BREMERTON, Wash.— Kitsap Credit Union has become the first credit union in Washington State approved by the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) to make an equity investment under the state’s newly expanded authority, RCW 31.12.436, which grants broader investment powers to state-chartered credit unions.
The credit union’s inaugural investment is a partnership with D8TAOPS, Inc., an Oregon-based AI and data orchestration firm. Kitsap said the move will help modernize its operations, improve efficiency, and enhance the member experience through intelligent systems and real-time data capabilities.
Shawn Gilfedder
“This is a transformative moment not just for our organization, but for the credit union movement as a whole,” said Shawn Gilfedder, president and CEO of Kitsap Credit Union. “Through this strategic investment and design partnership we’re helping shape that future, all while ensuring our members benefit from smarter, faster, and more secure financial services.”
D8TAOPS has developed a proprietary platform that transforms legacy data workflows into governed, agentic AI systems designed for real-time enterprise use.
Kitsap Credit Union reported early success with the platform, citing a pilot audit project that improved accuracy and cut processing time. Using D8TAOPS’ technology, the credit union built a private language model in a secure cloud environment—laying the groundwork for future system development and enhanced member services.
Kitsap Credit Union’s investment, which complies with the law's requirement of staying below 5% of net worth, is a measured and strategic move that reflects the organization's financial strength, innovation culture, and deep commitment to community impact, the organization said.
“By becoming the first credit union to act on this opportunity, we’re signaling to our members and our community that we’re future-focused,” said Gilfedder. “This investment will ultimately help us deliver better tools, improve workflows, and stay at the forefront of the rapidly evolving financial landscape.”
"This partnership with Kitsap Credit Union demonstrates how agentic AI and governed data orchestration deliver secure, real-time value today. By uniting Kitsap Credit Union’s forward-thinking leadership with our platform, we’re proving that credit unions can innovate faster, govern data responsibly, and set the standard for the future of financial services,” said Troy Wyatt, founder and CEO of D8TAOPS, Inc.
The Department of Financial Institutions formally approved the investment on Sept. 15.