- Credit Union – Credit unions have members, not customers. Each person who deposits money in a credit union becomes a member of the credit union because his or her deposit is considered their share of the ownership. That means credit unions are member-owned. Each member is also an owner of the credit union.
- Bank – Banks can serve anyone in the general public. Banks have customers who have no voice in how the bank is operated. Banks are owned by small groups of investors who expect a certain return on their investments