Episode 14: Building for What’s Next – How Credit Unions Are Shaping Their AI Journey

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Executive Summary

In this episode of Databytes Enabling AI – Prowess Consulting, host Rahul Nawab sits down with Tom Kuslikis, CEO of EFCU Financial Credit Union, for a candid conversation on how one of America’s earliest chartered credit unions is navigating the AI era. Tom draws on his background in finance and audit to explain how EFCU approaches every AI investment with rigor — measuring efficiency gains, calculating ROI, and holding vendor partners accountable for continuous improvement. He shares how EFCU’s AI-powered voice bot now handles 50% of contact center calls, freeing staff to have richer, more strategic conversations with members. Tom also opens up about the challenge of personalization, the need to build a robust data infrastructure, and why the great wealth transfer — with roughly 70% of EFCU’s deposit base aged 75 and above — is shaping every technology decision they make. The conversation closes with honest advice for the next generation on the enduring value of creative thinking, accounting fundamentals, and partnering those skills with AI.

About Tom Kuslikis

Tom Kuslikis is the President and CEO of EFCU Financial Federal Credit Union, bringing over a decade of financial services experience across leadership, finance, audit, and compliance. A CPA, CIA, and CGMA, Tom holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and is passionate about exploring the role of AI and technology in financial services. He also serves on several industry and community boards, including the LSU Computer Science & Engineering Industry Advisory Board, Louisiana Credit Union League, Luminate Innovations, and CUsurance.

What You'll Learn

How EFCU Financial built the ROI case for its AI voice bot — and why it now handles 50% of all contact center calls
Why credit unions and community banks are behind on personalization — and what a data-first roadmap to catch up looks like
How to govern AI responsibly in a regulated financial environment, from internal AI committees to board-level risk oversight
Why the great wealth transfer is the defining strategic challenge for credit unions — and how technology can help address it
What it means to think like a fintech when your membership expects frictionless, personalized, digital-first experiences
Career advice for the AI era: why creative thinking paired with strong fundamentals will always outperform any single credential

Who Should Watch

Industry leaders looking for strategic insights in data, AI, and marketing to guide high-level initiatives and innovation.
Working professionals seeking practical, actionable knowledge to build expertise and stay ahead in their fields.
General audience interested in AI trends and thought leadership, including early-career professionals and curious learners.

Databytes Enabling AI: Series Overview

Episode 1: Digital Marketing Excellence – Amit Jivani reveals how AI is transforming retail and e-commerce through personalization, smarter supply chains, and improved customer experiences.
Episode 2: Banking Analytics – Nagendra Sastry explores the evolution of banking analytics, the skills needed to succeed, and how AI is shaping the future of financial decision-making.
Episode 3: AI Evolution – Nikhil Shah shares his journey into AI, exploring its role in public good, ethical use, and the skills professionals need in an AI-driven future.
Episode 4: Banking Evolution Through AI – Dawn Zappetti discusses how AI is reshaping marketing in banking, from hyper-personalization to the future skills marketers need to thrive.
Episode 5: From Corner Shop to Cloud: How AI Can Elevate the Future of SMBs – Monica French and Abbas Merchant discuss how AI empowers SMBs to work smarter, scale faster, and stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital world.
Episode 6: AI Agents for Manufacturing – Anuja Parikh breaks down how AI agents are transforming manufacturing processes, unlocking new efficiencies, and shaping the next generation of tech talent.
Episode 7: AI Marketing and Its Impact on the Future of Business – Prof. Anand Kumar Jaiswal unpacks how AI is redefining marketing strategy, storytelling, and ethical decision-making in today’s evolving landscape.
Episode 8: From Past to Future: AI Shift in Banking and Marketing – Babu Ramalingam and Tim Deighton explore how AI is reshaping banking and marketing through data-driven strategies transforming customer engagement and growth.
Episode 9: AI Opportunities in Health Insurance – Rama Kolli explores how AI is transforming health insurance and what it will take to finally make healthcare simple for the everyday member.
Episode 10: The Rise of the AI-Fluent Workforce – The GenAI Skills That Matter Most – Krish Swamy and Anand Solanki discuss the rise of the AI-fluent workforce.
Episode 11: Is AI Actually Making Our Work Lives Better? – Sandip Chatterjee challenges the idea that AI automatically boosts productivity, arguing that the competitive advantage comes from redesigning how organizations operate.
Episode 12: Future Skills for Finance Professionals with AI – Rushabh Shah unpacks how AI is transforming finance — from automating audits and building business models in hours, to why fundamentals, contextual thinking, and curiosity will always remain the true edge for finance professionals.
Episode 13: Learning, Leading, and Thriving in the Age of AI – Tanushri Banerjee explores how AI is transforming education from the inside out.
Episode 14: How Credit Unions Are Shaping Their AI Journey – Tom Kuslikis shares how EFCU Financial is using AI to free up its people, serve the next generation of members, and stay ahead of the great wealth transfer.

Stay tuned for more episodes!

Rahul Nawab

Rahul Nawab, a senior leader with over 25 years of experience in data analytics. His impressive background includes leading Data & AI roles at Capital One, US Bank, IQR and EXL. Rahul's expertise will ensure engaging discussions and resonate with our audience.