American credit unions added more than 1.5 million memberships in the third quarter of 2015, the fastest growth quarter experienced in the history of credit unions.
 
The increase, which is nearly double the 808,000 memberships added in the third quarter of 2014, is being attributed by economists to a surging demand for credit.

Credit union loan balances in the U.S. increased $26.2 billion in the third quarter, above the $22.1 billion in the third quarter of 2014.

Also driving membership gains was the 513,000 new jobs added to the U.S. economy in the third quarter.

Credit union memberships rose 477,000 in September, or 46 percent, much better than the 297,000 new members (30 percent) added in September 2014.

Georgia credit union memberships grew by 1 percent in the second quarter and 2.1 percent in the first six months of 2015 - boosting the number to 2.1 million by the end of the second quarter.