Main share of credit unions assets is concentrated in loans (about 50%), while the share of consumer loans in commercial banks and finance companies active operations rarely exceeds 15%. The most common type of loans in credit unions are loans to purchase new and used cars (40%), followed by first mortgages and second mortgages (35%), about 10% are unsecured personal loans to member of unions and about 15% - are loans on credit cards and other loans. Typically new members of the credit union become citizens having suretyship or recommendations from their friends - members of the credit union. Is necessary that all shareholders of the credit union were members of a single community, would know each other well enough to enjoy mutual trust. First central bank of credit unions appeared in 1876. Credit unions began to appear rapidly in many European countries. To reduce the risk of default on loans members of the credit union shall the joint guarantee. Income derived from the provision of services to its members, does not become the profit of credit union and is distributed among its members in proportion to their savings. Until the mid-XX century, credit unions in the United States had little assets that did not exceed, as a rule, 100 thousand dollars 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 Union - one of the most attractive financial institutions for the public being a non-profit alternative to banks.