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. " Credit unions attract people in the first place by the opportunity to get cash loan (credit) - quickly and relatively inexpensively. When organizing the credit union it is important that people know each other and know the extent to which each of them is trustworthy. As of the January 1, 2012 the national associations and confederations unite more than 196 million members participating in the 51,013 credit unions in 100 countries. Important specifics of creating a credit union - an initiative order of organization: people do not receive any instructions, orders or regulations, the unification into a credit union occurs by their will and decision. The supreme body of the World Council of Credit Unions is the Assembly, which elects the president and the board of directors of WOCCU. Unlike banks credit unions limit their activities to a closed circle of people.