EN
The article contains analysis of what conditions caused that credit unions (esp. Polish cooperative savings and credit unions – SKOK) coped with turbulences on financial markets. Credit unions in Poland as well as in other countries sustained crisis better then banks. The majority of credit unions in the world did not record significant problems. Moreover, they did not take part in the development of „subprime” economic markets. Then the question appeared: what characteristics caused that they were more resistant against turbulences. Conclusion seems to be, that the factors resisting credit unions for the crisis have the institutional and above cultural character.