AI at Work: Are Your Employees Using It — and Are You Ready for the Risks?

The digital landscape is changing faster than ever — and your employees are already adapting. From generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini to browser-based automations and free data analyzers, today’s workforce has access to a growing universe of public AI platforms. These tools promise efficiency and productivity boosts — but they also introduce real and immediate risks for financial institutions, especially community banks and credit unions.

The big question is: Do you know if — and how — your employees are using AI at work?

If the answer is no, or even “we’re not sure,” it’s time to get proactive.

The reality: AI is already in use inside your institution

Whether it’s summarizing loan policies, drafting customer emails, brainstorming marketing content, or analyzing spreadsheets, employees are turning to AI for help. Most of the time, it’s well-intentioned — an effort to work more efficiently — not malicious behavior. But even good intentions can expose sensitive data, customer information, or internal strategies if proper controls aren’t in place.

The risks: Productivity can’t come at the cost of privacy

Here’s where the cybersecurity concern becomes real:

• Data leakage — Employees may inadvertently paste customer personal identifiable information or sensitive internal documents into a public AI tool. Once submitted, that data may be stored and used to train future models.
• Shadow AI use — Without oversight, you can't know what tools are being used, what data is being shared, or what policies are being ignored.
• Compliance gaps — Regulators are increasingly interested in how financial institutions govern AI usage. Inaction may soon carry compliance consequences.
• Inconsistent controls — If you haven’t updated endpoint protections, data loss prevention (DLP) settings, or blocked mass storage access, you’re likely vulnerable to data exfiltration — whether intentional or not.

Implement cyber-first policy and controls

Community banks and credit unions don’t need to ban AI — but they do need to govern it. That means bringing cybersecurity, risk, HR, and business leaders together to build a thoughtful framework.

Start with these steps:

• Conduct an AI use assessment
  • Survey teams to understand if and how they’re using AI tools.
  • Inventory known AI platforms and track browser-based use.
  • Identify potential data exposure risks.
• Update your acceptable use policy
  • Define what constitutes acceptable AI use on company systems.
  • Provide examples of dos and don’ts tailored to your operations.
• Create a clear AI use policy
  • Outline approved tools (if any), guidance for responsible use, and what data is never allowed in external AI systems.
  • Tie use expectations to existing compliance, cybersecurity, and privacy frameworks.
• Strengthen endpoint controls
  • Implement DLP tools to monitor and restrict risky data movement.
  • Disable mass storage device access on company devices to prevent unauthorized data exports.
  • Monitor clipboard activity and network traffic for AI-related patterns.
• Educate and train your workforce
  • Your team is your first line of defense. Make sure they know the risks—and the rules.
  • Create use-case-specific training, and update it regularly as new tools and threats emerge.

How CLA can help with AI assessment for financial institutions

At CLA, we understand the pressure financial institutions face to balance innovation with security, especially in an evolving regulatory environment. That’s why we work closely with community banks and credit unions to help them proactively assess risk, modernize digital infrastructure, and develop AI governance strategies rooted in strong cybersecurity and data privacy principles.

Through our GoDigital for Financial Services approach, we help institutions:

• Assess current risk posture related to AI and digital tool usage
• Identify shadow IT and data exposure risks that may be flying under the radar
• Design and implement policies for AI usage, data governance, and endpoint protection
• Create a roadmap for responsible AI adoption supporting operational efficiency, growth, and customer trust
• Modernize tech stacks in ways that reduce costs, automate compliance, and mitigate fraud and cyber threats

We believe digital tools — including AI — should be viewed as strategic enablers, not cost centers. With the right guardrails, your institution can harness their power while protecting what matters most: your customers, your reputation, and your regulatory standing.

Ready to get ahead of the risk?

The question is no longer if AI is being used inside your organization — it’s how well you understand it, govern it, and secure it. Let CLA help you take the next step with confidence. Learn more about how CLA helps financial institutions GoDigital.