This assessment may help you understand how prepared your credit union is to adopt AI technologies.

Please select the option that best describes your current situation for each question. You may see where you’re doing well and where there might be room for improvement.

If you want to score yourself, use the following rubric:

A = 0 points
B = 1 point
C = 2 points
D = 3 points

At the conclusion, you should have between 0 and 48 points total. We’ll tell you what that means then.

Key Resources for Each Stage:

1. Credit union AI policy
2. Join our Fintech Call Program to learn about new AI solutions
3. Get an AI planning session
4. Join the CUSO AI Task Force (by approval only): email us at info@cu-2.com

Download the assessment to share with your leadership team here:

Section 1: Total Basics

1. Your credit union AI policy

Do you have something you can show your board, an examiner, or an employee how you use AI?

1. No. Why would we need one?
2. Not explicitly, but we’ve provided some general guidance.
3. Yes, but it could use work (or an update).
4. Our AI policy is a living document, constantly changing to reflect new technologies, best practices, organizational needs, and regulatory guidance.

2. AI-friendly culture

Do you encourage, incentivize, or even mandate understanding of and/or familiarity with AI?

1. No, we’re not ready or comfortable with that.
2. Not really, but we’ve let staff know they can explore AI use; we consider AI when searching for new tech solutions.
3. Yes, and we’ve given our staff some training and/or ideas on how they can adopt AI responsibly; we look for AI solutions when searching for new solutions.
4. Yes, and we host regular training sessions to accelerate AI usage; we prioritize AI when searching for new solutions.

3. Personal and professional AI use

Do you use AI for personal or non-institutional use?

1. No, I’m not interested and/or I’m waiting for it to be more useful.
2. I’ve played around with tools like ChatGPT and MidJourney, but I haven’t gotten too deep. (e.g. writing emails, etc.)
3. I’m very fluent with a broad selection of AI tools, and I use them to help me with more than a few personal- or work-related tasks.
4. I’ve built AI agents and automated them so that they can tackle complex workflows either with the click of a button or at predetermined, recurring intervals.

Section 2: Organizational Readiness

4. Strategic alignment and leadership support

Does your leadership and board prioritize and integrate AI into your strategic plan?

1. We don’t currently include or prioritize AI in our strategic plans.
2. We’re kicking the tires on AI, but it’s low on the priority list for next year.
3. Our strategic plans include at least one high-priority AI initiative.
4. We’re staying ahead of the curve, committing resources toward multiple AI initiatives.

5. Organizational readiness

How prepared are you to manage the cultural and operational changes required for AI?

1. We haven’t prepared or planned for any changes associated with AI.
2. We understand changes need to be made, and we’ve started planning for them.
3. We’ve already begun making operational changes to accommodate AI, and we plan to make more.
4. We’ve established a culture that embraces AI and continuous innovation.

6. Policy readiness, including data use and ethics

Do your policies cover AI—including how you use data and handle ethical concerns like fairness and transparency?

1. Not really. Our policies don’t mention AI, data use, or ethics in any meaningful way.
2. We’re working on it—reviewing and updating policies to address AI and ethical concerns.
3. Yes. Our policies support AI initiatives and include guidelines for data use and ethics.
4. Yes, and they’re robust: comprehensive, enforced, and designed to ensure responsible, ethical, compliant AI use.

7. Staff readiness and engagement

How prepared and engaged is your team when it comes to AI?

1. Not very. Most staff aren’t involved in AI initiatives and wouldn’t know where to start.
2. Somewhat. A few people have basic awareness (maybe using AI privately or for small tasks) but engagement is limited.
3. Pretty good. Most staff have some AI training and are participating in AI-related projects.
4. Very. Staff are highly engaged, with broad understanding and active contributions to AI efforts across the organization.

8. Readiness for AI and Automation

Are your workflows ready for AI-driven decision-making and automation?

1. No. Most of our processes are manual, with little room for AI.
2. Getting there. We’re modifying some processes to incorporate AI.
3. Yes. Many processes are optimized for AI, and we’re already seeing efficiency gains.
4. Fully. Our workflows are designed for seamless AI integration across the board.

Section 3: Technology Readiness

9. Core systems and infrastructure

Can your core handle AI, including the scalability and security AI demands?

1. Probably not. Our core systems weren’t built with AI in mind, and our infrastructure isn’t ready for the load or the risk.
2. Maybe with some work. Our core might need updates or workarounds; we have some scalability and basic security, but it’s not ideal.
3. Yes. Our core supports AI, and our infrastructure is scalable and secure enough to handle it.
4. Absolutely. Our core is optimized for AI, and our infrastructure is built for expansion and data protection.

10. Data management and analytics

Can your data systems support AI-driven analytics?

1. Probably not. Our core systems weren’t built with AI in mind, and our infrastructure isn’t ready for the load or the risk.
2. Maybe with some work. Our core might need updates or workarounds; we have some scalability and basic security, but it’s not ideal.
3. Yes. Our core supports AI, and our infrastructure is scalable and secure enough to handle it.
4. Absolutely. Our core is optimized for AI, and our infrastructure is built for expansion and data protection.

11. Digital platforms integration

Are your mobile and online platforms AI ready? Are your systems well connected?

1. No. Our platforms don’t have AI features and aren’t set up to integrate with AI tools.
2. Partially. We have some AI features, but they’re limited—and our integrations aren’t rock solid.
3. Mostly. Our platforms use some AI and are ready for more; systems are well-integrated.
4. Fully. AI is embedded where it makes sense, and our systems are seamlessly connected across the organization.

12. AI in fraud detection and risk management

How are you using AI to detect fraud and manage risk?

1. We’re not—AI isn’t part of our fraud or risk strategy.
2. Lightly. We use AI for some basic fraud detection or risk monitoring.
3. Effectively. AI helps us reduce fraud and improve risk management.
4. Extensively. We use advanced AI for real-time fraud detection and proactive risk solutions.

13. Alignment of AI strategy with IT investments and roadmap

Does your AI strategy align with your IT investments and future technology roadmap?

1. What AI strategy? If we have one, it’s not connected to IT planning.
2. Loosely. Our AI strategy partially aligns with IT plans, but it needs work.
3. Yes. AI strategy is well-aligned with IT investments and supports our roadmap.
4. AI leads the way. It drives IT investments and shapes our future technology direction.

Section 4: Fintech Strategy Readiness

14. Fintech strategy and roadmap

Do you have a clear fintech strategy for AI-driven partnerships over the next 3-5 years?

1. No. We either don’t have a fintech strategy or we’re working with vague ideas at best.
2. Sort of. We have a basic strategy with some initial plans for AI partnerships.
3. Yes. Our strategy is well-defined, and we’re actively pursuing AI partnerships.
4. Absolutely. Our fintech strategy is highly developed, with multiple AI partnerships already driving innovation.

15. Integration and usage of fintech AI solutions

How prepared are you to integrate AI solutions from fintech partners?

1. Not very. We’re minimally prepared… or not at all.
2. Somewhat. We have some partnerships in place or nearing deployment.
3. Actively doing it. We’re integrating fintech AI solutions into operations now.
4. Fully prepared. We’re already using fintech AI solutions to meaningfully enhance operations and member services.

16. Collaboration with fintechs, especially for scale

How well do you collaborate with fintechs on AI—particularly when it comes to scaling?

1. We don’t. Fintech collaboration on AI isn’t happening.
2. Loosely. We collaborate with fintechs, but not much on AI specifically.
3. Effectively. We’re partnering on AI and seeing scalable results.
4. Deeply. We’re co-developing scalable AI products and operational improvements with fintech partners.

17. Risk management and compliance in fintech partnerships

How well do you manage risk and compliance in fintech partnerships that involve AI?

1. We don’t! There’s no formal risk or compliance process for these partnerships.
2. Inconsistently. We do basic risk management, but compliance checks aren’t reliable.
3. Well. We have effective risk management and ensure compliance.
4. Thoroughly. We have comprehensive risk management with strict compliance controls baked into every partnership.

5. Data policies around fintech AI

Do your data policies support fintech AI integration while staying compliant?

1. No. Our data policies don’t account for fintech AI.
2. Partially. Our policies offer some support, but they need significant updates.
3. Yes. Our policies are solid—secure integration, compliant use.
4. Fully. Our policies are optimized for seamless integration, full compliance, and continued innovation.

Scoring Rubric

Congratulations! You finished. Now, tally up your scores (if you did that). Here’s what your total might indicate:

0–12: Beginning

Your credit union is in the early stages of AI readiness. There are many fundamental elements still necessary before you can safely and efficiently adopt AI at scale.

Your next steps should focus on building awareness among leadership, staff, and the board. Have conversations about what you can do with AI and where it might fit into your short- and long-term goals. Build (or steal) basic policies and infrastructure to support AI.

Key resource: Credit union AI policy

13–24: Developing

Your credit union is well on its way to being AI ready, though perhaps not fully ready… yet. You have things in place, but you may need further preparation in a few key areas.

Your next steps should be to get a better sense of what’s out there in the world of AI solutions in the industry. See what’s been successful—and what kind of good ideas are just catching on.

Continue what you’re doing, and make investments in both your CU’s culture and technology to support ongoing advancements with AI.

Key resource: Join our Fintech Call Program to learn about new AI solutions

25–36: Advanced

Your credit union is well on its way to being AI ready. Arguably, you are AI ready—you might just not be fully AI-enabled. Either way, that’s impressive.

At this stage, your next steps are twofold: fine tune and scale. You’re likely ready to get your hands dirty with some AI development of your own. Moving from “Hey ChatGPT, please summarize these meeting notes,” and “Hey Gemini, please rewrite this email,” into building autonomous agents is a big step.

If you want some insight about how to get the most out of your move into AI, book a speaking or AI planning session with us!

Key resource: Get an AI planning session (it says strategic planning, but we’re more than happy to go AI-only)

37–48: Leading

If you scored in this range, congratulations! Your credit union isn’t just keeping up—you’re forging ahead. (I know, it sounds like AI wrote that, but it didn’t.) You can adopt new AI technologies with ease.

If you’re in the leading stage, your next step is to lead not just in your own credit union, but in the industry. It’s not just about presenting at conferences, on calls, in niche forums, etc. to help the rest of the industry catch up to where you are.

It’s also about creating the solutions that will keep credit unions competitive.

Key resource: Share your expertise with others

Our task force is geared toward developing and implementing custom AI solutions. If you’re interested in pursuing true AI development, please email us at info@cu-2.com.

49+: Liar

Okay, maybe you’re not lying, but… we have our eyes on you.

However, if you honestly scored over 49, please let us know. We have some stages for you.

Key resources: See above.

Download the full assessment here to distribute to your leadership team: