Commonwealth Credit Union and Zest AI partner to launch CU Lending Collective to bring ai-powered lending to Small Credit Unions. Industry-first Partnership Delivers Advanced AI Technology Targeted for Small Credit Unions BURBANK, Calif.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Commonwealth Credit Union (CCU) and Zest AI, a leader in AI-powered credit underwriting solutions, today announced the launch of CU Lending Collective, a first-of-its-kind CUSO created specifically to help small credit unions adopt and deploy advanced AI-powered lending technology. Designed with the needs and constraints of smaller institutions in mind, CU Lending Collective provides an accessible and compliant path for small credit unions to leverage enterprise-grade AI without the cost, complexity, or operational burden typically associated with emerging technologies. The CUSO is intended to serve as a repeatable blueprint for how small credit unions can confidently modernize their lending operations to better serve their communities. CU Lending Collective addresses a critical challenge facing small credit unions today: working every day to approve more members, compete with national lenders, and meet rising regulatory expectations with limited resources. By delivering proprietary AI models in a compliant, affordable, and operationally supported manner, participating credit unions will gain access to advanced machine learning technology that can help them responsibly expand access to credit while maintaining strong risk management practices. "This partnership represents a significant opportunity to level the playing field for small credit unions that want to innovate but lack the scale of larger institutions - not just through advanced AI, but through the operational expertise required to put it to work," said Jaynel Christensen, Executive Vice President of Commonwealth Credit Union. "Since partnering with Zest AI, we've delivered loan growth that outpaced industry norms - exceeding 14% in 2025 - while maintaining strong delinquency and charge-off performance. We're saying yes to more members and responsibly expanding our credit reach. By establishing the CU Lending Collective, we can share Commonwealth's real-world lending experience and proven results, powered by Zest's technology, with small credit unions, helping them achieve similar outcomes in their own communities." Expanding Access Through AI Innovation Under the partnership, Zest AI will develop a custom AI-powered scoring model that will provide small credit unions with a more accurate assessment of credit risk than traditional credit scores and estimate the likelihood of default across key consumer products, including auto loans, personal loans, and credit cards. The program includes: * An AI-powered credit score model designed specifically for small credit unions. * Proven performance, validated using real historical lending data from community-based institutions. * Built-in regulatory compliance, including fair lending, model risk management documentation, and mapped key factor or reason codes for transparency and explainability. * Hands-on operational guidance from the CU Lending Collective to support implementation and adoption. * End-to-end technology management from Zest AI, including deployment, secure hosting, and ongoing monitoring. "Small credit unions are the backbone of community lending, yet they are often locked out of the most advanced financial technology," said Mike de Vere, CEO at Zest AI. "Adopting AI-powered lending is essential to help small institutions scale responsibly and serve more members. This partnership with Commonwealth Credit Union allows us to deliver proven AI technology - already used by hundreds of credit unions - in a way that is practical, affordable, and purpose-built for small credit unions." Upcoming Webinar: Inside the CU Lending Collective To help credit unions learn more, CU Lending Collective will host a live webinar, Inside the CU Lending Collective: How Small Credit Unions Can Compete with the Biggest Lenders, on February 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Pacific. The session will feature Karen Harbin, President and CEO of Commonwealth Credit Union, and Mike de Vere, CEO of Zest AI, who will discuss how cooperative, AI-powered underwriting can help smaller credit unions expand approvals, strengthen compliance, and compete more effectively in today's lending landscape. The webinar will offer a practical look at how CU Lending Collective works, including real-world use cases and lessons learned from early participants. Sign up here. About CU Lending Collective CU Lending Collective is a credit union service organization (CUSO) delivering AI-powered underwriting purpose-built for small and mid-sized credit unions. Built by credit unions, for credit unions, the Collective enables institutions of any size to access powerful, fair, and compliant AI underwriting - without the cost or complexity of building and maintaining it alone. About Commonwealth Credit Union Established in 1951, Commonwealth Credit Union is celebrating 75 years of impact - creating a ripple of positive change and supporting the financial health and well-being of more than 138,000 members nationwide. Rooted in Kentucky and recognized as the state's largest credit union, Commonwealth Credit Union has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Kentucky for seven consecutive years. Guided by its mission of bettering lives, the credit union empowers members, employees, and communities to thrive through extraordinary service and experiences. Learn more at WeCUdifferently.com and connect on LinkedIn. About Zest AI Founded in 2009, Zest AI is a leader in financial technology with a mission to modernize lending and strengthen the financial system. The company is transforming the $17 trillion US consumer credit market by delivering AI technology that helps lenders identify creditworthy borrowers overlooked by legacy credit methods, while leveling the playing field for financial institutions of all sizes to harness AI. With over 930 active AI models and 50+ issued and pending patents, Zest AI is providing financial institutions with a comprehensive suite of solutions spanning underwriting, fraud detection, lending intelligence, and more to make smarter lending decisions that power growth and profitability. Learn more at Zest AI and connect on LinkedIn. More News From Zest AI BURBANK, Calif.-( BUSINESS WIRE )-Today, Zest AI announced that Cornerstone League and GoWest Credit Union Association have become the first credit union leagues to adopt LuLu, its GenAI-powered Lending Intelligence solution that gives financial institutions instant analytics, reporting, and insights. Together, the leagues represent more than 900 credit unions serving roughly 30 million members nationwide, significantly expanding the role of generative AI in delivering credible, data-backed adv... BURBANK, Calif.-( BUSINESS WIRE )-A new industry report from Celent, commissioned by Zest AI, reveals that financial institutions are accelerating generative AI adoption at an unprecedented pace - findings that reinforce Zest AI's strategic focus on lending intelligence solutions that balance speed, transparency, and regulatory compliance. The "Generative AI in Retail Lending" survey, conducted in August 2025, polled 106 U.S. banks, credit unions, and consumer finance companies and found that 8... BURBANK, Calif.-( BUSINESS WIRE )-Zest AI, a leading provider of AI-powered lending solutions, today announced the successful completion of an oversubscribed, customer-led financing round. The investment was led by five of the company's key customers - SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Members 1st Federal Credit Union, ORNL Federal Credit Union, Truliant Federal Credit Union, and Citi, through its investing group Citi Ventures. The financing represents a significant valuation increase from Zes... Zest AI. Release Versions

Zest AI partners with Cornerstone and GoWest as the first Credit Union Leagues to deploy its GenAI Lending Intelligence solution to enhance advocacy. Today, Zest AI announced that Cornerstone League and GoWest Credit Union Association have become the first credit union leagues to adopt LuLu, its GenAI-powered Lending Intelligence solution that gives financial institutions instant analytics, reporting, and insights. Together, the leagues represent more than 900 credit unions serving roughly 30 million members nationwide, significantly expanding the role of generative AI in delivering credible, data-backed advocacy and proposed policy changes to their members and communities. The adoption comes as the financial sector rapidly accelerates its AI investment. According to a recent Celent study, 83% of lenders plan to increase their GenAI IT budgets in 2026, signaling a shift toward more advanced, data-driven tools that improve risk visibility, market understanding, and operational efficiency. "Credit unions need clarity, speed, and precision in a landscape that's changing by the day," said Caroline Willard, President and CEO at Cornerstone League. "Being one of the first Leagues to adopt LuLu means we can deliver deeper insights and stronger advocacy on behalf of the institutions we serve. For us, and for the 600+ credit unions across our league, this is transformative. We're giving our members access to intelligence they could not have produced on their own." "Effective advocacy depends on having a clear, informed understanding of what's happening on the ground," said Sharee Adkins, Executive Vice President & Chief Impact Officer at GoWest Credit Union Association. "LuLu gives us the ability to analyze lending and economic trends that are impacting credit unions and consumers in real time, strengthening our policy work and helping us better represent the needs of credit unions and the communities they serve." LuLu allows advocacy groups like Cornerstone and GoWest to super-charge their research, policy work, and member education, strengthening their influence at both the state and federal levels, and ultimately helping to shape policies that create a better financial ecosystem for everyone. With Zest AI's Lending Intelligence, Cornerstone and GoWest can now: * Analyze geographically disaggregated lending patterns, delinquency trends, and portfolio shifts * Track industry trends and macroeconomic indicators impacting credit unions and the communities they serve * Benchmark league membership performance against the broader industry and the bank industry "The industry is moving quickly toward more intelligent automation, and both Cornerstone and GoWest are ahead of that curve," said Esther Kahng, Head of Government Impact at Zest AI. "Zest AI's Lending Intelligence Platform LuLu enhances advocacy by giving these leagues a powerful, real-time lens on what's happening across the industry. With this integration, the leagues are giving nearly 1,000 credit unions access to insights that will help them adapt faster, advocate more effectively, and serve their communities with greater confidence."

Credit Union leagues adopt zest AI's GenAI Lending Intelligence solution for enhanced advocacy. Zest AI has partnered with Cornerstone and GoWest Credit Union Association to deploy its GenAI Lending Intelligence solution, LuLu. The solution provides instant analytics, reporting, and insights to enhance advocacy for the credit unions represented by the leagues. This move comes as the financial sector rapidly accelerates its AI investment, with 83% of lenders planning to increase their GenAI IT budgets in 2026. LuLu will help the leagues deliver deeper insights and stronger advocacy for their members. Ask Aime: What's the impact of LuLu on financial sector AI investment trends for U.S. retail investors? Aime insights. Which stocks has Pelosi recently bought? How are the Magnificent 7 performing today? How do operating cash flows compare among top e-commerce giants over the decade?