since 1935 | #justbeyourself

Volume 7 | Issue 7 | August 2024
Our Mission: Providing financial solutions for every stage of life.

Dear Valued Member,

As most of you may already know, I will be retiring as the President and CEO of Community First Credit Union on August 30. I have served in this role for over 28 years, and it’s a bittersweet moment as I share my thoughts with you in this final newsletter.

When I joined the credit union in 1996, then known as Educational Community Credit Union, we had about 45,000 members, six branch offices, and $200 million in assets. Since then, we’ve expanded our field-of-membership, added products and services, built new branch locations, and made the leap into the digital age. Furthermore, we have created the Community First Cares Foundation, dedicated to assisting the underprivileged in our community through various initiatives. These include monthly free food giveaways, providing classroom grants, funding mental health services, and fostering the development and prosperity of small enterprises at the Melanin Market.

Today, after many years of healthy and organic growth, the credit union is now 175,000 members with $2.8 billion in assets and 22 branches throughout the greater Jacksonville region, with four more planned or under construction. None of this would have been possible without the loyal support and participation of our membership. My two greatest priorities in leading the credit union throughout the years have been keeping our members at the forefront of everything we do and creating an employee focused culture that empowers them to serve you with excellence. It is my hope that we’ve delivered on our promise to provide the best financial products and services for you and your loved ones.

I am pleased to turn over the reins to Sam Inman, our Chief Financial Officer, who will take over as the new CEO of Community First Credit Union. Sam has been on board with us for a remarkable 34 years, and I’ve had the good fortune of working with him for my entire time here. As a key contributor to the credit union’s growth and financial soundness, Sam brings a wealth of experience while being an exemplar of the credit union’s Purpose and Values. I have every confidence that Sam is the perfect leader to take the credit union to the next level.

It has been the privilege of a lifetime serving as your CEO. The past 28 years have flown by quickly, and I am grateful to have worked alongside our dedicated employees and volunteers while doing something I love, which is serving our wonderful and diverse group of members. I am very excited about the future of Community First under Sam’s leadership, and I wish the organization and its members all the best of success. Thank you for being a loyal member!

Sincerely,

John Hirabayashi