Corporate credit unions are united on a cooperative basis in the Central Credit Union (US Central Credit Union). Today in the UK there are about 700 credit unions with assets exceeding 200 million pounds. Some credit unions are closed, serving only their members. However, the more and more popularitywin cooperatives of open type. Credit unions, like today's credit unions, emerged in the 19th century in Germany as a result of crop failure and famine. Credit Union - one of the most attractive financial institutions for the public being a non-profit alternative to banks.