National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) - an independent federal agency, based in Washington (State of Columbia), established by the U.S. Congress to oversee the federal credit union system. Credit unions also differ from the traditional consumer cooperatives. The main advantage of credit unions consists in transparency, controllability, governance for shareholders. Credit unions appeared in England in the 19th century. In 1844 a group of workers from Rochdale established the first cooperative. Shareholders in corporate organizations are basic credit unions, besides the same union can be a shareholder of several corporate organizations. A potential new member of a credit union must submit a recommendation of shareholders in which the referee becomes a warrant of a future member of the credit union.