First United Bank

The Project

AI Maturity and Automation Enablement

Overview

First United Bank partnered with Improving to elevate the maturity of its software development lifecycle (SDLC) teams in leveraging AI for automation. The engagement focused on aligning teams with best practices, improving efficiency, and reducing AI token usage costs. Through a structured deep learning program, the initiative combined hands-on engineering support with targeted training sessions. This approach enabled the bank to significantly enhance automation capabilities, streamline processes, and achieve measurable time and cost savings across critical workflows.

Business Problem

First United Bank lacked alignment among its SDLC teams in terms of AI maturity and usage. Many processes that could have been automated were manual, leading to inefficiencies and high operational costs. Additionally, the limited and inconsistent application of AI introduced security concerns and excessive spending on AI tokens. These challenges hindered the bank’s ability to fully leverage AI for innovation and operational excellence, creating a need for a structured approach to raise team capabilities and standardize AI practices.

Our Approach

Improving implemented the Deep Learning Program (DLP), designed to embed AI expertise within the client’s teams. Included was a full-time on-site engineer for 3 months and biweekly training sessions led by an AI trainer. Combining immersive coaching and structured learning ensured practical application & conceptual understanding. The DLP emphasized evaluation-driven development, prompt engineering best practices, and integrating advanced AI tools for sustainable automation capabilities. Collaboration & adaptability were central to the project, ensuring solutions were tailored to the client’s unique environment.

Business Benefits

• Increased AI maturity Raised team maturity levels by ~80%, enabling broader and more effective use of AI automation.

• Significant time savings Reduced the process of converting ideas to user stories from 70 hours to 11 hours through automation.

• Cost reduction One migration project saved an estimated $40,000 by reducing a six-week effort to one week using AI-driven planning and execution.

• Improved operational efficiency Automated chains streamlined build-to-deployment processes, accelerating delivery of story points and reducing manual effort.

Technologies & Methodologies Used

• GitHub Copilot Integrated within VS Code and CLI to assist with AI-driven coding and automation.

• Prompt engineering best practices Applied RTCC method and evaluation-driven development to ensure quality and alignment of AI outputs.

• Bounded agent with automated skill chains Implemented to oversee automation processes and maintain reliability through agent hooks and evaluations.

Partnerships

The engagement was a close collaboration between Improving and First United Bank’s SDLC teams. The partnership emphasized trust, transparency, and shared learning, with Improving providing embedded expertise and structured training. This collaborative model ensured solutions were co-created and aligned with the client’s operational goals, fostering long-term capability building and sustainable adoption of AI practices.

Conclusion

Improving delivered transformative results by elevating AI maturity & embedding automation into critical workflows. Combining strategic guidance, hands-on engineering, & targeted training led to efficiency gains & cost savings. The DLP showed the power of aligning people, processes, & technology for innovation. Improving’s approach addressed immediate challenges and equipped the client with sustainable capabilities for future growth.