# Zest AI

> Zest AI provides AI underwriting, application-fraud detection and lending intelligence software to banks, credit unions and specialty lenders. Its lender-tailored models, fairness tools and integrations aim to broaden responsible credit access while improving lending operations.

- **Founded:** 2009
- **Headquarters:** Burbank, United States
- **Founders:** Douglas Merrill (Co-founder; former CEO), Shawn Budde (Co-founder; founding chief risk officer)
- **Products:** AI-Automated Credit Underwriting, Zest Protect, Lending Intelligence Reports, LuLu Pulse, LuLu Strategy
- **Notable:** Named to CNBC’s World’s Top FinTech Companies list in 2025 and 2026., Named in Forbes Fintech 50 in 2024., Company reported more than 1,500 active AI models by August 2026.

## Products & services

- **AI-Automated Credit Underwriting** — Lender-tailored machine-learning credit-risk models, automated decisioning integration, fairness testing and ongoing support.
- **Zest Protect** — Configurable application-fraud assessment covering identity, fraudulent behavior and income discrepancies.
- **Lending Intelligence Reports** — Portfolio, applicant and marketing analysis, including credit migration, pricing and refinancing opportunities.
- **LuLu Pulse** — Generative AI interface for peer benchmarking and public financial and economic data.
- **LuLu Strategy** — Institution-specific analytics and policy simulations; not for decisions on loan applications.
- **Zest FairBoost** — Technology intended to improve underwriting fairness while preserving model performance.
- **Zest Race Predictor** — Open-source demographic estimation for fair-lending and equity analysis, using name and address inputs.

## Achievements

- Named to CNBC’s World’s Top FinTech Companies list in 2025 and 2026.
- Named in Forbes Fintech 50 in 2024.
- Company reported more than 1,500 active AI models by August 2026.
- Company reported 77% growth in bookings in H1 2026.
- Named to American Banker’s 2026 Best Fintechs to Work For list.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Reported 77% H1 bookings growth, expansion of multi-product adoption and more than 1,500 active models.
- **2026-07** — Named to CNBC’s World’s Top FinTech Companies list for the second consecutive year.
- **2026-04** — Reported tripled adoption of generative AI and fraud products in Q1.
- **2026-02** — Commonwealth partnership launched CU Lending Collective for small credit unions.
- **2025-11** — Completed customer-led financing involving four credit unions and Citi Ventures.

## Links

- Website: https://www.zest.ai/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zest-ai/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Zest_AI
- GitHub: https://github.com/zestai
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZestAI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelloZestAI/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/zest-ai
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-01