Corporate credit unions are united on a cooperative basis in the Central Credit Union (US Central Credit Union). The difference between credit unions and banks is clearly is apparent when comparing the structure of assets and liabilities of credit unions and banks. All the members of the credit union, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religious and political beliefs, as well as the size of the monetary share have equal rights. Credit unions of the open type are still controlled by their members, but at the same time provide services to people who are not its members (external customers). 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. Credit unions, like today's credit unions, emerged in the 19th century in Germany as a result of crop failure and famine.