Historically, credit unions were preceded by widespread development of credit cooperation in many countries of Europe and America. Corporate credit unions are united on a cooperative basis in the Central Credit Union (US Central Credit Union). Credit unions encourage savings of citizens, setting compensation payments (interest) on savings and provide from these savings loans to their members. Is necessary that all shareholders of the credit union were members of a single community, would know each other well enough to enjoy mutual trust. In the credit union compensation for use of the loan (interest) is a source of compensation for savings. Credit unions, like today's credit unions, emerged in the 19th century in Germany as a result of crop failure and famine. Standards by which credit unions build their work do not coincide with the standards and regulations of consumer cooperation of the usual type. 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. Credit unions historically formed as a special form of social support, initially taken upon themselves the social mission of protecting the interests of citizens in the field of financial services. 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.