The first credit union in the United States was founded in 1909. by the group of Franco-American Catholics in Manchester, New Hampshire, and was called "Cooperative Credit Association of St. Mary. " Principles of cooperative democracy and interaction were adequate to the purposes for which people joined credit unions. First Credit Union was savings unprofitable institution, or rather credit cooperative, providing services to its members. The main activities of credit unions, aimed at the organization of mutual aid and social support of citizens is not intended to profit. In some cases, the initiators of credit unions can be trade unions, associations such as social support centers and others. Credit unions encourage the proper use of shareholders savings, developing social programs (education, health, recreation, housing, etc.). U.S. credit unions have another significant difference from the credit cooperatives of farmers: the first have major proportion of short-term loans, the second - long and mostly in real estate. On the consumer credit market in the U.S. credit unions are on the third place after the commercial banks and finance companies and are ahead of savings institutions, not taking into account the loans on real estate. To increase the number of credit unions in 1979 was adopted the corresponding law that serves as the legal basis of their activity. The specifics of credit unions and, in some sense, their uniqueness lies in the fact that they work not for profit and do not appropriate profit.