Principles of cooperative democracy and interaction were adequate to the purposes for which people joined credit unions. 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. Credit union services are available only to its shareholders. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. Shareholders in corporate organizations are basic credit unions, besides the same union can be a shareholder of several corporate organizations. Credit unions encourage the proper use of shareholders savings, developing social programs (education, health, recreation, housing, etc.). Corporate alliances are intermediaries between credit unions and financial markets.
Credit union services are available only to its shareholders. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. 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.