Some credit unions are closed, serving only their members. However, the more and more popularitywin cooperatives of open type. Like the credit cooperatives, credit unions form associations of a higher level, which are called corporate credit 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 Initially, the target groups of credit unions were farmers (Raiffeisen), and now they include both individuals (credit unions), and organizations. The relationship between credit unions and shareholders arise from the membership and are not customer relationship. Unlike banks, in order to use the services of a credit union, you have to become its member, having written an application and having paid thus shares and membership fee. Unlike banks credit unions limit their activities to a closed circle of people.