The economic basis of credit unions - finances of a household. The main objective of the credit union - to ensure financial stability of a household, to ensure the priority of their shareholders' financial interests. Income received by the credit union shall be distributed among the shareholders or spent for the depreciation of services, that is, are the most effective means of meeting the needs of shareholders. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. National Credit Union Insurance Fund was created by Congress in 1970 to insure deposits of credit union members in the amount of 100 thousand dollars. Credit unions of the open type are still controlled by their members, but at the same time provide services to people who are not its members (external customers). Credit unions are competitors of savings institutions, adding interest on deposits of members. This applies to the shares, as well as to additional funds transferred to the account in the credit union. Credit unions encourage the proper use of shareholders savings, developing social programs (education, health, recreation, housing, etc.). On the consumer credit market in the U.S. credit unions are on the third place after the commercial banks and finance companies and are ahead of savings institutions, not taking into account the loans on real estate. To increase the number of credit unions in 1979 was adopted the corresponding law that serves as the legal basis of their activity.