There are many banks and institutions available for you to save, bank and invest money into. But many people do not know much about what a credit union is, and therefore do not use them. A credit union is a banking institution that is owned by the members. This means that as a member of a credit union, your money stays locally and does not go to a headquartered area, is not spent paying CEO bonuses, and is actually used in the community in which it resides and does business. 
Credit unions offer perks that some other banks do not offer. Some credit unions help with discounts on vehicle rentals for all of their members at specific retailers, while others may offer lower interest rates for members on loans. Becoming a member of a credit union in the United Kingdom is not a hard task either.
Once you find a local credit union that you are interested in becoming a member of, simply stop into the branch and ask about the requirements for membership. Many will require that you have cash on hand to start a new account. You can open a checking, savings or IRA account on the spot in most areas. Credit unions generally have you to fill out an application, and it is either approved or disapproved within a few minutes. You would be told then, the reason for the disapproval.
After being approved, this bank is like any other bank you would use. You can deposit, transfer, withdraw any money in your accounts. But some credit unions even offer discounts and special accounts for persons that are members of a local union. So if you are a member of a local union, be sure to tell the bank personnel prior to opening an account. You may get a free account that requires no start up cash, and has a higher interest rate on savings accounts.