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. Income received by the credit union shall be distributed among the shareholders or spent for the depreciation of services, that is, are the most effective means of meeting the needs of shareholders. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. Until the mid-XX century, credit unions in the United States had little assets that did not exceed, as a rule, 100 thousand dollars To increase the number of credit unions in 1979 was adopted the corresponding law that serves as the legal basis of their activity.