Case Study: Desert Valleys FCU achieves faster, fairer lending and over $1M loan growth with Zest AI

The Start of the Zest AI Journey

Desert Valleys FCU, a small credit union serving about 5,000 members, needed a technology partner to close resource gaps and modernize underwriting for faster, fairer lending. They partnered with Zest AI to deploy AI-automated underwriting and future-proof their lending process.

Zest AI implemented its AI underwriting models, model risk management, and fair-lending documentation, providing faster approvals, smarter decisioning, and reduced compliance burden. Within the first three months Desert Valleys FCU saw over $1M in loan growth and benefits aligned with Zest AI’s preliminary results — roughly 60% resource efficiency gains, a 20% increase in approvals with no added risk, and a 40% increase in approvals across protected classes.

Desert Valleys FCU

Eric A. Bruen

President/CEO