Credit unions also differ from the traditional consumer cooperatives. The uniqueness of credit unions is that they put together the principles and benefits of financial cooperatives, consumer cooperatives and mutual aid funds, born once by trade unions. Until the mid-XX century, credit unions in the United States had little assets that did not exceed, as a rule, 100 thousand dollars Shareholders in corporate organizations are basic credit unions, besides the same union can be a shareholder of several corporate organizations. Credit unions encourage the proper use of shareholders savings, developing social programs (education, health, recreation, housing, etc.). On the consumer credit market in the U.S. credit unions are on the third place after the commercial banks and finance companies and are ahead of savings institutions, not taking into account the loans on real estate. Unlike banks credit unions limit their activities to a closed circle of people. Credit Union - one of the most attractive financial institutions for the public being a non-profit alternative to banks.
Until the mid-XX century, credit unions in the United States had little assets that did not exceed, as a rule, 100 thousand dollars Shareholders in corporate organizations are basic credit unions, besides the same union can be a shareholder of several corporate organizations. The uniqueness of credit unions is that they put together the principles and benefits of financial cooperatives, consumer cooperatives and mutual aid funds, born once by trade unions.