Today in the UK there are about 700 credit unions with assets exceeding 200 million pounds. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. Standards by which credit unions build their work do not coincide with the standards and regulations of consumer cooperation of the usual type. To increase the number of credit unions in 1979 was adopted the corresponding law that serves as the legal basis of their activity.