Typically new members of the credit union become citizens having suretyship or recommendations from their friends - members of the credit union. Share contributions are transferred to the credit union on the basis of membership for the whole stay of a shareholder as member of the credit union and are the basis of membership. As of the January 1, 2012 the national associations and confederations unite more than 196 million members participating in the 51,013 credit unions in 100 countries. Taking a decision to join a credit union, citizens create an organization through which they participate in the shared savings by mutual crediting and joint (collective) use of personal savings. In some cases, the initiators of credit unions can be trade unions, associations such as social support centers and others. The supreme body of the World Council of Credit Unions is the Assembly, which elects the president and the board of directors of WOCCU. Unlike banks credit unions limit their activities to a closed circle of people.