Credit unions provide services similar to which type of financial institutions?

Credit unions primarily provide services comparable to traditional banks, offering savings accounts, loans, and other financial products. They both accept deposits and extend credit to their members. The services they offer, such as checking and savings accounts, personal loans, and mortgages, align closely with those provided by traditional banks.

The notion that credit unions might also be similar to brokerage firms is less accurate. While credit unions do sometimes offer investment products or services, they do not engage in trading or providing investment advisory services to the same extent as full-service brokerages. So, while they share some financial service characteristics with banks, their alignment with brokerage firms is limited.

Consequently, the most accurate understanding of the comparison between credit unions and financial institutions is found in aligning them closely with traditional banks due to their core functions. The other options do not encapsulate the direct similarities between credit unions and banks as effectively.