The economic basis of credit unions - finances of a household. The main objective of the credit union - to ensure financial stability of a household, to ensure the priority of their shareholders' financial interests. Credit unions also differ from the traditional consumer cooperatives. The difference between credit unions and banks is clearly is apparent when comparing the structure of assets and liabilities of credit unions and banks. Until the mid-XX century, credit unions in the United States had little assets that did not exceed, as a rule, 100 thousand dollars In some cases, the initiators of credit unions can be trade unions, associations such as social support centers and others. Credit cooperatives and credit unions exist in many different forms. The main differences relate to the nature of the membership and the opening of a credit institution. A credit union on its own initiative order is created by citizens (individuals) to solve their financial problems that they could not solve in other financial institutions. Worldwide credit union movement is represented by regional confederations and national organizations within the World Council of Credit Unions.