Today in the UK there are about 700 credit unions with assets exceeding 200 million pounds. Like the credit cooperatives, credit unions form associations of a higher level, which are called corporate credit unions. Is necessary that all shareholders of the credit union were members of a single community, would know each other well enough to enjoy mutual trust. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. Over 30% of the assets of credit unions are investments in government securities, certificates of deposit of banks and savings loan associations, as well as in the parent credit unions, and other risk-free investments. 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. Credit unions, like today's credit unions, emerged in the 19th century in Germany as a result of crop failure and famine. Unlike banks credit unions limit their activities to a closed circle of people.