To save money, you have to spend less than you earn. Simple enough, right? The truth is that it’s easier said than done. Saving money takes discipline, especially when you’re fresh out of college. No more classes and no more homework, but there are bills to pay and plenty of opportunities to spend your hard-earned money now that you’ve entered “the real world.” 5 money-saving tips for college graduates To save money, you have to spend less than you earn. Simple enough, right? The truth is that it’s easier said than done. Saving money takes discipline, especially when you’re fresh out of college. No more classes and no more homework, but there are bills to pay and plenty of opportunities to spend your hard-earned money now that you’ve entered “the real world.” To save money, you have to spend less than you earn. Simple enough, right? The truth is that it’s easier said than done. Saving money takes discipline, especially when you’re fresh out of college. No more classes and no more homework, but there are bills to pay and plenty of opportunities to spend your hard-earned money now that you’ve entered “the real world.” Here are five simple tips for how to stay on top of your savings after you graduate college. Start with a simple budget You can certainly keep a running list of expenses and then add it up at the end of the month to see if you spent less than you earned, but making a budget might be more helpful. Consider the 50/30/20 approach to budgeting. Set aside 50% of your budget for your “needs” like rent, utilities, and groceries, 30% for your “wants” like road trips, tickets to concerts, and pizza on Friday nights, and the last 20% for savings. The idea is to figure out how much you have to spend on what you need, so that you know how much you can afford to spend on what you want. Make your student loan payments According to the most recent statistics, about 45 million Americans have student loan debt. If you’re one of them, the sooner you start making payments, the better off you’ll be. Most student loans have a six-month grace period after graduation, but you’ll save on interest if you can start paying off that debt sooner. Most importantly, make sure you are making your payments on time. If you have federal student loans and are struggling to make payments, it might be worth considering applying for an income-driven repayment plan. Work on building your credit Need another reason to make your student loan payments? Well, aside from the fact that that debt isn’t going anywhere unless you start paying it off, making payments helps build your credit. It’s an opportunity to show lenders that you are a responsible borrower, improving your chances of being approved for a mortgage or a car loan. You should also explore other ways to build your credit, like applying for a credit card. Just remember to spend responsibly! Keep enough in your savings for emergencies Not all savings is for retirement. And considering you’re a recent college graduate, it’s safe to say retirement is probably not in your immediate future. Savings at your age is about creating breathing room, because a budget will only get you so far before an unexpected expense wrecks your budget. You can start by aiming to save at least 20% of your paycheck and setting it aside in a high-yield savings account. Consider that your emergency fund. If you can reach the point where you have at least $500 set aside for emergencies, you’ll have a great start. Understand the basics of investing The next best thing to saving your money is investing it. Now before you start dreaming about trading on Wall Street, there are simpler ways to invest than buying individual stocks. You can invest your income in a retirement account like a 401(k) or IRA, allowing your money to grow over time due to compound interest. Retirement may be in your distant future, but your future self will almost certainly be thankful you invested as early as you did. If you are interested in learning more about how you can start saving post-graduation, please get in touch with us . The learning never stops, even after college! Previous Item Next Item

Vibrant's core values aren't just words on a poster in some conference room. They actually reflect the way we do business each day. Our values make us Vibrant We didn’t set out to write a manifesto about our organizational values. We just wanted to answer a simple question: Why do some people thrive at Vibrant, while others (equally qualified on paper!) don’t? The more we talked with the people who’d been here the longest or risen the fastest, however, the more we noticed a few qualities we all share. If you share them, too, let’s talk. Apply now They're in our core. We own every opportunity. In other words, we think a job description is just a starting point. When we see a member who needs help or a stressed-out coworker, we step in. When we see a better way to accomplish something, we try it out. If it works, we tell other people about it. We are open, honest, and authentic. We’re not afraid to speak up when we have a different opinion, and we don’t take it personally when we’re challenged. We try to be honest with each other when we disagree. Because those differences of opinion make us stronger. We are swift and relentless in the pursuit of greatness. Here’s what that looks like in action. After the Payroll Protection Program launched, our bankers worked through the weekend, fuelled by pizza deliveries and coffee, to respond to all the businesses who turned to us for help. We eventually processed more than $200 million in loans and helped save more than 21,000 jobs. We bring contagious energy. When you’re excited about the work you do, other people can't help but get a little excited themselves. That doesn’t mean you have to be an extrovert to work here. You just have to care about getting things right. We think, speak, and act for the collective good. We are mindful of all the stakeholders affected by our decisions, from our members and our communities to our colleagues and ourselves. FAQ

Find your account number To find your account number, you have a few different options: Refer to your Member Service Agreement that was sent to you via email shortly after your account was opened via DocuSign Grab a check and check out the two strings of numbers at the bottom. The first number starting with 2711..is our routing number. The second is your account number. Send us a secure message through online banking. Previous Item Next Item

Update your password Before you go to the trouble of resetting your password, a reminder about your current password. It must contain:At least 10 characters At least 1 lowercase letter At least 1 uppercase letter At least 1 number At least 1 special character (!@"#$%&+;<=>?[]{}-_) Didn’t help? Okay, time to reset your password . Read and accept the disclosure. On the next screen, choose the “Reset my password” option. To verify your identity, you will need to provide your user name , Social Security number, and date of birth. Choose whether you want to have the password reset link sent to your email or texted to you via SMS. Enter the six-digit verification code. You will be prompted to enter a new password. Your new password must: Your password must include:At least 10 characters At least 1 lowercase letter At least 1 uppercase letter At least 1 number At least 1 special character (!@"#$%&+;<=>?[]{}-_) Previous Item Next Item

Learn how my interest is calculated Premier Checking: Interest dividends are paid monthly on your average daily balance for the month. So if you have an average daily balance of $100, you'll earn approximately 31 cents in interest at the end of the month. Interest dividends are paid to your account at the end of every month. On our Savings Accounts , interest dividends are paid monthly on your average daily balance for the month. So if you have an average daily balance of, say, $104.35 in a Preferred Savings account, you'll earn 4.00% APY on that amount. Previous Item Next Item

Any business is only as good as their relationships. Not only with their customers, but also with their financial institution. Whether you’re an established company or a start-up, finding the right financial partner is a key step in growing and maintaining your business. 5 reasons to take your business banking to a credit union Any business is only as good as their relationships. Not only with their customers, but also with their financial institution. Whether you’re an established company or a start-up, finding the right financial partner is a key step in growing and maintaining your business. Any business is only as good as their relationships. Not only with their customers, but also with their financial institution. Whether you’re an established company or a start-up, finding the right financial partner is a key step in growing and maintaining your business. And if you’ve already picked a partner, it might be worth taking a closer look at that relationship, especially if it’s a bank. You might not know what benefits a credit union can offer your business. Serve all of your business banking needs If you’ve been fed the myth that credit unions offer fewer business banking services than banks, we have news for you. Whatever your needs are as a new or established business, a credit union is well equipped to handle them, from lending and checking to credit and investments. Credit unions might often have a small town feel, but they’re built to support big businesses. Credit unions are member-owned The key difference between a credit union and a bank is not their banking services. It can actually be boiled down to one word: profit. Banks are for-profit and their profits go to their shareholders. Credit unions are not-for-profit and member-owned. You might notice the difference in the rates for business loans and business lines of credit. Banks usually charge higher rates than credit unions. Credit unions are also able to offer higher yield on savings accounts. It’s their way of returning their profits back to their members. Credit union fees are designed to benefit members If you long for the days without having to pay annual credit card fees and monthly checking fees, bank with a credit union. As a not-for-profit organization, it means they have less incentive to charge their account holders with a laundry list of extra fees. In fact, Vibrant Credit Union actually charges no fees for all business accounts. If you’re a business owner, imagine how much you could save without having to pay transaction fees. Account accessibility is not a problem There’s a school of thought that bigger banks have bigger wallets to afford better technology. But even if there might have been a technology gap at one point between banks and credit unions, that gap has long since been closed. Credit unions are not blind to the fact that business owners need to be able to bank from anywhere these days. That’s why they’ve stepped up their game in terms of online and mobile banking services. So even if you’re not near one of their branches, you can still access your account, transfer funds, make remote deposits, and more. Partner with a lender that is relationship-focused and community-driven The best professional partnerships are built on personal trust. Because credit unions answer only to their members, that is where their focus lies. They want to build long-term relationships. There’s also a good chance that your average credit union has greater ties to the local community than a national brand bank. You may see them sponsoring events that benefit the local community, or making donations and offering scholarships. If you’re interested in learning more about what a credit union can do for your business, please get in touch with us . Previous Item Next Item

And how to know when you can keep scrolling How to Know When a Financial Tip Online Actually Applies to You And how to know when you can keep scrolling Scroll any social feed long enough and you’ll see it: “Everyone should be doing this with their savings.” “If you’re not using this account, you’re leaving money on the table.” “This one move changed my finances forever.” Some of it is solid advice. Some of it isn’t wrong, exactly. It’s just not right for you . And that’s the part that doesn’t get enough airtime. Because here’s the truth: good financial advice is rarely one ‑size ‑fits ‑all (even when it’s trending). If you’ve ever wondered whether a money tip you saw online actually applies to your life (or whether you can safely ignore it), you’re not behind. You’re paying attention . And that’s a good place to start. Why So Much Financial Advice Feels Urgent (and Generic) A lot of online financial content is designed to do one thing: catch attention fast. That leads to advice that’s extremely simplified, framed as universally applicable, and delivered with a sense of urgency (“Do this now!”). The problem? Personal finances are, well… personal. Your income, goals, risk tolerance, timeline, and comfort with technology all matter. Advice that works beautifully for someone in their 20s with flexible expenses may be totally unhelpful (or even stressful) for someone with a different setup. Urgency gets clicks. Context gets results. Unfortunately, context doesn’t always fit neatly into a reel. A Simple Rule of Thumb Before You Take Any Financial Advice Before acting on a tip, ask yourself this one question: “What assumptions is this advice making about my life?” You’d be surprised how quickly things become clear when you slow it down. A lot of financial advice quietly assumes things like: Your income looks the same month to month Moving money requires effort or delay You have to choose between access and growth Money should sit still to work effectively None of those assumptions are good or bad. They’re just assumptions. If advice only works when life is predictable, money is hard to move, or access comes at the expense of earning, it may need adjusting (or skipping altogether). The best guidance fits how you already live —not how someone else says you should. Signs a Financial Tip Might Actually Be Helpful Not all online advice is noise. Some of it is genuinely useful (especially when it checks these boxes): It explains why , not just what It allows for tradeoffs It gives options , not ultimatums Good advice respects context (and the fact that real lives are rarely perfectly optimized). Signs You Can Probably Scroll Past It’s okay to let go of advice that sounds like: “Everyone should be doing this” “If you don’t have this, you’re behind” “This works for anyone, no matter what” Financial confidence doesn’t come from copying someone else’s setup. It comes from understanding your own. How to Personalize General Advice (Without Overthinking It) If a tip seems interesting but not obviously relevant, you don’t have to accept or reject it outright. Try this instead: Match it to your goal (growth, stability, convenience, or security) Check the timeline (short‑term flexibility or long‑term payoff) Consider how hands ‑on it requires you to be If it doesn’t fit your life right now, that’s useful information, too. Why It’s Okay to Ignore “Popular” Financial Advice There’s a lot of pressure online to optimize every dollar, every account, every decision. The implication is that standing still is falling behind. But here’s something worth saying out loud: The best financial setup is the one you can actually live with. It’s okay if: You prefer simplicity over constant optimization You value access as much as growth You choose fewer tools instead of more Confidence grows when your system works for you (not when it looks impressive on the internet). One Last Thought Financial advice is a tool, not a test. You don’t earn points for following it perfectly, and you don’t fall behind by choosing differently. The goal isn’t to do what everyone else is doing. It’s to make decisions that support your life, your priorities, and your peace of mind. If a tip helps with that? Great. If not? Keep scrolling. That’s not apathy, it’s judgment. Previous Item Next Item

Schedule an appointment online to meet with a Vibrant banker at Vibrant HQ to open a new account, get a financial review, or make changes to your existing account. Add a signer to your account Need to add a signer to an existing Vibrant deposit account? Schedule an appointment at Vibrant HQ to complete the paperwork. Schedule an appointment > Get a personal financial review Get personalized advice on which Vibrant products are right for you. Talk one-on-one with a personal banker at Vibrant HQ. Choose the date and time that work best for you! Get a financial review > Open a Certificate of Deposit (CD) Schedule an in-person meeting at Vibrant HQ with a personal banker. Choose the date or time that works best for you! Schedule a meeting > Schedule an appointment with a banker Trying to decide what product is right for you? Schedule time to talk with a Vibrant Personal Banker. Open a checking or savings account Meet one-on-one with a Vibrant banker to open a new checking or savings account at a time that works for you. Open an account > Open a Certificate of Deposit (CD) Set up time to open a CD with a Vibrant banker at our Vibrant HQ location. Choose the date or time that works best for you! Open a CD > Open an account for a minor Schedule an in-person meeting with a member of our team to open a new savings or checking account for a minor. Open a minor account > Add a specialty account (Trust, IRA, HSA, POA) Book time to meet with a member of our team for assistance with specialty accounts including Trusts, IRAs, HSAs, and Power of Attorney (POA) accounts. Get started > Financial wellness check‑in Meet with a member of our team to talk through your financial needs and explore products and services that may be a good fit for you. Book a meeting > Add a signer to your account Need to add a signer to an existing Vibrant deposit account? Schedule an appointment at Vibrant HQ to complete the paperwork. Get started > Decedent account services Meet with a member of our team for assistance with handling a deceased member’s account and related banking needs. Schedule a time >

Enable second-factor authentication (2FA) When you use 2FA, you’ll automatically receive a verification code via text or email when you try to log in to your Vibrant account. Before you can access your information, you’ll have to enter that code into your smartphone or browser. 2FA verification codes are set to expire within 10 minutes, and they change every time you request one by logging in. Step 1: Log in to your Vibrant account. Log in from your browser or use the Vibrant mobile app (available for Apple or Android ). Step 2: Access your security settings. For mobile app users Select MORE from the options listed across the bottom of the screen. Select FULL SITE. Select TOOLS. Select SETTINGS. Select SECURITY. Go to the section labeled TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION. Toggle the switch to the right from OFF to ON. Choose the channels through which you prefer to receive your verification code (text, email, voice call). For browser users Select TOOLS. Select SETTINGS. Select SECURITY. Go to the section labeled TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION. Toggle the switch to the right from OFF to ON. Choose where you want Vibrant to send your verification code (text, email, voice call). Previous Item Next Item

Add external accounts instantly Add your checking or savings account with an external financial institution to your Vibrant dashboard in a matter of minutes with our new upgrade. Scroll below to check out the desktop and mobile directions. Note: The names on the accounts you're linking must match. On Your Phone Sign in to your mobile app . Click the Transfers widget.Note: The tab bar on iOS devices may display differently on your settings. Additional widgets will display by clicking the More widget. Tap the Add Account option. Tap the External Account tab at the top. Select the Add account instantly option. Select from one of the financial institutions listed or search for yours in the search bar below the list. Log in to the external financial institution's account. Select one or more accounts to add for transfers and click the Submit button. The Verify screen will display. Click the Continue button. Once the accounts are verified, they will immediately be made available. Hitting an error message? Don't worry; you can still add your account manually ! On Your Computer Sign in to online banking. Not enrolled yet? Click here . Navigate to the Transfers widget here . Note: The widget menu may display differently based on your settings. Additional widgets will display by clicking the More... widget. Click the Classic tab on the top. Click Add an account to make a transfer link. The Add an Account window will display. Click Add an account instantly. Select from one of the financial institutions listed, or search for yours in the search bar below the list. Log in to the external financial institution's account. The Verify screen will display. Click the Continue button. Once the accounts are verified, they will immediately be made available. Hitting an error message? Don't worry; you can still add your account manually ! Previous Item Next Item

Detect potential scams Want to make sure your Vibrant accounts stay safe? We've put together some helpful tips for helping you recognize fraud attempts before it's too late. Unsolicited: If a person, business, or organization you don't have an existing relationship with asks you for money or personal information, be on guard. Make sure they are who they say they are. Unexpected: If you’re contacted out of the blue by an organization you DO have a relationship with, don’t respond directly. Instead, contact the organization via their publicly available phone number or email address so you can verify it's a legit request. Urgent: Scammers know the more time you have to think, the more questions you’ll ask. Even in a genuine emergency, no one will ask you to disclose personal or financial information before you do anything else. Watch out for spoof calls and text messages Your Caller ID may tell you Vibrant is calling, but it could be a scammer. If a caller asks you to provide any of the information below, this could be an attempt to access your personal account. Say nothing and hang up! Anything more than the last 4 digits of your debit or credit card Any security or verification code you receive via text or email Your account or routing number Your complete Social Security Number Your account password Your PIN Does Vibrant ever verify my identity by texting or emailing me a code? If you’ve set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account—and we highly recommend it—you will receive a code via text or email when you try to log in to verify it’s really you. While you'll need to enter that code on your browser or mobile app to complete your login, Vibrant will never ask you to tell us what the code is. Can a scammer access my account even I don't tell them my password? Unfortunately, yes. Scammers may find your login information through a data breach, on the dark web, or through other phishing tactics. Two-factor authentication (2FA) offers additional protection, but it's not foolproof. A common scam is to try bypass 2FA by pretending to be a legitimate caller who wants to verify your identity by sending you a security code, which they'll ask you to read back to them. If you tell them the code, unfortunately, they can use it to log in from their device How do I set up my two-factor authentication on my account? Log in to your account and go to Settings, then choose the Security tab. Toggle the on/off switch next to Two-Factor Authentication to ON to require a second security code via email, text, or voice call (you'll have the option to choose the method that works best for you any time you log in). What if a caller tells me I owe money and they need immediate payment? Legitimate organizations, including the IRS, your local tax assessor, or your financial institution, will never ask you to provide payment via a gift card, prepaid debit card, or wire transfer. If you get a a call demanding immediate payment and they want you to use one of these payment methods, it's a scam. In addition, a legitimate caller will never threaten to alert law enforcement, immigration officials, or other authorities to collect a debt. What should I do if I think I may have been scammed? Contact us immediately to report the incident. We’ll place a fraud alert on your account and help you reset your login information. (And no, we won't ask you to tell us your new password.) Previous Item Next Item

The new foundation deepens our mission to bring more good into the communities we love. Vibrant Credit Union launches the Be The Good Foundation The new foundation deepens our mission to bring more good into the communities we love. Moline, IL — January 13, 2026 Vibrant Credit Union announced the official launch of the Be The Good Foundation , a philanthropic initiative designed to power more kindness, more opportunity, and more “good stuff” in communities across the Midwest. For years, Vibrant has believed that doing good shouldn’t be a side project — it should be part of who we are. The Be The Good Foundation brings that belief to life, supporting organizations that are building brighter futures through financial literacy, youth development, and community enrichment. “Good doesn’t happen by accident,” said Tiffany Haedt, President of the Be The Good Foundation. “It happens when people roll up their sleeves, show up for each other, and decide that doing the right thing is worth the effort. This foundation lets us invest in the people and nonprofits already making that kind of magic happen.” The Foundation’s focus areas reflect Vibrant’s long-standing belief that thriving communities start with strong building blocks: Financial Literacy: Because understanding money is a superpower everyone deserves. Youth Development: Preparing the next generation of leaders, creators, helpers, and big thinkers. Community Enrichment: Supporting programs that make our neighborhoods feel safer, healthier, and more connected. Guided by values like optimism, integrity, joy, and compassion, the Foundation chooses projects that don’t just sound good on paper — they make a real difference. “We’re here for the changemakers,” said Megan Anderson, Vice President. “The people who get up every day and do the work. If we can fuel that, we’ll gladly bring the spark.” The Foundation is led by a volunteer Board of Directors — Matt McCombs, Amy Henderson, Marsha Wolff, Nick Tarpein, and Trista Beise — who believe in transparency, responsibility, and the power of small actions that become big outcomes. Nonprofits can now submit grant proposals. Application materials, eligibility details, and FAQs are available at: VibrantCreditUnion.org/BeTheGood “Communities thrive when people lift each other up,” said Marsha Wolff, Secretary/Treasurer. “The Be The Good Foundation is here to help that lift go farther.” About the Be The Good Foundation Be The Good Foundation, founded by Vibrant Credit Union, supports programs that expand financial literacy, empower young people with life and career skills, and strengthens communities. The foundation operates with a simple belief: when you put more good into the world, the world responds in kind. About Vibrant Credit Union Founded in 1935, Vibrant Credit Union is a federally insured credit union built on strong roots and a forward-looking mindset. Vibrant delivers competitive deposit rates, intuitive digital banking, and fast, flexible money movement designed to make everyday finances easier. Beyond products, Vibrant is deeply committed to giving back — supporting nonprofits, strengthening communities, and championing its call to Be The Good through meaningful partnerships and measurable impact. Because great financial tools matter, but what you do with them matters even more. Previous Item Next Item