Historically, credit unions were preceded by widespread development of credit cooperation in many countries of Europe and America. Corporate credit unions are united on a cooperative basis in the Central Credit Union (US Central Credit Union). 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. Credit unions are financial institutions, financial cooperatives of citizens, and in this capacity they are above all associations of people, not unification of capitals, which is typical, for example, for public companies.