Historically, credit unions were preceded by widespread development of credit cooperation in many countries of Europe and America. In recent decades, many credit unions began to resort to such form of service as Typically new members of the credit union become citizens having suretyship or recommendations from their friends - members of the credit union. Over 30% of the assets of credit unions are investments in government securities, certificates of deposit of banks and savings loan associations, as well as in the parent credit unions, and other risk-free investments. 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 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. The value of credit unions is not limited to the role of the economic agent - they are an important element of the social structure and a factor of social stability and progress. The supreme body of the World Council of Credit Unions is the Assembly, which elects the president and the board of directors of WOCCU. In the UK, credit unions are a source of financing of people groups. This tool is not widely used. Today, the World Council of Credit Unions is represented as members four regional confederations and twelve national associations.