Membership in the credit union is voluntary and is open to all citizens bound by with joint work or residence, who wished to create a credit union to use its services and are willing to take on relevant commitments and responsibilities. Like the credit cooperatives, credit unions form associations of a higher level, which are called corporate credit unions. Credit unions also differ from the traditional consumer cooperatives. Credit unions, like today's credit unions, emerged in the 19th century in Germany as a result of crop failure and famine. Credit unions encourage the proper use of shareholders savings, developing social programs (education, health, recreation, housing, etc.).