Zest AI Delivers Record First Half, Fueled by 77% Growth as Lenders Scale AI
New customer wins, larger deals, and expanding adoption underscore growing demand for AI-powered lending
BURBANK, Calif., Aug. 5, 2026 — Zest AI, a leading provider of AI lending technology, today announced record first-half performance as banks, credit unions, and specialty lenders accelerate adoption of artificial intelligence. The company completed its strongest six-month period in its history, driven by success in winning new customers, continued expansion within its existing customer base, and growing demand for AI-powered underwriting, fraud detection, and generative AI solutions.
“The momentum we’re seeing reflects a broader shift in how financial institutions are approaching AI,” said Mike de Vere, CEO of Zest AI. “Lenders are making larger investments, deploying AI more quickly, and expanding its use across the lending lifecycle–from underwriting and fraud prevention to lending intelligence. AI is becoming the core infrastructure for modern lending, helping financial institutions make smarter decisions and better serve their communities.”
H1 2026 Highlights:
- Commercial momentum: Zest AI achieved 77% growth in bookings during the first half of 2026, driven by strong new customer wins and increased sales of additional solutions to its existing customer base.
- Growing customer investment: Average new business deal sizes reached their highest level in several years, reflecting broader enterprise adoption and larger-scale AI deployments.
- Strong platform expansion: Existing customers continued to deepen their use of the Zest AI platform, with multi-product adoption reaching record levels.
Zest AI began the year with a strong first quarter, tripling adoption of its GenAI and fraud solutions. The second quarter brought several additional milestones that reinforced the company’s leadership in AI-powered lending. Zions Bank and Hawaii State Federal Credit Union selected Zest AI to strengthen their lending decisions. Launcher Solutions partnered with the company to integrate AI-powered underwriting insights into its loan origination platform. Zest AI also expanded its investment in industry education by launching three flagship events—the IQ Lending Forum Executive Conference and two regional AI Summits—designed to bring practical AI education and peer learning directly to credit unions nationwide.
The quarter concluded with three industry honors: CNBC named Zest AI to its World’s Top Fintech Companies list for the second consecutive year, American Banker highlighted Zest AI on its Best Fintechs to Work For List and Zest AI was selected as a finalist in the generative AI category of the Finovate Awards.
“As AI becomes foundational to modern lending, our responsibility extends beyond building great products,” said de Vere. “We’re helping financial institutions understand how to deploy AI responsibly, scale it across their organizations, and create lasting value for their teams and the communities they serve. That’s why we’re investing not only in technology, but also in education and collaboration across the industry.”
About Zest AI
Founded in 2009, Zest AI is a leader in financial technology with a mission to modernize lending and strengthen the financial system. The company is working to transform the $17 trillion US consumer credit market by delivering AI technology that helps lenders identify creditworthy borrowers overlooked by legacy credit methods, while leveling the playing field for financial institutions of all sizes to harness AI. With over 1,500 active AI models and 50+ issued and pending patents, Zest AI provides financial institutions with a comprehensive suite of solutions spanning underwriting, fraud detection, lending intelligence, and more to make smarter lending decisions that power growth and profitability. Learn more at Zest AI and connect on LinkedIn.
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