Historically, credit unions were preceded by widespread development of credit cooperation in many countries of Europe and America. Typically new members of the credit union become citizens having suretyship or recommendations from their friends - members of the credit union. 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). Shareholders in corporate organizations are basic credit unions, besides the same union can be a shareholder of several corporate organizations. Credit unions, like today's credit unions, emerged in the 19th century in Germany as a result of crop failure and famine. 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. Credit unions encourage the proper use of shareholders savings, developing social programs (education, health, recreation, housing, etc.). Today, the World Council of Credit Unions is represented as members four regional confederations and twelve national associations.