Corporate credit unions are united on a cooperative basis in the Central Credit Union (US Central Credit Union). National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) - an independent federal agency, based in Washington (State of Columbia), established by the U.S. Congress to oversee the federal credit union system. In recent decades, many credit unions began to resort to such form of service as Credit unions encourage savings of citizens, setting compensation payments (interest) on savings and provide from these savings loans to their members. International cooperation has been particularly felt since the days when Alphonse Desjardins began the activity on development of credit union movement in North America. In the case of default the shareholder - individual will respond with its property and, in addition, is jointly and severally liable with the credit union's commitments. The supreme body of the World Council of Credit Unions is the Assembly, which elects the president and the board of directors of WOCCU. Credit cooperatives and credit unions exist in many different forms. The main differences relate to the nature of the membership and the opening of a credit institution. Worldwide credit union movement is represented by regional confederations and national organizations within the World Council of Credit Unions.