Like any financial institution, credit unions have the financial resources. Some credit unions are closed, serving only their members. However, the more and more popularitywin cooperatives of open type. Credit unions encourage savings of citizens, setting compensation payments (interest) on savings and provide from these savings loans to their members. Since the early 80's started the process of consolidation of credit unions, leading to a decrease in their number with a simultaneous increase in the total number of members. 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. The main activities of credit unions, aimed at the organization of mutual aid and social support of citizens is not intended to profit. U.S. credit unions have another significant difference from the credit cooperatives of farmers: the first have major proportion of short-term loans, the second - long and mostly in real estate. Credit Union - one of the most attractive financial institutions for the public being a non-profit alternative to banks. Worldwide credit union movement is represented by regional confederations and national organizations within the World Council of Credit Unions.
Credit unions encourage savings of citizens, setting compensation payments (interest) on savings and provide from these savings loans to their members. Since the early 80's started the process of consolidation of credit unions, leading to a decrease in their number with a simultaneous increase in the total number of members. Some credit unions are closed, serving only their members. However, the more and more popularitywin cooperatives of open type.