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. " Like the credit cooperatives, credit unions form associations of a higher level, which are called corporate credit unions. Credit unions also differ from the traditional consumer cooperatives. When organizing the credit union it is important that people know each other and know the extent to which each of them is trustworthy. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. The value of credit unions is not limited to the role of the economic agent - they are an important element of the social structure and a factor of social stability and progress.