Principles of cooperative democracy and interaction were adequate to the purposes for which people joined credit unions. 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. International cooperation has been particularly felt since the days when Alphonse Desjardins began the activity on development of credit union movement in North America. In the credit union compensation for use of the loan (interest) is a source of compensation for savings. Until the mid-XX century, credit unions in the United States had little assets that did not exceed, as a rule, 100 thousand dollars Credit unions are competitors of savings institutions, adding interest on deposits of members. This applies to the shares, as well as to additional funds transferred to the account in the credit union. The right to use the services of the credit union have only its members. Today, the World Council of Credit Unions is represented as members four regional confederations and twelve national associations.
International cooperation has been particularly felt since the days when Alphonse Desjardins began the activity on development of credit union movement in North America. In the credit union compensation for use of the loan (interest) is a source of compensation for savings. 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.