Principles of cooperative democracy and interaction were adequate to the purposes for which people joined credit unions. Credit unions also differ from the traditional consumer cooperatives. In the U.S. credit unions timely and full repayment of loans is a common phenomenon. Unpaid and delinquent loans are not more than 3% of their amount. A potential new member of a credit union must submit a recommendation of shareholders in which the referee becomes a warrant of a future member of the credit union. The main activities of credit unions, aimed at the organization of mutual aid and social support of citizens is not intended to profit. Credit unions appeared in England in the 19th century. In 1844 a group of workers from Rochdale established the first cooperative. Corporate alliances are intermediaries between credit unions and financial markets.