In the U.S., credit unions have a clear organizational structure. All credit unions belong to one or the other parent credit union (there are 35 of them in the U.S.). Specialization of credit unions to provide financial services to its shareholders requires a particularly strict regulation of membership and acceptable activities. At the organization of the credit union it is important that people know each other and know the extent to which each of them is trustworthy. Since the early 80's started the process of consolidation of credit unions, leading to a decrease in their number with a simultaneous increase in the total number of members.