Appli Slashes Pricing to Bring AI Lending Tools to Underserved Credit Unions

Salt Lake City, Utah - April 9, 2025

Small credit unions have long faced a brutal reality: their limited budgets often block access to the kind of smart tech that helps larger institutions thrive. Appli, a Salt Lake City-based fintech startup founded in 2024, is taking direct aim at that imbalance.

Today, the Utah startup announced a special pricing initiative for credit unions with under $250 million in assets—granting them access to its AI-powered financial calculator and lending insights platform at a significantly reduced cost.

“Small credit unions don’t just need to stay relevant—they need to punch above their weight,” said Tim Pranger, Appli CEO and co-founder of POPi/o. “We’re not just offering cheaper software. We’re giving these institutions the tools to compete, convert, and serve better.”

The platform helps potential borrowers understand their loan options upfront—before they fill out a full application—reducing fear of rejection and increasing completed applications. Appli says its tech has helped credit unions increase loan conversions by up to 30%, thanks to its guided prequalification process and transparent insights.

A Level Playing Field for Digital Lending

Since its launch in 2024, Appli has rapidly gained traction among forward-thinking financial institutions like Granite Credit Union, InRoads Credit Union, and Southwest Financial Federal Credit Union, whose leaders have praised the platform's ability to strengthen the digital lending experience while maintaining their focus on member service.

“Appli helps members navigate borrowing with clarity,” said Garrett Laws, Chief Lending Officer at Granite CU. “Even those who don’t initially qualify leave knowing their next steps, which builds trust.”

Appli’s move comes as smaller financial institutions face mounting pressure to deliver digital experiences that match the expectations set by big banks and consumer tech brands—without the budgets to match. With this initiative, Appli is positioning itself as both a disruptor and an ally.

How to Qualify

Eligible credit unions can visit www.hiappli.com/access to check qualification requirements and implementation timelines.

Founded last year by POPi/o co-founder Tim Pranger, Appli combines real-time financial analysis with generative AI to help lenders deliver smarter, more personalized shopping experiences for financial products—while keeping member trust at the center.

For more information, visit hiappli.com.

See TechBuzz News coverage of Appli here and here.