The number of shareholders of a credit union is limited and formalized by a list. Limit of the number is defined by the assembly and such assembly establishes the charter. Income received by the credit union shall be distributed among the shareholders or spent for the depreciation of services, that is, are the most effective means of meeting the needs of shareholders. Typically new members of the credit union become citizens having suretyship or recommendations from their friends - members of the credit union. Is necessary that all shareholders of the credit union were members of a single community, would know each other well enough to enjoy mutual trust. 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 value of credit unions is not limited to the role of the economic agent - they are an important element of the social structure and a factor of social stability and progress. In some cases, the initiators of credit unions can be trade unions, associations such as social support centers and others. 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.