A national bank is a profit-seeking corporate financial institution chartered at the national level, offering commercial and retail banking services to the general public while distributing dividends to its shareholders. In contrast, a credit union is a non-profit, member-owned financial cooperative created to serve specific communities, employer groups, or associations. Because credit unions operate as non-profit entities, any surplus earnings are returned to members in the form of higher savings yields, lower loan interest rates, and reduced fee structures, whereas national banks maximize profits for investors. Additionally, national banks are regulated by federal banking agencies like the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, while federal credit unions are regulated independently by the National Credit Union Administration.