In the U.S., credit unions have a clear organizational structure. All credit unions belong to one or the other parent credit union (there are 35 of them in the U.S.). Some credit unions are closed, serving only their members. However, the more and more popularitywin cooperatives of open type. Share contributions are transferred to the credit union on the basis of membership for the whole stay of a shareholder as member of the credit union and are the basis of membership. Credit unions of the open type are still controlled by their members, but at the same time provide services to people who are not its members (external customers). Credit unions appeared in England in the 19th century. In 1844 a group of workers from Rochdale established the first cooperative. Credit Union - one of the most attractive financial institutions for the public being a non-profit alternative to banks. Credit union as a consumer cooperative operates on the principles of equality of all its members.