BRISTOL, Tenn. — Larry Stapleton, president/CEO of United Southeast Federal Credit Union will retire at the end of June after 44 years in the credit union movement.

“I think it's the saddest thing in the world when people wait until its too late to enjoy retirement,” Stapleton said. “I'm healthy and active and its time to spend time with my family.”

Stapleton began his career in 1964 with Mason-Dixon Credit Union. He worked with programmers to write and market their own data processing system and in 1966 helped test a new open-end loan product for CUNA Mutual that allowed his credit union to do overnight lending to members in any city in the eastern United States.

During his career Stapleton participated in the organization of the State Share Insurance Corporation and Corporate Credit Union. He served as chairman for both. Stapleton came to United Southeast after a downsizing left him out of a job at the age of 55.

“The best thing that ever happened to me was being out of a job,” Stapleton said.

As President/CEO Stapleton led a successful merger with four local credit unions though he said one of the things he is most proud of is moving the credit union toward electronic transactions.