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. Specialization of credit unions to provide financial services to its shareholders requires a particularly strict regulation of membership and acceptable activities. International cooperation has been particularly felt since the days when Alphonse Desjardins began the activity on development of credit union movement in North America. Unlike banks credit unions limit their activities to a closed circle of people. Corporate alliances are intermediaries between credit unions and financial markets.