# Introduction
Union is a member-owned credit protocol built on Ethereum where members can underwrite lines of credit to other member addresses.
Union operates as a DAO and enables any address to accumulate a credit line on-chain in a permission-less, crypto-native way. The protocol itself is not an underwriter of risk, but rather a mechanism to lower the cost of coordinating trust into available credit.
The Union Protocol is a credit network that enables any address to accumulate a credit line on-chain in a permission-less, crypto-native way. The protocol itself is not an underwriter of risk, rather a mechanism to lower the cost of coordinating trust into available credit.
\
\
By aggregating lines of credit, Union Members can source capital at a lower cost than any single member could on their own. This enables a virtuous circle of more available credit, lower borrowing costs, and increased lending activity.
For a quick intro, check out the [**Introducing Union**](https://medium.com/union-finance/introducing-union-70f58f27ba10) blog post.
## What does Union do that wasn’t previously possible?
1. Creates efficiency. 1 Dai can be vouching for multiple accounts and contracts until it's actively borrowed.
2. Brings real world trust on-chain while retaining pseudonymity.
3. A whole market of new businesses in between 0%-150% LTV products.
4. Smart Contracts/DAOs get with credit lines.
5. Invest by extending credit.
6. There’s additional UX mechanisms and experiences you can create to incentivize vouching for different behaviors ie vouch for charity (microfinance), invest in a dao by vouching (instead of a convertible note), etc
## Union Dapp Guides
To make exploring and interacting with the protocol easy, the Union community has created a frontend.
To get started, [**check out the guides here**](https://docs.union.finance/user-guides), or jump right into the app**.**
Join the credit network:
## Communication Channels
:bird:[**Twitter**](https://twitter.com/unionprotocol)
:octopus:[**GitHub**](https://github.com/unioncredit)
:tada:[**Discord**](https://discord.com/invite/VXWnjq26zy)
---
# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://docs.union.finance/readme.md?ask=
```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
