Principles of cooperative democracy and interaction were adequate to the purposes for which people joined credit unions. First Credit Union was savings unprofitable institution, or rather credit cooperative, providing services to its members. When organizing the credit union it is important that people know each other and know the extent to which each of them is trustworthy. Typically new members of the credit union become citizens having suretyship or recommendations from their friends - members of the credit union. Income derived from the provision of services to its members, does not become the profit of credit union and is distributed among its members in proportion to their savings. Credit unions of the open type are still controlled by their members, but at the same time provide services to people who are not its members (external customers). 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. Initially, the target groups of credit unions were farmers (Raiffeisen), and now they include both individuals (credit unions), and organizations. Standards by which credit unions build their work do not coincide with the standards and regulations of consumer cooperation of the usual type. Credit unions base their activities on savings of shareholders, their shares and savings contributions, which make up the fund of mutual financial assistance - a source of cash loans to shareholders.