Historically, credit unions were preceded by widespread development of credit cooperation in many countries of Europe and America. Typically new members of the credit union become citizens having suretyship or recommendations from their friends - members of the credit union. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. The relationship between credit unions and shareholders arise from the membership and are not customer relationship. The supreme body of the World Council of Credit Unions is the Assembly, which elects the president and the board of directors of WOCCU. The right to use the services of the credit union have only its members. Credit unions historically formed as a special form of social support, initially taken upon themselves the social mission of protecting the interests of citizens in the field of financial services. Corporate alliances are intermediaries between credit unions and financial markets.