Darbe tikslas kredito unijos ir jų raida Lietuvoje. Darbo tikslas – išnagrinėti kredito unijų ypatybes, remiantis atlikta analize apžvelgti kredito unijų vystymosi Lietuvoje rezultatus bei įvertinti tolesnio jų vystymosi perspektyvas. Darbo uždaviniai:Išanalizuoti kredito unijų specifiką ir raidą; išnagrinėti kredito unijų vystymosi Lietuvoje ypatybes; atskleisti kredito unijų raidos Lietuvoje tendencijas; Įvertinti kredito unijų vaidmenį ir vietą Lietuvos mažmeninėje bankininkystėje; Numatyti kredito unijų vystymosi kryptis ir įvertinti Lietuvos kredito unijų vystymosi perspektyvas. Apžvelgiamas laikotarpis nuo 2000 iki 2006 m. / The main purpose of Master’s paper is evaluating the role of Credit Unions in the finance market, comparing with other European Union countries cooperating bank systems and analyzing the situation in Lithuanian retail banking sector. The objectives of the research are : • theoretically analyse the conception and development of credit unions; • to disclose tendencies of the development of credit unions in Lithuania; • to define the importance of credit unions in retail banking as well as possibilities of activity development. The period of the survey is from 2000 to 2006. This paper contains the main characteristics of Credit Unions and their role in the finance market. There are also given the activity results and development level of old and new European Union members Credit Unions, the comparison of Credit Unions and commercial banks products and the analysis of Credit Unions activity in banking market sections. There are also reviewed the development tendencies of Lithuanian Credit Unions and are given the future predictions. Having a broad customer service network in Lithuanian regions, credit unions may become vital financial institutions not only in the retail market, but also in the whole financial system, as they provide savings and other financial services to individual and legal subjects in all the regions.