Like any financial institution, credit unions have the financial resources. Among the U.S. credit unions, there are three groups that differ in terms of assets, shareholders, and business services. The main advantage of credit unions consists in transparency, controllability, governance for shareholders. 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. In the credit union compensation for use of the loan (interest) is a source of compensation for savings. Credit unions appeared in England in the 19th century. In 1844 a group of workers from Rochdale established the first cooperative. The right to use the services of the credit union have only its members.