For the first time since its founding in 1934, the Export-Import Bank's charter expired at midnight on Tuesday. The federal agency, known colloquially as Ex-Im, helps U.S. businesses export products and provides loans and credit insurance to companies when private lenders view their ventures as too risky. Though Ex-Im generated a surplus of $675 million to the Treasury last year, conservative advocates of small government saw the agency as an example of the government's over-involvement in business and thus advocated for letting the bank's charter expire. Although the agency's ability to issue new loans ended at midnight, Ex-Im will likely remain up and running through Sept.