To date, credit unions - virtually the only form of financial institution where people can quickly and without any problems get a relatively inexpensive cash loan. Main share of credit unions assets is concentrated in loans (about 50%), while the share of consumer loans in commercial banks and finance companies active operations rarely exceeds 15%. The most common type of loans in credit unions are loans to purchase new and used cars (40%), followed by first mortgages and second mortgages (35%), about 10% are unsecured personal loans to member of unions and about 15% - are loans on credit cards and other loans. First Credit Union was savings unprofitable institution, or rather credit cooperative, providing services to its members. In the U.S. credit unions timely and full repayment of loans is a common phenomenon. Unpaid and delinquent loans are not more than 3% of their amount. First central bank of credit unions appeared in 1876. Credit unions began to appear rapidly in many European countries. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. In the UK, credit unions are a source of financing of people groups. This tool is not widely used.