MANCHESTER, N.H. – One hundred years ago today, Pastor Monsignor Pierre Hevey of Sainte-Marie Parish organized the nation's first credit union. La Caisee Populaire Ste. Marie, known today as St. Mary's Bank, opened for business on November 24, 1908, with help from Canadian credit union leader Alphonse Desjardins.

St. Mary's legacy member core primarily consisted of French Canadian immigrants who had moved to the area from Quebec, looking for work in local textile mills. The credit union's original location, a volunteer's home, is now the America's Credit Union Museum, and is located one block from St. Mary's headquarters.

Today, the $645 million St. Mary's has more than 71,000 members and eight branches.