Like the credit cooperatives, credit unions form associations of a higher level, which are called corporate credit unions. International cooperation has been particularly felt since the days when Alphonse Desjardins began the activity on development of credit union movement in North America. Credit unions appeared in England in the 19th century. In 1844 a group of workers from Rochdale established the first cooperative. The value of credit unions is not limited to the role of the economic agent - they are an important element of the social structure and a factor of social stability and progress. Historically, credit unions have grown from the experience of credit cooperatives, but they took the experience of organizations of mutual aid of citizens by moving methods of social self-protection from labor and toward consumption. In the UK, credit unions are a source of financing of people groups. This tool is not widely used. Worldwide credit union movement is represented by regional confederations and national organizations within the World Council of Credit Unions.