Citizens Equity First Credit Union is a federally insured credit union based in Peoria, Illinois, commonly referred to by its registered trademark, CEFCU. CEFCU was founded in 1937 to serve the employees of Caterpillar Tractor Company. It began as Caterpillar Employees Credit Union (CECU) with a state credit union charter, then switched to a federal credit union charter and the name CEFCU (Caterpillar Employees Federal Credit Union). Upon legally separating from Caterpillar, CEFCU changed its acronym to more accurately reflect membership eligibility; first, to "Construction Equipment Federal Credit Union" and, later, to "Citizens Equity Federal Credit Union."