Credit unions work to assist members in their financial success while maintaining the financial stability of the credit union. Credit unions are established by groups of people with a common bond, be it their employer, their community, their school, or simply their mission to "get ahead". Not-for-profit. Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives. Unlike other financial institutions, credit unions do not issue stock or pay dividends to outside stockholders. Instead, earnings are returned to members in the form of lower loan rates, higher dividends on deposits, and lower fees. Membership Eligibility. People qualify for credit union membership through an employer, organizational affiliations like churches or social groups, or in the case of community-chartered credit unions, by living within a specified community.