Featuring insights from Saahil Kamath, Head of AI Products at Eltropy, on the future of AI and its role in reshaping operations and enhancing member experiences for credit unions. In his original contribution to the AI/ML Industry Leaders Forum by Finopotamus, here’s an in-depth look,

Picture this: A credit union member logs onto their account at 2 a.m., worried about a suspicious transaction. Instead of waiting until morning to speak with a representative, they’re greeted by an AI assistant that quickly verifies the transaction, explains the details, and puts their mind at ease. This isn’t five or ten years out – it’s happening now, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to AI’s role in credit unions and community banks.

AI, especially generative AI, is opening new doors for community financial institutions (CFIs) to serve their members and customers better, work more efficiently, and stay competitive in a digital financial world that’s moving at breakneck speed. But what does all this really mean for CFIs and their members?

AI: More Than Just a New Gadget

Let’s be clear: AI is NOT simply a trendy accessory for CFIs to show off. As Ashish Garg, Co-founder and CEO of Eltropy, puts it, “AI isn’t just a fancy add-on – it’s becoming essential for meeting modern expectations. It’s about using AI strategically to solve real problems and create better experiences for everyone.”

Imagine walking into a credit union where every staff member has instant access to all the information they need to help you. That’s what AI can do. It’s like giving every employee a super-smart assistant who never sleeps and knows everything about the credit union’s policies, products, and services.

Making Member Service Shine

One of the biggest ways GenAI is changing credit unions is in member service. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can handle many member questions, giving quick, accurate answers any time of day or night. This means members get help faster, and human staff can focus on more complex issues that really need their attention.

Brad Shafton, SVP of Digital and IT at Magnifi Financial, has seen this in action: “The flexibility to display answers in various formats is fantastic. It lets our staff choose how they want to see information and search within large documents, which saves significant time. These features will increase our first call resolution, improve employee experience, and help new staff get up to speed faster.”

Empowering Employees with Knowledge at Their Fingertips

GenAI is also changing how credit union employees access and use information. Imagine having all the credit union’s knowledge – every policy, procedure, and product detail – instantly available at your fingertips. That’s what AI-powered knowledge bases can do.

Kimberly Preston, Digital Project Manager at InRoads Credit Union, explains it well: “If there’s a gap in its knowledge, we can quickly train it with existing materials or add new information. GenAI has been great for improving our processes and making our response capabilities better.”

Listening to Members in a Whole New Way

One of the most exciting things AI can do is help credit unions understand their members better than ever before. By using natural language processing to analyze calls, chats, and other communications, credit unions can get a clear picture of what members need, want, and struggle with.

This deep understanding allows credit unions to fine-tune their products, improve their services, and communicate in ways that really resonate with members.

Challenges to Keep in Mind

Of course, bringing AI into credit unions isn’t without its challenges. Keeping data private and secure is crucial, especially when dealing with sensitive financial information. There’s also the need to make sure AI systems are fair and unbiased, and that they align with the credit union’s values and follow all the necessary regulations.

To address these concerns, many GenAI solutions for credit unions are putting in place what we at Eltropy call “Safe AI Guardrails.” These are practices and technologies that make sure AI systems are used responsibly, safely, and ethically, taking into account technological, legal, and regulatory considerations.

The Human Touch Still Matters 

As we bring more AI into credit unions, it’s important to remember that the strength of credit unions has always been their personal touch and community focus. AI should make these core values stronger, not replace them. The goal is to use AI for routine tasks and quick information, freeing up human staff to focus on building relationships, giving financial advice, and handling complex situations that need a human touch.

Looking Ahead

The credit unions that will thrive in the future are those that effectively use AI while staying true to their commitment to personalized service and community values. As AI technology evolves, we’ll likely see more innovative uses, from predictive financial advice to more accurate lending risk assessments.

Credit unions adopting GenAI now will be well-positioned to offer the speed and convenience members expect, while maintaining their unique personal touch. The AI shift isn’t about replacing people – it’s about enhancing their capabilities. By handling routine tasks and providing instant information, GenAI frees staff to focus on building relationships and helping members achieve their financial goals.

In this AI-enhanced landscape, credit unions have an opportunity to lead the way in providing personalized, community-focused financial services for the digital age, potentially outpacing larger banks in member satisfaction and service quality.

Eltropy AI

Eltropy AI is Purpose Built for Credit Unions and Community Banks, integrating AI Agent, AI Assistant, and AI Intelligence to provide comprehensive 360-degree enterprise-wide AI capabilities. With this powerful solution, offer 24/7 support to your members and customers, ensuring they receive timely and effective assistance. Meanwhile, employees across all departments benefit from never-before operational efficiency and intelligence. Eltropy AI seamlessly incorporates into all workflows, user interactions, or departments.