USF CU Helps Uncover Estimated $6M in Taxpayer Savings

USF Credit Union has long lived by the promise of “people helping people” - and recently, that promise delivered something remarkable: an estimated $6 million in projected savings for Hillsborough County taxpayers!

Blending AI Innovation With Old-Fashioned Hard Work

Earlier this year, Hillsborough County’s Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Victor Crist reached out to USF CU for help in evaluating the county’s banking service agreement.

A team of ten USF CU employees jumped in and volunteered their expertise and used secure AI technology to evaluate a mountain of material related to the county’s banking contract - more than 1,200 pages of documents!

The team’s result was a meticulous 100-page analysis and a crystal-clear picture of which proposal offered the best value for the taxpayers of Hillsborough County.

But the real magic wasn’t the AI itself - it was the way the USF CU team used it.

Every AI-generated score, reference, and citation was verified by USF CU’s human staff, ensuring accuracy, fairness, and integrity.

The Outcome: Millions in Savings

Based on the findings, the county made a major change in its banking relationships - saving an estimated - $1 million per year - $6 million over the next six years.

Clerk Crist praised USF CU’s report as one of the most detailed, thorough, and professionally documented reviews he had ever seen.

USF CU Recognition for Real Impact

To honor this extraordinary volunteer contribution, Crist recently presented USF CU with a 2025 Outstanding Service Award, noting the credit union’s work directly supported his mission to improve efficiency, cut costs, and deliver better value to residents.

Crist also awarded USF CU President & CEO Richard “Rick” Skaggs for his leadership in the effort as well as members of the ten-person team at the credit union’s cutting-edge New Tampa branch (pictured).

“USF Credit Union exists to serve its members and community, and this project reflects that mission at its best,” said USF CU President & CEO Richard “Rick” Skaggs. “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.”

A Case Study in the Credit Union Difference

On the surface, this is a story about AI and contract review. But at its core, it’s something much more human- a credit union using innovation to serve an entire county; university-affiliated credit union expertise being applied to real government challenges; and volunteers who gave their time to help save taxpayers millions.

It’s a modern expression of the credit union ethos: people helping people, powered by innovative tools that make that impact even bigger.