Unlike most other financial institutions, credit unions do not issue stock or pay dividends to outside stockholders. Instead, earnings are returned to members (all who have accounts at the credit union) in the form of competitive loan rates, higher interest on deposits, lower fees, and enhanced technology and convenience.
Credit unions are economic democracies. Each credit union member has equal ownership and one vote — regardless of how much money a member has on deposit. At a credit union, every customer is both a member and an owner.
