Zest AI

What’s holding lenders back today? For many, it starts with data—integrating external sources into the LOS, strengthening decisioning, and improving the predictive power of underwriting. For Todd Peeples MBA, PMP, CCE at All In Credit Union, the focus is on something even more fundamental: taking a hard look at the data itself. What can be consolidated? Where can AI amplify how his team interprets and applies that data? Craig Focardi, CMB, Principal Analyst, Banking at Celent and Todd break down these questions in their conversation on the latest survey findings on generative AI in retail lending. ▶️ Watch the conversation: https://lnkd.in/ga9HJ55q

Even the most disciplined lending teams get tested when real-world complexity shows up. When a key underwriter at StagePoint Federal Credit Union took an unexpected long-term leave, the team didn’t panic, they adapted. They leaned into AI-driven underwriting to maintain service levels, support dealer partners after hours, and keep risk in check. The outcome: • 51% increase in loans • 23% higher automation • Zero increase in delinquencies or charge-offs, even through a merger As Jake Anfinson, Chief Lending Officer, puts it: “Once you’ve used it, it’s very difficult to imagine going back.” See how StagePoint used AI underwriting and GenAI lending intelligence to scale responsibly: https://lnkd.in/g7WjBnwU #CreditUnions #GenAI #Fintech 

Will spreadsheets EVER go away? It seems like they won’t. But, what if we gave people a better alternative? With 67% of retail banking executives using spreadsheets for business intelligence and analytic reporting (with another 22% who plan on continuing!), data remains siloed, leaving questions unanswered and missed insights on the table. Watch the full conversation with Todd Peeples MBA, PMP, CCE at All In Credit Union and Craig Focardi, CMB, Principal Analyst, Banking at Celent as they discuss the tools and strategies lenders need to grow in 2026. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/ga9HJ55q #AIAdoption #AIforLenders #RetailBanking #FinancialInstitutions #CreditUnions #Fintech

Institutions using AI for underwriting, fraud detection, and compliance are seeing measurable outcomes, from stronger risk management to expanded access to credit. At the same time, rushed or poorly governed deployments have led to regulatory scrutiny and reputational damage. The difference isn’t whether AI is used, it’s how. Successful institutions align AI initiatives with compliance requirements, pilot before scaling, invest in staff training, and build governance frameworks that evolve with the technology. Watch Rodney E. Hood’s practical perspective on what responsible AI adoption really requires. As AI becomes essential to competitiveness, what does “readiness” actually look like for financial institutions? #FinancialInstitutions #AI

AI in lending is becoming part of everyday decision-making. As 2026 unfolds, lenders are focusing on how to apply AI responsibly, effectively, and at scale without losing human judgment, trust, or accountability along the way. This month’s newsletter explores what that looks like in practice: • How human expertise and AI work together in credit underwriting • What lenders should prioritize as generative AI adoption accelerates • Where GenAI is delivering real impact, and where caution still matters • How Credit Union West is unlocking efficiency and insight with GenAI If you’re shaping your AI strategy this year, this is a practical read. Read the full newsletter and subscribe to stay informed on what’s shaping the future of lending: #AI #Fintech #FinancialInstitutions #CreditUnions

The data is clear: economic shifts, fraud evolution, and AI are reshaping lending in 2026. 💵 Join Adam Kleinman, Head of Product & Strategy at Zest AI, for a forward-looking conversation on how lenders can turn these signals into smarter, faster decisions. In this session, you’ll learn how to: • Increase agility and mitigate risk while staying ahead of emerging fraud patterns • Interpret key economic and industry trends using LuLu, a first-of-its-kind lending intelligence companion • Separate real AI impact from hype, and understand how leading lenders will operate in 2026 🤖 Register now to get ahead of the shifts defining the future of lending: https://lnkd.in/g2mE3_N7 #Fintech #AI #GenAI #CreditUnions #FinancialInstitutions #Banks

AI can help lenders move faster and more consistently, but technology alone won’t completely transform lending. True transformation happens when teams evolve their policies, workflows, and mindset alongside it. The Human Element in AI report explores how machine learning is reshaping lending workflows—automating routine decisions while empowering underwriters and analysts with clearer insights for complex cases and smarter policy strategy. Read the full report to see why people remain at the center of modern, AI-driven lending: https://lnkd.in/grMyC_ii #AI #Fintech #CreditUnderwriting #FraudDetection #MachineLearning

When StagePoint Federal Credit Union suddenly lost a key underwriter, they faced a challenge every lender understands: How do you keep lending decisions moving, without missing a beat? 💭 As a credit union with $130M in assets, the lending team can’t miss. With Zest AI’s underwriting solution, StagePoint FCU scaled instantly. Zest AI became more than a stopgap. From after-hours credit decisions to merger analyses powered by generative AI, StagePoint is growing faster, smarter, and with more confidence. 👉 See the full StagePoint story and learn what’s possible with AI-driven lending: https://lnkd.in/g7WjBnwU #CreditUnions #GenAI #Fintech

AI is reshaping lending faster than most institutions can operationalize it. As 2025 delivers rapid advances in artificial intelligence, 2026 will demand sharper decisions about where AI truly adds value and where it doesn’t. Join Adam Kleinman, Head of Product and Strategy at Zest AI, for a discussion on what’s next for lenders—powered by LuLu, the first purpose-built generative AI lending intelligence companion. You’ll explore the economic and industry signals shaping lending in 2026, separate AI hype from reality, and learn how banks and credit unions can confidently prioritize the right AI use cases to stay agile, compliant, and competitive. Register to get ahead of the shifts defining lending in 2026: https://lnkd.in/g2mE3_N7 #Fintech #AI #GenAI #CreditUnions #FinancialInstitutions #Banks

A stronger credit risk model is step one in driving faster, more accurate decisions. The real work happens when lenders translate that performance into strategy: aligning risk tolerance, expanding approvals with intention, and modernizing credit policies to reflect a more precise underwriting process. Watch Curtis Wagner, Head of Client Engagement, and Sean Kamkar, CTO at Zest AI, discuss how hands-on support, customization, and credit policy optimization help lenders turn AI underwriting into real outcomes. Watch the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/gF_DTncq