Case Study: HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union achieves 21% approval rate increase and $1.9M in originations with Zest AI

More Automated Approvals with HawaiiUSA

HawaiiUSA Federal Credit, the largest credit union in Hawaii, engaged Zest AI to accelerate growth in personal loans without adding risk. Facing low auto-approval rates and competition from fintechs using machine learning, HawaiiUSA wanted faster, more automated underwriting and a partner that would keep applicant data onshore; Zest AI’s AI lending platform was chosen to deliver faster, more accurate underwriting decisions.

Zest AI built a tailored, AI-driven personal loans model using 278 credit variables, enabling HawaiiUSA Federal Credit to expand auto-decisioning into the more profitable middle credit tiers. The deployment produced a 21% increase in approval rate, an estimated $1.9M uplift in originations, and no change in default rate, allowing HawaiiUSA to confidently serve a wider pool of members.

HawaiiUSA Federal Credit

Greg Young

Chief Executive Officer