Today in the UK there are about 700 credit unions with assets exceeding 200 million pounds. Credit union is created by a group of members who pursue a common interest. Agreeing to make regular contributions, they create a fund from which can borrow money for investments and replenishment of working capital at favorable interest rates. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. International cooperation has been particularly felt since the days when Alphonse Desjardins began the activity on development of credit union movement in North America. The main activities of credit unions, aimed at the organization of mutual aid and social support of citizens is not intended to profit. U.S. credit unions have another significant difference from the credit cooperatives of farmers: the first have major proportion of short-term loans, the second - long and mostly in real estate. 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.