A financial cooperative organizations of individuals with a common affiliation (such as employment, labor union membership, or place of residence) Credit unions accept deposits of members, pay interest (dividends) on them out of earnings, and primarily provideconsumer installment credit to members Creditworthiness A creditor's measure of a consumer's or company's past and future ability and willingness to repay debts Credit Card Any card, plate, or coupon book that may be used repeatedly to borrow money or buy goods and services on credit Credit History: A record of how a person or company has borrowed and repaid debts, used as a guide to determine whether the consumer is likely to pay accounts on time in the future
(Coopérative de crédit, Caisse populaire) Credit unions are non-profit, member-owned, financial cooperatives entirely operated by and for their members
In the financial sector, co-operatives which enable savings to be made and loans to be taken are generally known as "credit unions" which are registered under the legislation dealing with co-operatives in each country The basic credit union is composed of a group of people having a "common bond" who may be resident in the same neighbourhood or employed at the same place of work, or it can be a religious or ethnic grouping The principal reason for the emphasis on a common bond is that the social pressure of the group is considered a very important condition as security for loans It is a form of collateral which is not available in conventional finance [UN-ESCAP (1991)]
A not-for-profit financial cooperative whose members own it You are eligible to join a particular credit union if you belong to the field of membership defined in its charter All members have the right to democratically elect a board of directors The board gives the credit union's management and staff general instructions Historically, credit unions encourage thrift among members and provide them with credit at a low rate
a financial co-operative, which is owned and controlled by its members As well as being a good savings option, with successful credit unions paying an annual dividend of up to 8%, the money saved can be used to make low interest loans to other credit union members Only people who come within the common bond of the credit union can join it and make use of its services The credit union is directed and controlled by a volunteer Board of Directors
A cooperative financial institution that offers various savings plans and opportunities for acquiring loans, usually at low interest rates, to its members
Credit unions are community based financial co-operatives and most offer a full range of services All are owned and controlled by members who are also shareholders Credit unions are regulated provincially and insured by a stabilization fund, deposit insurance or guarantee corporation Credit unions are supported by a system of provincial credit union Centrals, a national credit union Central and affiliated national financial co-operatives
A group of people united by a common bond who pool their money together in order to make loans, offer credit cards and other services, and pay dividends to themselves and other members Credit unions are democratic That means that each member gets one vote to elect a board of directors, the people who will make decisions about running the credit union Credit unions are not-for-profit businesses That means that after paying interest on savings, paying all bills, and setting some money aside for emergencies and other uses, the credit union gives any money left over back to its members It might do this directly in the form of refunds, or indirectly in the form of lower fees, lower loan interest rates or higher savings interest rates
A cooperative organization that makes loans to its members at low interest rates. Credit cooperative formed by a group of people with some common bond who, in effect, save their money together and make low-cost loans to each other. The loans are usually short-term consumer loans, mainly for automobiles, household needs, medical debts, and emergencies. Credit unions generally operate under government charter and supervision. They are particularly important in less developed countries, where they may be the only source of credit for their members. The first cooperative societies providing credit were founded in Germany and Italy in the mid-19th century; the first North American credit unions were founded by Alphonse Desjardins in Lévis, Quebec (1900), and Manchester, N.H. (1909). The Credit Union National Association (CUNA), a federation of U.S. credit unions, was established in 1934 and became a worldwide association in 1958
Non-profit organization owned by the members who have some characteristics in common, such as employer or geographic area Accepts deposits (savings and checking accounts), makes loans, and provides other financial services
Financial cooperative organization of individuals who have a common bond, such as a place of employment, residence, or membership in a labor union Credit unions accept deposits from members, pay interest (in the form of dividends) on the deposits out of earnings, and use their funds mainly to provide consumer installment loans to members
A cooperative financial institution, chartered by a state or federal government, which is member-owned Credit Unions serve groups that share something in common, such as where they work, live, or go to church They are not-for-profit institutions, and exist to provide a safe, convenient place for members to save money and get loans at reasonable rates
A credit union is a cooperative, not-for-profit financial institution organized to promote thrift and provide credit to members It is member-owned and controlled through a board of directors elected by the membership The board serves on a volunteer basis and may hire a management team to run the credit union The board also establishes and revises policy, sets dividend and loan rates, and directs certain operations The result: members are provided with a safe, convenient place to save and borrow at reasonable rates at an institution which exists to benefit them, not to make a profit Back to Top
Nonprofit cooperative organizations that provide banking and financial services, including mortgages, home improvement loans and home equity loans, to their members