​Zest AI, a leading provider of AI lending technology, today announced record first-half performance as banks, credit unions, and specialty lenders accelerate adoption of artificial intelligence. The company completed its strongest six-month period in its history, driven by success in winning new customers, continued expansion within its existing customer base, and growing demand for AI-powered underwriting, fraud detection, and generative AI solutions.

"The momentum we're seeing reflects a broader shift in how financial institutions are approaching AI," said Mike de Vere, CEO of Zest AI. "Lenders are making larger investments, deploying AI more quickly, and expanding its use across the lending lifecycle–from underwriting and fraud prevention to lending intelligence. AI is becoming the core infrastructure for modern lending, helping financial institutions make smarter decisions and better serve their communities."

H1 2026 Highlights:

• Commercial momentum: Zest AI achieved 77% growth in bookings during the first half of 2026, driven by strong new customer wins and increased sales of additional solutions to its existing customer base. 
• Growing customer investment: Average new business deal sizes reached their highest level in several years, reflecting broader enterprise adoption and larger-scale AI deployments. 
• Strong platform expansion: Existing customers continued to deepen their use of the Zest AI platform, with multi-product adoption reaching record levels. 

Zest AI began the year with a strong first quarter, tripling adoption of its GenAI and fraud solutions.  The second quarter brought several additional milestones that reinforced the company’s leadership in AI-powered lending. Zions Bank and Hawaii Federal Credit Union selected Zest AI to strengthen their lending decisions. Launcher Solutions partnered with the company to integrate AI-powered underwriting insights into its loan origination platform. Zest AI also expanded its investment in industry education by launching three flagship events—the IQ Lending Forum Executive Conference and two regional AI Summits—designed to bring practical AI education and peer learning directly to credit unions nationwide. 

The quarter concluded with three industry honors: CNBC named Zest AI to its World's Top Fintech Companies list for the second consecutive year, American Banker highlighted Zest AI on its Best Fintechs to Work For List and Zest AI was selected as a finalist in the generative AI category of the Finovate Awards.

"As AI becomes foundational to modern lending, our responsibility extends beyond building great products," said de Vere. "We're helping financial institutions understand how to deploy AI responsibly, scale it across their organizations, and create lasting value for their teams and the communities they serve. That's why we're investing not only in technology, but also in education and collaboration across the industry."

Nook today announced that Great Lakes Credit Union has made an investment in the Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), reinforcing a shared commitment to helping credit unions modernize how they connect data, technology, and member engagement—from attracting prospective members to deepening long-term relationships.

The investment supports Nook’s continued development of secure data infrastructure and ecosystem partnerships that enable credit unions to deliver more personalized, data-driven experiences while maintaining greater control of their data.
Credit unions have long differentiated themselves through trusted relationships and member-first service. Today, however, member expectations are increasingly shaped by personalized digital experiences, while the data needed to support those experiences often remains fragmented across core systems, lending platforms, digital banking tools, marketing systems, and operational applications.

Without a connected data foundation, personalization, automation, analytics, and emerging AI capabilities become difficult to scale.

"Our investment in Nook reflects our belief that credit unions should help shape the technology they rely on," said Michael Abraham, Chief Strategy Officer at Great Lakes Credit Union. "Nook is building secure infrastructure that connects data, CRM, marketing, sales, and member engagement in ways purpose-built for our industry. Supporting that vision is an investment in the long-term competitiveness of the credit union movement."

As a Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) and Platinum HubSpot Solutions Partner, Nook helps credit unions build the connected data foundation that powers modern member engagement. Its platform and services unify data across systems, strengthens collaboration between customer-facing teams, and helps credit unions operationalize trusted data for growth.

"The future of credit union growth depends on trusted data," said Austin Wentzlaff, Co-Founder and CEO of Nook. "Our mission is to help credit unions securely connect their data so they can attract prospective members, deliver more personalized experiences, strengthen existing relationships, and embrace AI with confidence—all without compromising ownership or governance of their data."

As AI continues to reshape financial services, Nook believes success will depend less on adopting new tools and more on establishing clean, connected, and trusted data. By helping credit unions build that foundation today, Nook positions institutions to leverage AI responsibly while delivering more timely, relevant, and personalized member experiences tomorrow.

Great Lakes Credit Union’s investment reflects a broader opportunity for the credit union movement. Through the CUSO model, credit unions can do more than purchase technology—they can help shape, influence, and invest in solutions built specifically for cooperative financial institutions and their members.
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"When credit unions have secure infrastructure that connects their data, CRM, automation, analytics, and engagement strategies, they're better equipped to attract new members, anticipate member needs, strengthen relationships, and compete in an increasingly digital marketplace," Wentzlaff said. "We're helping credit unions build the foundation for sustainable growth, and we're grateful to Great Lakes Credit Union for investing in that vision."

DaLand CUSO, provider of the credit union industry’s only core-native gateway to live digital asset networks, today announced the implementation phase of its collaboration with Circuit, a research and development Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), as Phase 2 of Circuit’s broader Digital Asset Initiative.

Through the program, participating credit unions gain hands-on access to DaLand’s CODE Engine® and Coin2Core® — production infrastructure already servicing Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, and other live digital asset networks from directly inside KeyStone, DNA, and Symitar cores. Built on DaLand’s Hybrid Custody architecture, the model keeps custody, servicing, and control of members’ digital wealth local to the institution: the credit union services the assets, holds the member relationship, and retains the data and liquidity — rather than routing members to an outside platform. As digital assets become critical financial network infrastructure, the question for credit unions is no longer whether members will hold digital wealth, but whether their institution will be the place they hold it.

DaLand’s production experience includes the following credit union deployments:

• St. Cloud Financial Credit Union ($430M, Sartell, MN) launched its CU-Digital Asset VaultTM on Coin2Core® architecture and became one of the first U.S. credit unions to issue its own stablecoin, $CLDUSD — live, in production, integrated with its Corelation KeyStone core.
• Canvas Credit Union ($5B, Lone Tree, CO) deployed Coin2Core® inside its Jack Henry Symitar environment and became a DaLand owner following the successful production deployment.
• Blaze Credit Union ($4.5B, Falcon Heights, MN) invested as a DaLand owner and runs the platform in its production environment — extending DaLand’s live footprint to credit unions representing more than $10 billion in combined assets.
• With production integrations spanning Corelation KeyStone, Fiserv DNA, and Jack Henry Symitar, thousands of credit unions now have a turnkey path to live digital asset networks — inside the core they already run.

With the GENIUS Act signed into law and broader digital asset market structure legislation continuing to advance, credit unions are evaluating how emerging capabilities can be integrated into their existing technology environments while preserving institutional control, member relationships, and data governance. DaLand’s core-integrated model provides participating credit unions with one production-ready approach to explore through Circuit’s broader Digital Asset Initiative.

"As we evaluated digital asset infrastructure, we weren't looking for another concept to study—we were looking for a solution we believed in enough to own," said David Pierce, Chief Information Officer at Canvas Credit Union. "DaLand had already solved the hardest problems: seamless core integration, institutional custody, and regulatory alignment. Becoming an owner aligned with our strategy to help shape the infrastructure credit unions will rely on for years to come."

"Credit unions don't need another bolt-on," said Jed Meyer, CEO of St. Cloud Financial Credit Union. "They need an operating model that protects the member relationship today and still works five or ten years from now. Our credit union has done it, and we're seeing it live."

“I spent years with NCUA and look at things including digital assets from a former regulator’s perspective: where does the risk live, who controls the data, and what happens to the balance sheet," said Justin Burleson, SVP and Chief Operating & Financial Officer at Blaze Credit Union ($4.5B), a DaLand owner. "Blaze didn't invest in a sandbox. We invested in infrastructure that keeps digital asset activity inside the institution — where examiners, boards, and members can all see it."

"Credit unions have spent decades earning trust that fintechs are still trying to buy, and that trust is the real asset here — not the technology," said Jon Ungerland, Chief of Staff/Founding Partner at DaLand CUSO. "Our focus has never been about picking a winning coin or a winning rail. It's about making sure that whatever wins, it wins inside the credit union, not around it. There's no shortage of vendors offering to stand between credit unions and the future of money. We built the infrastructure that removes the middleman — and this collaboration with Circuit is how the industry proves it out together, in the real world, instead of waiting on the sidelines."

Rather than building around a single payment rail, asset, or regulatory outcome, DaLand’s strategy is to establish foundational infrastructure that can adapt as the landscape evolves, including Bitcoin, stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and future innovations. The objective remains constant: preserving institutional control, member relationships, and data within the credit union’s operating environment.

Circuit's role is to make implementation collaborative rather than solitary. Over the past year, Circuit has brought together credit unions, core providers, and industry experts to build an educational foundation around digital assets. Phase 2 of the initiative moves the consortium from learning to doing, giving participating institutions opportunities to evaluate multiple approaches in real-world environments, work through governance and compliance considerations, measure outcomes, and share lessons across the cooperative movement.

"One of Circuit's greatest strengths is helping credit unions explore innovation together," said Ethan Cunningham, Chief Strategy Officer at Circuit. "Our role is to surface innovation credit unions may not otherwise be aware of, create opportunities to evaluate it in real-world environments, and help institutions learn from one another's experiences. Innovation moves faster when credit unions share what they're learning."

Credit unions interested in participating in the implementation phase can contact Circuit or DaLand CUSO directly.

In its last week before adjourning for the August recess, the Senate is working through the backlog of Confirmations including John Crews’ nomination to the NCUA Board.

The Majority Leader filed cloture on the bloc of nominations that includes Crews on Monday. The next procedural step is a cloture vote which expected around 2:15 pm this afternoon on the nominations package. If cloture is invoked, then up to 30 hours of debate could be used to discuss the nominations.
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Once either the post-cloture time expires or a time agreement is reached between leaders, we would expect a final vote to confirm the nominees in the package to occur. This final confirmation vote is expected on Thursday but could slip until early Friday depending on the Senate schedule.

​FI Works, a leading provider of data analytics, marketing automation, and CRM solutions for community banks and credit unions, today announced that FedChoice Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Lanham, MD, implemented the FI Works Customer Data Platform to replace its legacy marketing customer information file and give staff real-time visibility into member data.

The platform consolidates FedChoice's core and digital banking data into a single, continuously updated view of each member. That shift allows the credit union's marketing team to identify and connect with new members in a day or less of account opening, rather than waiting weeks for data to move between systems.

"Times are changing, and we've found the traditional marketing customer information files (MCIF) that we used to rely on are quickly becoming irrelevant," said Christine Wright, VP of Marketing, FedChoice Federal Credit Union. "With today's pace of technology, marketing and business intelligence systems must move at speed. Waiting weeks to upload data and communicate with members just doesn't work anymore. Engaging someone within 24 hours is far more compelling, and that capability is exactly what we unlocked by moving to FI Works."

"We built FI Works to give credit unions like FedChoice the speed and depth of insight once reserved for the country's largest banks," said Keith Henkel, founder and CEO of FI Works. "Christine and her team wanted to act on member data quickly and contextually, and that's exactly what this platform is designed to do. We're proud to help FedChoice deepen its relationship with every member it serves."

"We found a truly responsive partner committed to evolving alongside us," said Wright. "The system delivers deeper, more robust data insights than we anticipated, updating continuously to drive our day-to-day strategy, and it's powerful enough to tackle the complex analytical questions coming from our team, all backed by an FI Works team who are ready to step in and assist whenever needed."

​Texas Trust Credit Union has been named one of the Best Credit Unions for Personal Loans by personal finance outlet WalletHub. The national recognition highlights Texas Trust’s commitment to providing affordable, accessible, and high-value financing solutions to its members across Texas.
 
WalletHub’s annual rankings evaluate hundreds of credit unions across the country. The evaluation is based on key consumer metrics including annual percentage rates, loan transparency, repayment flexibility, and customer service. Texas Trust secured its position on the list by offering low starting interest rates, zero hidden fees, and an easy digital application process that accommodates a wide variety of borrower needs.
 
Compared to other institutions on the national list, Texas Trust stands out for its balanced approach to borrower qualifications and localized member care. While many national credit unions restrict their top-tier rates to borrowers with flawless credit, Texas Trust maintains competitive lending options for members across a broader range of financial backgrounds. Additionally, the credit union offers flexible terms up to 60 months and allows members to manage their loans with no prepayment penalties, outperforming several national competitors.
 
"Being recognized by WalletHub as one of the top personal loan providers in the nation validates our core mission," said Jim Minge, CEO of Texas Trust Credit Union. "Personal loans are a vital tool for families managing major life events or consolidating debt, and by keeping our rates competitive and terms flexible, we are directly empowering our members to take control of their financial health. This national recognition proves that our local, member-first approach delivers what our members need to build brighter financial futures."
 
The accolade arrives during a period of strong momentum for Texas Trust, which is in its 90th year of operation with more than $2 billion in assets. By delivering national-caliber loan products with the personalized service of a community-focused institution, Texas Trust continues to strengthen its footprint in North, East, and West Texas.
 
Residents within Texas Trust's service areas can apply for personal loans online or at any local branch. Membership is open to those who live, work, or worship in eligible Texas counties. For more information on Texas Trust’s personal loan options, visit texastrustcu.org.

​The Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) continued another successful day of programming Wednesday during its 2026 Annual Conference at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, bringing together credit unions from across the country for timely conversations on leadership, financial innovation, advocacy, and the evolving needs of military and veteran communities.
 
The day began with breakfast and networking, followed by the morning session which celebrated the recipients of the 2025 Distinguished Military Credit Union of the Year Awards.
 
Honorees included Andrews Federal Credit Union, recognized by the Department of the Army for U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden; Keys Federal Credit Union, recognized by the Department of the Navy, in the Small Credit Union category for Naval Air Station Key West; Navy Federal Credit Union, recognized by the Department of the Navy, in the Large Credit Union category for Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story; Otero Federal Credit Union, recognized by the Department of the Air Force, in the Small Credit Union category for Holloman Air Force Base; and Travis Credit Union, recognized by the Department of the Air Force, in the Large Credit Union category for Travis Air Force Base.
 
The Distinguished Military Credit Union of the Year Awards recognizes credit unions for their exceptional commitment to serving military installations and the communities surrounding them, reflecting the defense credit union movement's unwavering dedication to those who serve our nation.
 
The morning's keynote featured retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Martha McSally, who delivered an inspiring presentation, "Be Unbreakable: Lead Yourself First in a World That Never Slows Down." Drawing on her experiences as the first American woman to command a fighter squadron in combat, McSally shared practical strategies for developing resilience, leading with confidence under pressure, making intentional decisions, and fostering high-performing teams amid constant change.
 
During her presentation and fireside chat with DCUC President/CEO, Anthony Hernandez, Ret. U.S. Air Force Colonel, Col. McSally delivered a powerful demonstration using several layered shirts to illustrate the importance in how we ground and define ourselves by knowing who we truly are. Beginning with a shirt reading "I feel" and revealing another with the words "I am," she reminded attendees that emotions and circumstances do not define identity. Instead, she encouraged attendees and leaders to remain grounded in their values and lead with authenticity, purpose, and intention throughout every stage of life’s transitions and in leadership to others.
 
“A lot of our servicemembers, they get home from combat but then they get stuck here. They get stuck feeling like there's no meaning, there’s no purpose or they can't find their footing anymore. People in all sorts of transitions in life can get stuck here, but this isn't our identity either. This is how we might feel from time to time, but this is not who we are,” said Col. McSally.
 
“I want to offer something encouraging to all of you. If it were your 80th birthday toast, or a eulogy…what is the unique expression, the little droplet of the divine that you are expressing to the world, through your work, through your relationships, through everything you do through your life. The biggest regret of the dying is that they didn't authentically live aligned with who they truly are,” Col. McSally shared. “When you say the words, I am, there’s something deeply spiritual about that. You are expressing your identity to the world. How do you want people to describe you? So as decisions come up, ask, does this align with who I am? It becomes so much more obvious when you're grounded in that essence.”
 
Afterward, attendees heard from Michael Brown, Acting Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing where he and DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer Jason Stverak, discussed the future of U.S. currency. Brown explored how innovation, advanced security features, and strategic public-private partnerships are helping preserve trust and confidence in America's financial system while preparing for the next generation of currency technology.
 
The general session concluded with a discussion between Hernandez and Jonathan Cilley, SVP and Chief Information Officer of Mid-Hudson Valley FCU, who explored the evolving role of technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in serving current and future generations. They also highlighted how these industry shifts inspired the creation of CU Unplugged, a new "unconference" designed to bring together credit union executives, technologists, and innovators to collaborate, exchange ideas, and shape the future of the credit union movement.
 
Throughout the morning and afternoon, conference attendees selected from a dynamic lineup of educational breakouts, including:

• The future of stablecoins and digital assets within the credit union ecosystem
• Strategies for building high-performing financial institutions
• Engaging the next generation of members through digital financial tools and wealth-building solutions
• Executive compensation strategies that balance organizational mission with long-term sustainability
• A legislative and regulatory Capitol Hill update, highlighting DCUC's advocacy priorities
• Data-driven approaches to serving the diverse financial protection needs of military families
• Emerging credit risk trends and best practices
• Technology-driven strategies for creating more efficient branches
• Strengthening advocacy through the Defending Credit Unions PAC and National Advocacy Fund

​Between sessions, attendees continued to connect with peers, sponsors, and system partners during networking breaks sponsored by Gallagher and Member First Mortgage while also enjoying the complimentary Headshot Lounge, sponsored by Earnest Consulting Group.
 
DCUC’s Conference with a Purpose and Silent Auction, benefiting the USO, remained one of the week's most anticipated traditions. Thanks to the generosity of DCUC members, guests, sponsors, DCUC’s charitable conference fundraiser once again demonstrates the credit union industry’s enduring commitment to supporting the military and veteran community.
 
"This conference continues to showcase the strength, innovation, and collaborative spirit that define the credit union movement," says Hernandez. "Every conversation this week, from resilient leadership and emerging technologies to advocacy and member engagement, is centered on equipping credit unions to better serve the many communities that rely on them. The ideas and solutions, strategic partnerships, and connections fostered here will continue creating meaningful impact for our industry and the cooperative mission."
 
Wednesday evening's programming will continue with DCUC's 2026 Hall of Honor Gala, reception sponsored by Scienaptic AI and Visa, honoring three exemplary inductees for their outstanding contributions to the credit union movement. The celebration will continue immediately afterward with Miami Nights: Salsa, Casino & Celebration, sponsored by Alloya and Trellance.
 
DCUC Annual Conference programming concludes Thursday morning, August 6, with the conference's closing keynote, “25 Years Later: Leadership Lessons from 9/11” featuring Chief Richard Picciotto, Retired FDNY.
 
Follow along with the full agenda and join the conversation with hashtag #DCUC2026 on DCUC’s LinkedIn, Facebook, and X pages! For more information, visit dcucannual.org. Please see photos and captions within the press release attached; photography credits to EPNAC.