Credit unions just getting started with AI often look to peers that are more seasoned with the technology for inspiration and tips on best practices for AI implementation - and one of those credit unions with an aspirational AI program is Wescom.
In this episode of "Shared Accounts With CU Times," we spend some time with Joseph Pellissery, SVP Technology/Chief Information Officer for Wescom Credit Union ($6.4 billion, Pasadena, Calif.), who takes us on a deep dive into Wescom’s relationship with AI. He shares details on how the credit union leveraged AI to develop internal and member-facing tools, including a chatbot; how AI helps boost efficiency for Wescom employees and improves the digital banking experience for members; and the policies Wescom implemented to ensure secure, ethical use of AI. He also discusses the role AI plays in cybersecurity today, and outlines valuable advice for other credit unions that are still in the early stages of developing AI programs.
And, if you think technology executives can’t have fun outside of the office, think again. In the latter portion of our interview, Pellissery tells us all about his participation in a recent Credit Union Dancing With the Stars fundraising event in California’s Inland Empire, hosted by the California Credit Union League’s Orange County Network. There, he and his dance partner, Wescom Vice President of Marketing Tamar Atamian, made a huge splash on stage as they danced the mambo for charity (pictures below) - and even took first place! When we say this is an episode you don’t want to miss, we really mean it this time!
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Michael Ogden
Editor-in-Chief at CU Times. To connect, email at [email protected]. As Editor-in-Chief of CU Times since 2016, Michael Ogden has led the editorial team in all aspects of content strategy and execution, including the creation of the publication’s exclusive and proprietary research database of the credit union industry’s economic landscape. Under Michael’s leadership, CU Times has successfully shifted to an all-digital editorial product with new focuses on the payments, fraud, lending and regulatory beats. Most recently, he introduced a data-focused editorial product for subscribers that breaks down credit union issues into hard data, allowing for a deeper and more factual narrative for readers. In 2024, he launched the "Shared Accounts With CU Times" podcast, which offers a fresh, inside-the-newsroom perspective through interviews with leaders from the credit union industry and the regulatory world. He dives into pressing credit union issues, while revealing the personalities working behind-the-scenes to push the credit union world forward. His background includes years as a radio and TV anchor/reporter and a public relations and digital/social media manager, where he covered the food and music industries, as well as cooperatives and credit unions. Over the years, he has launched numerous exclusive video and podcast series, including a successful series of interactive backstage interviews with musicians at music festivals, showcasing his social media and live streaming production skills.
