Some credit unions are closed, serving only their members. However, the more and more popularitywin cooperatives of open type. Members of credit unions place in credit unions usually free fund balances, ie those that remain after expenses devoted to education of children, the acquisition of new properties, additional pension benefits, etc. Cooperation between credit unions, how they would not have been named, took place always, from the moment when the movement moved outside one credit union. International cooperation has been particularly felt since the days when Alphonse Desjardins began the activity on development of credit union movement in North America. Credit unions encourage the proper use of shareholders savings, developing social programs (education, health, recreation, housing, etc.).