offers a full suite of business lending products:
- Business Signature Loans
- Combined Collateral Loans
- Business Lines of Credit and Credit Cards
"We kind of run the gamut, honestly," Streetman laughs.
Commercial‐real‐estate financing spans under and non-owner occupied properties—everything from single‐tenant shops to multi-acre warehouses. According to AmFirst's website, terms are "flexible and tailored to member needs."
Equipment and vehicle financing rounds out the portfolio.
"Whether it's a landscaper's mower or a delivery van, we'll make it happen," Streetman says—often at rates and terms that banks can't match.
Putting members first with customized lending
AmFirst's debt consolidation program helps members refinance high-interest unsecured balances into manageable, lower-rate plans—easing monthly cash flow and reducing long-term interest burdens.
For credit-challenged members (scores under 600), the credit union refinances auto loans that once carried dealership rates as high as 22 percent into steadier, more affordable terms. The result: stronger credit scores and greater financial stability.
Its First Time Vehicle Buyer Program—open to any member with limited or no prior auto credit—offers rates as low as 6.16 percent APR, compared to 18-20 percent at many dealerships.
"We want to put them into a better financial situation long term," Streetman emphasizes.
Empowered underwriting and member-first ethos
A key differentiator is AmFirst's flexible lending policy: loan committees are charged with finding a path to "yes" rather than issuing a flat "no." That mindset allows the credit union to approve loans that traditional lenders won't consider.
"At the end of the day, we truly want to take care of our membership," Streetman says. After 20 years at AmFirst, she names the PPP response as a career highlight-proof that empowered teams can deliver meaningful impact.
This culture of care extends across the executive level: AmFirst's senior leadership reviews each lending guideline with one question in mind—how does this benefit our members?
Proven impact on members, community growth
With nearly 200,000 members relying on its services, AmFirst empowers ongoing investment in member dreams—whether opening a restaurant, purchasing a warehouse, or refinancing high-cost debt.
When traditional banks draw lines in the sand, AmFirst's member-first finance shows how credit unions can step in to support communities at their most vulnerable—then build lasting partnerships that extend far beyond a single loan.
"I think it is not only the flexible lending policy or lending guidelines," Streetman says, "but also knowing that our loan committee and Executive Loan Committee at the end of the day truly want to take care of our membership. That is why we're here."