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Cooperative Principles
Home（https://ccua.com/） Advocacy & Compliance（https://ccua.com/advocacy-compliance/） Community Impact（https://ccua.com/advocacy-compliance/community-impact/） Co-operative Principles
Credit unions are co-operatives; they operate according to the core co-operative principles and values adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance. These principles mean that credit unions put their members first and clearly delineate why credit unions operate differently from other financial institutions.
1. Open and Voluntary Membership Co-operatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.
2. Democratic Member Control Co-operatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Representatives (directors) are elected among the membership and are accountable to them. Credit union members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote).
3. Members’ Economic Participation Members contribute equitably to and democratically control the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital remains the common property of the co-operative.