BREMERTON, Wash.–Kitsap Credit Union said it has become the first credit union in Washington State to receive approval from the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) to make an equity investment under the newly expanded authority granted by Washington State law RCW 31.12.436, which provides state-chartered credit unions with broader investment powers.
“This groundbreaking move marks a new era in credit union innovation and engagement with emerging technologies,” Kitsap CU said in a statement. “The investment provides a design partnership with D8TAOPS, Inc., an enterprise-ready AI and data orchestration company based in Beaverton, Ore.”
KCU said its investment will directly support its mission to modernize operations, increase efficiency, and enhance the member experience through intelligent systems and real-time data tools.
‘Transformative Moment’
“This is a transformative moment not just for our organization, but for the credit union movement as a whole,” President and CEO Shawn Gilfedder said in a statement. “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.”
According to Kitsap, 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 has already seen early success from the platform through a pilot audit use case that significantly improved accuracy and reduced processing time,” the CU said. “Through D8TAOPS’ platform, they were able to develop a private language model within a secure cloud environment, setting the stage for future systems development and member-facing service enhancements.”
The $2.4-billion Kitsap Credit Union said its 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.
A ‘Signal’ to Members
“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.”
The Department of Financial Institutions formally approved the investment on Sept. 15.
