TAMPA—The $1.3-billion USF Credit Union helped Hillsborough County identify an estimated $6 million in taxpayer savings after a team of its employees reviewed the county’s banking services agreement using secure AI tools paired with extensive human oversight, Laker/Lutz News reported.
Earlier this year, County Comptroller Victor Crist asked the credit union to assist with evaluating the contract. A 10-member USF Credit Union team analyzed more than 1,200 pages of documents, producing a detailed 100-page assessment. While AI supported the review, the credit union stressed that staff manually verified every score, reference, and citation to ensure accuracy and integrity.
“USF Credit Union exists to serve its members and community, and this project reflects that mission at its best,” President and CEO Richard J. Skaggs told the news outlet. “I’m incredibly proud of our team for applying their expertise and emerging technology in a way that delivers real, measurable value for Hillsborough County residents.”
Based on the findings, the county changed its banking relationships, generating about $1 million in annual savings, or roughly $6 million over six years. Crist recognized the effort by presenting USF Credit Union with a 2025 Outstanding Service Award and honoring Skaggs and the volunteer team at the credit union’s New Tampa branch.