Aldergrove resident Gus Hartl is 鈥渓ooking forward to being on the other side of the counter.鈥�

Hartl, president of G&F Financial Group, will retire in March after 40 years in the financial sector, the last 20 years with Aldergrove Credit Union (ACU), including 15 years as chief executive officer.

He told the 91原创 Advance Times his future will likely include more time with grandchildren, camping, fishing, and golf.

鈥淏oth my wife and I are avid golfers,鈥� Hartl remarked.

READ ALSO: Aldergrove Credit Union and G&F Financial vote to merge

As ACU CEO, Hartl negotiated a merger with the Gulf and Fraser Fishermen鈥檚 Credit Union, and was named president in 2021.

At the time, the combined organization had $4 billion in assets and 52,000 members, with access to four insurance locations and a network of 25 branch locations spanning Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley communities from downtown Vancouver to Abbotsford.

Hartl wanted a smooth transition for the people at ACU, and after that was accomplished, he began thinking about retiring.

鈥淎bout four or five months in, I realized things were rolling along,鈥� Hartl recalled.

In an online video message announcing his retirement to members, Hartl described leaving a larger credit union for the smaller Aldergrove institution.

鈥淚t turned out to be one of the best decisions of my career,鈥� he asserted.

As ACU CEO, Hartl sponsored the Aldergrove Credit Union Community Centre, announcing an initial financial contribution of $250,000 for the first five-year operating period.

Hartl is a past president and trustee with the Credit Union Foundation of British Columbia as well as serving on the board of the Stabilization Central Credit Union.

鈥淚鈥檝e been pretty blessed with my career,鈥� Hartl reflected.

鈥淚 was always lucky to have good people working for me,鈥� he explained.

鈥淭hey made me look better than I am.鈥�

READ ALSO: Gus Hartl of Aldergrove Credit Union named 91原创鈥檚 Good Citizen of the Year

Hartl was named H.D. Stafford Good Citizen of the Year of the year in 91原创 at the December 2019 meeting of the Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber past president Jack Nicholson cited Hartl for his 鈥渓ove for community, humble nature, strong business sense and strong values [that make him] a respected community leader and citizen who is highly regarded by everyone he meets,鈥� noting Hartl leads 鈥渂y example,鈥� giving back through his work with the Aldergrove Rotary Club, and his long-standing support of local sports teams and community events like RibFest.