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. The difference between credit unions and banks is clearly is apparent when comparing the structure of assets and liabilities of credit unions and banks. Credit union promotes the effective conservation of personal funds of its members, giving them the loans from the funds of the credit union, as well as the sharing of savings in education, housing, health care and other programs of social support and social development of its members. To reduce the risk of default on loans members of the credit union shall the joint guarantee. International cooperation has been particularly felt since the days when Alphonse Desjardins began the activity on development of credit union movement in North America. Until the mid-XX century, credit unions in the United States had little assets that did not exceed, as a rule, 100 thousand dollars Worldwide credit union movement is represented by regional confederations and national organizations within the World Council of Credit Unions. Corporate alliances are intermediaries between credit unions and financial markets.
The difference between credit unions and banks is clearly is apparent when comparing the structure of assets and liabilities of credit unions and banks. Credit union promotes the effective conservation of personal funds of its members, giving them the loans from the funds of the credit union, as well as the sharing of savings in education, housing, health care and other programs of social support and social development of its members. 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.