Today in the UK there are about 700 credit unions with assets exceeding 200 million pounds. Activity of the credit union consists of organizing mutual financial assistance by meeting the needs of its members in the services of saving and obtaining loans. 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. The main advantage of credit unions consists in transparency, controllability, governance for shareholders. 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. The relationship of shareholders with credit union are not client-based, they are co-operative, based on different principles and standards, in particular, on the principles of the law of obligations. In the credit union compensation for use of the loan (interest) is a source of compensation for savings. Credit unions, like today's credit unions, emerged in the 19th century in Germany as a result of crop failure and famine.