BISMARCK, N.D. - Capping a 37-year career serving the industry, Kermit Larson, the president/CEO of the North Dakota Credit Union League, is retiring from full-time work at the end of the month. Larson, 63, who joined the North Dakota trade group as a consultant in 1989 and in 2002 was promoted to interim president, said he is leaving "at an exciting and important time." That is a reference to the merger this year of the North and South Dakota Leagues, an area in which Larson has played a pivotal role in helping guide the North Dakota group through a difficult period marked by CU consolidation and sometimes rancorous negotiations. "These are very positive changes that will be impacting North Dakota credit unions" he said. "I've been asked why am I retiring? and the answer I think in all fairness is the new individual who takes my place needs the flexibility to manage." Leadership of the two leagues, which agreed on a consolidation pact last December after years of stop-and-go talks, have said the new organization, Mid America Credit Union league, would become effective once a new CEO is hired this spring. League officials forecast that decision is only days or weeks away. Larson said he does expect to take a part-time job May 1 as a trainer/education staffer with First Community CU of Jamestown. A former Hawley, Minn. insurance agent, Larson became the league's full-time president in 2004 after previously serving the two-year period as interim CEO. He also is president of Regional Service Corp. the processing subsidiary of the league.