Case in point: KEMBA Financial Credit Union and Upstart show how to grow lending with AI

One of the great things about my job is that I get to hear from so many smart people who are driving credit union innovation. We recently hosted a conversation with a couple of technology leaders from KEMBA Financial Credit Union and Upstart. Brent McCoy, VP Credit Administration from KEMBA, and Ed Walters, VP of Lending Partnerships with Upstart, walked us through a great case study in next-gen lending programs. They were full of ideas and insights – some nice surprises, a few confirmations, and even a couple challenges. Here’s what I heard…

Let’s start with what made this particular case so compelling. KEMBA FCU is the perfect example of a community-centric credit union. Started in Columbus, Ohio, they had always been big on member relationships and serving their local market. Over the last several years, they accelerated their digital transformation, grew membership, and began expanding their lending programs. Ed Walters and the team at Upstart came into the picture when KEMBA heard about their AI lending platform – it was especially interesting in its design to improve access to affordable credit while also reducing risk for the FI.

 

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