Credit unions operate largely like banks, offering all of the same types of deposit accounts (savings, checking, money market, and CD), credit cards, and loans (mortgages, vehicle loans, personal loans, etc.). Where they differ is in their business structure, with credit unions operating as nonprofits that answer to their customer members, while banks are responsible to their owners or shareholders for generating profits. As a result, credit unions typically have a strong focus on serving their membership and the community in which they operate. That community could be geographical, or it could be a community of thousands of employees from one or more partner companies. Some credit unions serve these communities by contributing to local projects, while others focus on providing quality banking products with the best rates they can offer. The best credit unions do both of these.