The right to use the services of the credit union have only its members. Until the mid-XX century, credit unions in the United States had little assets that did not exceed, as a rule, 100 thousand dollars Historically, credit unions have grown from the experience of credit cooperatives, but they took the experience of organizations of mutual aid of citizens by moving methods of social self-protection from labor and toward consumption. The main activities of credit unions, aimed at the organization of mutual aid and social support of citizens is not intended to profit. The uniqueness of credit unions is that they put together the principles and benefits of financial cooperatives, consumer cooperatives and mutual aid funds, born once by trade unions. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. Activity of the credit union consists of organizing mutual financial assistance by meeting the needs of its members in the services of saving and obtaining loans. Typically new members of the credit union become citizens having suretyship or recommendations from their friends - members of the credit union. Credit unions encourage the proper use of shareholders savings, developing social programs (education, health, recreation, housing, etc.). Consumer loan and reliable savings - these are the main goals, which mean "natural persons" having decided to unite in credit consumer cooperative.
Historically, credit unions have grown from the experience of credit cooperatives, but they took the experience of organizations of mutual aid of citizens by moving methods of social self-protection from labor and toward consumption. The main activities of credit unions, aimed at the organization of mutual aid and social support of citizens is not intended to profit. Until the mid-XX century, credit unions in the United States had little assets that did not exceed, as a rule, 100 thousand dollars