Today in the UK there are about 700 credit unions with assets exceeding 200 million pounds. Typically new members of the credit union become citizens having suretyship or recommendations from their friends - members of the credit union. All the members of the credit union, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religious and political beliefs, as well as the size of the monetary share have equal rights. Until the 70's there was a proliferation of the U.S. credit unions due to the increase of their number and the number of shareholders, although it must be acknowledged that there was also and a qualitative growth. Today, the World Council of Credit Unions is represented as members four regional confederations and twelve national associations.