Credit union services are available only to its shareholders. 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. International cooperation has been particularly felt since the days when Alphonse Desjardins began the activity on development of credit union movement in North America. In some cases, the initiators of credit unions can be trade unions, associations such as social support centers and others. Worldwide credit union movement is represented by regional confederations and national organizations within the World Council of Credit Unions.