In recent decades, many credit unions began to resort to such form of service as First Credit Union was savings unprofitable institution, or rather credit cooperative, providing services to its members. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. Credit unions appeared in England in the 19th century. In 1844 a group of workers from Rochdale established the first 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. Credit unions base their activities on savings of shareholders, their shares and savings contributions, which make up the fund of mutual financial assistance - a source of cash loans to shareholders.