Historically, credit unions were preceded by widespread development of credit cooperation in many countries of Europe and America. In the U.S., credit unions have a clear organizational structure. All credit unions belong to one or the other parent credit union (there are 35 of them in the U.S.). Corporate credit unions are united on a cooperative basis in the Central Credit Union (US Central Credit Union). First Credit Union was savings unprofitable institution, or rather credit cooperative, providing services to its members. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. As of the January 1, 2012 the national associations and confederations unite more than 196 million members participating in the 51,013 credit unions in 100 countries. The main activities of credit unions, aimed at the organization of mutual aid and social support of citizens is not intended to profit. Initially, the target groups of credit unions were farmers (Raiffeisen), and now they include both individuals (credit unions), and organizations. Credit unions historically formed as a special form of social support, initially taken upon themselves the social mission of protecting the interests of citizens in the field of financial services. 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.