AmFirst Credit Union has acquired nearly 8 acres of land in Alabaster, where it plans to build the company's 24th branch overall and its very first location in the city. The site sits on AL-119 just north of the Thompson Road intersection, putting the Birmingham-based financial institution on track to become the fourth AmFirst branch in Shelby County.
According to bizjournals.com, AmFirst paid $4.5 million for the 7.59-acre parcel, which sits near a planned retail development. As reported by Bham Now, the credit union has not announced when it will break ground on or open the new Alabaster branch.
A Growing Footprint in Shelby County
AmFirst, founded in 1936, currently operates 22 locations across 13 Alabama counties and serves more than 200,000 members, per the same outlet's reporting. Its other Shelby County branches serve Inverness, Calera and Pelham, and the credit union is also scheduled to open its 23rd branch in Clanton by the end of 2026 — meaning Alabaster would mark its 24th location once it's built.
Kevin Morris, AmFirst's president and CEO, said the Alabaster investment demonstrates the credit union's commitment to accessible financial services and growth in a fast-growing Alabama community. Morris added that AmFirst is committed to growing in the communities it serves and expanding in Shelby County with the Alabaster location.
What's Happening Nearby on Highway 119
The AmFirst site's proximity to a planned retail development places it near an area of Alabaster that has seen a mix of progress and setbacks. Just up the road, The Shoppes at District 31 — the initial five-acre phase of a larger $242 million, 75-acre mixed-use project — was expected to begin welcoming tenants in summer 2026, with the first phase slated to feature up to 14 retailers and restaurants, according to earlier Bham Now coverage.
Separately, at the corner of Highway 119 and Thompson Road, the city's path has been bumpier. Alabaster's City Council voted to terminate its agreement with Liberty Retail Properties 2 Series LLC for a commercial project there, according to shelbycountyreporter.com. The city had first approved a memorandum of understanding in 2024 with Ironwood Construction and Development for a proposed mixed-use plan on the site, the outlet reported.
City Says It's Searching for a New Developer
The terminated agreement had covered 3.5 acres and authorized up to $3 million in economic development incentives, according to ABC 33/40. After the deal fell through, the city said it did not currently have a new developer lined up and was reaching out to developers while working with Shelby County's 58 Inc. to find potential partners.
An earlier city-development report from ABC 33/40 had indicated the new restaurant and retail spaces were expected to open around the recreation center and library, in late 2026 or early 2027. A separate report from the same station noted the original plan anticipated those businesses opening around the same time as the recreation center and library, in late 2026 or early 2027.
