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. Credit unions are competitors of savings institutions, adding interest on deposits of members. This applies to the shares, as well as to additional funds transferred to the account in the credit union. In some cases, the initiators of credit unions can be trade unions, associations such as social support centers and others.