In the U.S., credit unions have a clear organizational structure. All credit unions belong to one or the other parent credit union (there are 35 of them in the U.S.). The number of shareholders of a credit union is limited and formalized by a list. Limit of the number is defined by the assembly and such assembly establishes the charter. The main advantage of credit unions consists in transparency, controllability, governance for shareholders. Until the 70's there was a proliferation of the U.S. credit unions due to the increase of their number and the number of shareholders, although it must be acknowledged that there was also and a qualitative growth. National Credit Union Insurance Fund was created by Congress in 1970 to insure deposits of credit union members in the amount of 100 thousand dollars. Credit unions appeared in England in the 19th century. In 1844 a group of workers from Rochdale established the first cooperative. Consumer loan and reliable savings - these are the main goals, which mean "natural persons" having decided to unite in credit consumer cooperative. Credit unions, like today's credit unions, emerged in the 19th century in Germany as a result of crop failure and famine. Credit union as a consumer cooperative operates on the principles of equality of all its members.