The Strategic Development of Credit Unions

Credit unions are financial co-operatives based on principles of open membership, democratic control, limited interest on capital, equal distribution of surplus, education and federalization. It is the existence of a "common bond" between members which underpins the formation of a credit union. There is now a demand for information created by the rising interest in the emergence of this sector within the UK financial services industry. Taking an international perspective, this volume offers insights into credit union behaviour and provides a comparative framework for assessing their performance. An understanding of the positive and negative forces affecting the strategic development of credit unions in the US, UK, Asia, Africa, and the former Eastern Bloc is provided. The book offers a detailed empirical analysis of the UK credit union sector.