The history of Poland's co-operative savings and credit unions (credit unions) can be traced back to the beginning of the 19th century. Polish credit unions are groups of people, united by a common bond resulting from the people working at the same company or being members of the same civic or professional association, who pool together their savings and borrow from one another. Credit unions are unique self-assistance communities operating on the market of financial services. They are organisations of people, not of capital, and operate for the benefit of their members, not for profit.

Credit unions play a most important social role servicing people who, if it were not for the credit unions, would be excluded from access to certain financial services, credits in particular.

Poland's credit unions associate over 2 million of people, the fact meaning that in practical terms they are financial partners for just that very number of households. The number of credit union locations makes them the largest network of institutions offering financial services to the people of Poland.

Credit union objectives

• Credit unions rely on mutual assistance in their operation.
• Credit unions exist to serve their members and not to make profit at their expense.
• Members of credit unions are their sole owners and at the same time their clients.
• All members of credit unions have the same rights to use their services and participate in their operation.
• Credit unions practically implement economic democracy.
• Credit unions have a keen interest in educating their members.

The system of Poland's co-operative savings and credit unions includes the following entities:

• National Association of Co-operative Savings and Credit Unions
  (Krajowa Spółdzielcza Kasa Oszczędnościowo-Kredytowa)
• CU Mutual Insurance Society
  (Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń Wzajemnych SKOK)
• CU Life Insurance Society, Joint-Stock Company
  (Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń na Życie SKOK S.A.)
• CU Investment Fund Society
  (Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych SKOK S.A.)
• Asekuracja Limited Liability Company
  (Asekuracja Sp. z o.o.)
• Foundation for Polish Credit Unions
  (Fundacja na rzecz Polskich Związków Kredytowych)
• CU Financial Society, Joint-Stock Company
  (Towarzystwo Finansowe SKOK S.A.)
• HSO
  (Hardware Software Outsourcing Sp. z o.o.)