Credit unions also differ from the traditional consumer cooperatives. Income received by the credit union shall be distributed among the shareholders or spent for the depreciation of services, that is, are the most effective means of meeting the needs of shareholders. To reduce the risk of default on loans members of the credit union shall the joint guarantee. Credit unions are financial institutions, financial cooperatives of citizens, and in this capacity they are above all associations of people, not unification of capitals, which is typical, for example, for public companies. U.S. credit unions have another significant difference from the credit cooperatives of farmers: the first have major proportion of short-term loans, the second - long and mostly in real estate. Credit Union - one of the most attractive financial institutions for the public being a non-profit alternative to banks. Worldwide credit union movement is represented by regional confederations and national organizations within the World Council of Credit Unions.