America First Credit Union 2FA: how to set up an authenticator app

America First Credit Union protects its online and mobile banking with multi-factor authentication (MFA). After your username and password, you enter a one-time passcode. You can have that code sent by text message or email, or you can get it from an authenticator app (America First, America First). America First recommends turning MFA on, but its pages describe it as a setting you choose rather than a requirement (America First). This guide shows the authenticator app route with Authenticator App - Novaz on iPhone. Any authenticator app works the same way.

How we checked this guide: the America First steps come from America First's own website, linked below. Its site turned away our automated reader, so on October 21, 2026 we read the pages as archived copies on web.archive.org, saved between July and October 2026. America First has no step-by-step help article for MFA, and the steps below come from a short paragraph on its Online Security page. We haven't tested them on an America First account, so a label may differ slightly. The Novaz steps are checked against the app, version 1.0.5.

A note on the new digital banking

America First has moved members to a new digital banking experience. Its upgrade page says fingerprint and face sign-in have to be set up again after the switch, and that MFA codes go to the contact details on your account (America First). The Online Security page has carried the same MFA instructions since at least January 2026, so they may predate the upgrade and the menu names may have moved. If you can't find them, look for the security section in your settings. The Digital Banking Resources page lists turning MFA on and off among the security tools of the new digital banking (America First).

Turn on 2FA with an authenticator app

America First's Online Security page gives this path (America First):

1. Sign in to America First online banking.
2. Click Settings, then Security & Alerts.
3. Select multi-factor authentication and turn it on.
4. Choose an authenticator app as the way to get your codes. The same page puts it this way: "You can also select your favorite authenticator app to receive security passcodes."

America First's pages don't describe the setup screen itself. They don't say whether it shows a QR code, a text key, or both, or how long the codes are. Use whichever one you see:

• QR code: in Novaz, tap +, then Scan QR code, and point the camera at the code. If you're setting this up in the mobile banking app on the same iPhone, take a screenshot, then tap + and Choose a photo. See scanning a QR code on the same iPhone.
• Text key: tap +, then Enter key manually. Fill in Service (for example, America First), Account if you like, and paste the key into Setup key. Novaz makes 6-digit codes every 30 seconds from a typed key, so if both are offered, scan the QR code. It carries the exact code settings. See What is a 2FA setup key?

When America First asks for a code

The two official pages differ a little here. The Online Security page says that once MFA is on, signing in takes one more step. The Digital Banking Terms of Service are more specific. They say a passcode is required the first time you sign in, may be asked for at any time if America First detects risk, including for Forgot Password and Forgot User ID (America First). So you may not see a code at every sign-in, but you will the first time, and possibly when you reset your password or user ID.

No backup codes mentioned

America First's pages don't mention backup or recovery codes. They also don't say whether text or email codes stay available as a fallback once you pick the authenticator app. The terms say you choose one way to get the passcode, and that you can change that choice in Digital Banking at any time (America First).

That matters with Novaz: unless you turn on iCloud backup or export a backup file in Settings › Backup, its keys exist only on your iPhone. Keep the phone number and email address on your account current, so America First can still reach you if the phone is lost. See Authenticator app vs SMS.

If America First rejects your code

America First gives no advice for rejected codes. The usual cause is the iPhone's clock. Open Settings > General > Date & Time and turn on Set Automatically. Novaz warns you when the clock is 15 seconds or more off. More causes are in Authenticator code not working?

Changing phones

America First doesn't document moving the authenticator to a new phone. Since you can change your passcode method at any time in Digital Banking, the safe order is: while the old iPhone still works, switch MFA to text or email (or turn it off), then set up the authenticator app again with the new phone. If you turned on Novaz's iCloud backup or saved a backup file, you can restore your accounts on the new iPhone instead; without one, every account has to be added again. See How to transfer your authenticator app to a new iPhone.

If you lose your authenticator

America First doesn't describe a recovery process for a lost authenticator app. Its upgrade page tells members who don't get an MFA code to contact the credit union for help (America First). The terms list 866-224-2158 for problems with these passcodes (America First). The pages don't say what proof of identity America First asks for or how long it takes. More in Lost the phone with your authenticator app?

Turning 2FA off

The Online Security page says you can turn MFA back off whenever you want (America First). After that, remove the entry from Novaz: open it and tap Remove account.

Official America First help

All read as archived copies on web.archive.org; the dates are when each copy was saved.

• Online Security (September 1, 2026)
• Digital Banking Terms of Services (October 16, 2026)
• Enjoy Your New Digital Banking Experience (October 10, 2026)
• Digital Banking Resources (October 10, 2026)
• Online Banking (July 13, 2026)