The reserves of credit unions, credit cooperatives and cooperative banks in Europe have grownover along period of time even over many generations of members and have contributed to build and to maintain the current network and federate structures. As stated in ICA principle 3 (Member Economic Participation), “members contribute equitably to, anddemocratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their cooperative, possiblyby setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.” (ICA 1995). The individual capital of eachmember is maximally paid in up to the nominal amount of all shares held by a member and repaid when the member leaves (e. g. § 73 GermanCooperative Act).