Historically, credit unions were preceded by widespread development of credit cooperation in many countries of Europe and America. The number of shareholders of a credit union is limited and formalized by a list. Limit of the number is defined by the assembly and such assembly establishes the charter. Is necessary that all shareholders of the credit union were members of a single community, would know each other well enough to enjoy mutual trust. Members of credit unions place in credit unions usually free fund balances, ie those that remain after expenses devoted to education of children, the acquisition of new properties, additional pension benefits, etc. 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. 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. Until the mid-XX century, credit unions in the United States had little assets that did not exceed, as a rule, 100 thousand dollars