2026 Fastest Growing Not-for-Profit

Industry: Finance

Led by: Cathie Tierney, President & CEO

Headquarters: Neenah

Number of Employees: 630

communityfirstcu.com

Since 1975, Community First  Credit Union has grown as a member‑owned financial cooperative “built on the philosophy of people helping people,” says President & CEO Cathie Tierney, who has served as the organization’s leader since 1994.

Based in Neenah with 26 locations throughout Northeast Wisconsin, Community First Credit Union has assets of $6.7 billion, serving more than 166,000 members. The credit union has been honored for 18 consecutive years with the prestigious Raddon Crystal Performance Award, which recognizes its financial performance as ranking among the top 10 credit unions nationwide. The financial institution also has been ranked with a No. 24 Ranking in the S&P Top 100 and the Bauer 50‑Star Financial Rating, and it was recently honored with the 2025 Governor’s Legacy Award for Financial Literacy.

“Impact for us is most impactful at the individual level,” says Tierney. That might mean helping a family to save a farm, helping a family to adopt, or providing financial support to members who were affected by the recent floods. The organization contributes $2.7 million in charitable giving and more than 25,000 volunteer hours from its employees annually.

“That’s what success looks like to us,” Tierney says.  “When we get those things right, growth follows.”

In 2026, Community First is breaking ground on three new branches in Ledgeview, Manitowoc and Wrightstown.