Credit Unions	Banks
Not-for-profit cooperatives	Institutions run for profit
Return earnings to members through lower loan rates, higher savings rates, free or low-cost services	Return profits to a small group of stockholders at the expense of their customers
Make loans only to members – serves the membership, capital remains in the community	Often make loans to outside borrowers, including foreign countries and commercial enterprises
Have member/owners – each person who deposits money has a share of the ownership	Customers have no right of ownership
Membership elects the Board of Directors	Customers have no voting privileges
Have a volunteer Board of Directors that serves for no compensation	Have a paid Board of Directors that serves for financial gain
Serve only those individuals within their field of membership	Serve anyone in the general public
Service driven – we care about people	Credit driven – care only about profits
Believe competition benefits all consumers	Try to eliminate competition through legislation and lawsuits