The Origins of Credit Unions

Ancient civilizations created the first credit unions without even knowing it. In Babylon,

around 1800 BC, farmers pooled grain together in temples. When someone needed seeds for planting,

they borrowed from the collective stash and paid it back after harvest. The temple priests

kept the records. This same model spread to ancient Greece and Rome, where merchants

formed lending circles. They contributed monthly and took turns accessing the pooled funds.

No profit motive, just community members helping each other survive and grow. These weren't called

credit unions yet, but the DNA was identical. People realized banks weren't coming

to save them, so they became their own bank. That cooperative spirit survived