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. At the organization of the credit union it is important that people know each other and know the extent to which each of them is trustworthy. The main advantage of credit unions consists in transparency, controllability, governance for shareholders. Until the 70's there was a proliferation of the U.S. credit unions due to the increase of their number and the number of shareholders, although it must be acknowledged that there was also and a qualitative growth. As of the January 1, 2012 the national associations and confederations unite more than 196 million members participating in the 51,013 credit unions in 100 countries. 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. 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. Credit Union - a non-profit financial institution specialized in mutual financial assistance by providing savings and credit services to their members. Credit unions encourage the proper use of shareholders savings, developing social programs (education, health, recreation, housing, etc.).
The main advantage of credit unions consists in transparency, controllability, governance for shareholders. Until the 70's there was a proliferation of the U.S. credit unions due to the increase of their number and the number of shareholders, although it must be acknowledged that there was also and a qualitative growth. At the organization of the credit union it is important that people know each other and know the extent to which each of them is trustworthy.