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. 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). Historically, credit unions have grown from the experience of credit cooperatives, but they took the experience of organizations of mutual aid of citizens by moving methods of social self-protection from labor and toward consumption. Worldwide credit union movement is represented by regional confederations and national organizations within the World Council of Credit Unions.