Over 30% of the assets of credit unions are investments in government securities, certificates of deposit of banks and savings loan associations, as well as in the parent credit unions, and other risk-free investments. To reduce the risk of default on loans members of the credit union shall the joint guarantee. Today, the World Council of Credit Unions is represented as members four regional confederations and twelve national associations. Contributions from of shareholders in credit unions in no way can be considered as borrowed funds, they come from the shareholders and for the shareholders and can not be used to provide services to third parties. Credit unions appeared in England in the 19th century. In 1844 a group of workers from Rochdale established the first cooperative. Credit unions encourage the proper use of shareholders savings, developing social programs (education, health, recreation, housing, etc.). Representative organization, leading the coordination work in the field of development of both global and national credit union movement is the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) established in 1971 (headquartered in Madison, USA). The specifics of credit unions and, in some sense, their uniqueness lies in the fact that they work not for profit and do not appropriate profit.
Today, the World Council of Credit Unions is represented as members four regional confederations and twelve national associations. Contributions from of shareholders in credit unions in no way can be considered as borrowed funds, they come from the shareholders and for the shareholders and can not be used to provide services to third parties. To reduce the risk of default on loans members of the credit union shall the joint guarantee.