The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that regulates and supervises federal credit unions. Established in 1970, its primary mission is to ensure the safety and soundness of credit unions, protecting members' deposits and promoting consumer confidence in the credit union system. The NCUA also administers the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), which insures deposits at federal credit unions and most state-chartered credit unions. This insurance provides members with peace of mind, knowing their savings are protected up to $250,000 per depositor, similar to the protections offered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for banks.