By the end of 2024, majority of banks and credit unions were still exploring exactly what AI meant for them. Leaders knew the term, curious teams experimented with tools like Copilot & ChatGPT, and employees wondered: Will AI help me-or replace me?
Fast forward to the end of 2025, and the landscape has shifted. AI literacy has grown across financial institutions. Teams now better understand what AI is, executives see its potential, and pilot programs are rolling out. But awareness alone isn’t enough-the conversation has shifted to comfort, trust, and practical application within banking and credit unions.
Over the course of 2025, AiVantage organized 7 roundtables, financial leaders across the nation shared their experiences, concerns, and successes, producing a clear picture of how institutions are moving from knowing AI to being comfortable with it. From these discussions, five key insights emerged, each highlighting ways to increase confidence and build sustainable adoption:
- Appetite for AI varies based on role and Comfort comes from Context
Different roles in banks and credit unions experience AI differently. Innovation and IT teams are often excited to experiment, while executives-especially in regulated areas-remain cautious. Comfort grows when AI use is clearly framed for each function, showing both potential benefits and associated risks. By connecting AI to concrete outcomes, institutions reduce fear, encourage experimentation, and foster confidence across all teams. - It is Critical to Close the Training & Knowledge Gap
Awareness of AI is no longer the main hurdle, but knowledge gaps still exist. Employees need structured education, workflow-specific guidance, and hands-on practice to feel capable and confident. When staff understand how AI integrates into daily operations-whether it’s analyzing loan applications, streamlining member services, or supporting compliance checks-they adopt tools faster, trust their outputs, and feel empowered rather than threatened. - Start with Familiar Data Initiatives – Trust Follows
Successful AI pilots in banks and credit unions often anchor on internal systems and data employees already know, such as transaction histories, account management tools, or reporting dashboards. Familiarity makes AI predictable and tangible. Early wins-like automating routine reporting or generating faster insights-build credibility, demonstrating that AI is a helpful partner rather than a disruptive force. - Balancing Personalization with Privacy Builds Confidence
AI enables highly tailored member experiences, but financial institutions operate in a tightly regulated environment. Comfort increases when teams and members see AI being applied transparently and ethically, with strong safeguards, opt-in/opt-out options, and clear explanations of how data is used. Demonstrating that AI can improve services without compromising privacy or compliance builds trust and reassures both staff and members. - Human Context and Culture Readiness will make AI Stick
AI is most effective when paired with human judgment and a supportive culture. Banks and credit unions that invest in change management, workforce training, and cultural alignment create an environment where employees feel confident using AI responsibly. Shifting from “scaling with humans and caring with tech” to “scaling with tech and caring with humans” ensures adoption strengthens institutional values, enhances member experiences, and fosters long-term comfort with AI tools.
The Bottom Line:
Across the 2025 AiVantage roundtables, a clear theme emerged: financial institutions are no longer asking what AI is-they are asking how to make AI work safely, effectively, and confidently. Comfort is the new frontier. Organizations that invest in training, familiar data, ethical personalization, and human-centered adoption will not only implement AI-they will earn trust, improve efficiency, and deliver member experiences that feel genuinely thoughtful and human.
Reach out to us to figure out how AI can work safely, effectively and confidently for you.