Read our privacy policy to see how Vibrant protects your personal information and how to restrict access to yours. Our Privacy Notice Vibrant Credit Union | P.O. Box 1550, Moline, IL, 61266-1550 | 800-323-5109 Revised October 2025 To opt out, click here . Download a PDF of our privacy policy. FACTS What does Vibrant do? How? All financial companies need to share members' personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their members' personal information; the reasons Vibrant Credit Union chooses to share, and whether you can limit this sharing. What? The types of personal information we collect and share depend upon the accounts, products, and services you have with us. This information can include: Name, address, Social Security Number, and income Account balances and payment history Credit history and credit scores Why? Financial companies choose how they use your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

Did you know that it only takes a deposit of $5 to start a savings account at Vibrant? Go ahead and pluck that five dollar bill out of your wallet, where it’s more likely to end up spent than saved. By putting it in a savings account for safe keeping, you’re planting a seed. How quickly that seed sprouts and grows into a beautiful flower depends on where you’ve planted it. Tips for choosing a savings account Did you know that it only takes a deposit of $5 to start a savings account at Vibrant? Go ahead and pluck that five dollar bill out of your wallet, where it’s more likely to end up spent than saved. By putting it in a savings account for safe keeping, you’re planting a seed. How quickly that seed sprouts and grows into a beautiful flower depends on where you’ve planted it. Did you know that it only takes a deposit of $5 to start a savings account at Vibrant? Go ahead and pluck that five dollar bill out of your wallet, where it’s more likely to end up spent than saved. By putting it in a savings account for safe keeping, you’re planting a seed. How quickly that seed sprouts and grows into a beautiful flower depends on where you’ve planted it. To help you find the best place to grow your savings, here are four tips for choosing a savings account that is going to turn your five dollar bill into so much more. Aim high for your interest rate Opening a savings account is about growing your money, and how quickly that money grows will depend on the interest rate . The higher the interest rate, the more you’ll earn from your deposit. Most lenders will offer a basic savings account with interest rates as low as .01%, but keep an eye out for high-interest savings accounts that could help you earn more at a faster rate. Pay attention to minimum balance requirements Behind every savings account are a set of terms and conditions. You might be tempted to skim them, but do yourself a favor and give them a read. Different lenders will have different minimum deposit requirements, ranging from $1 to $10,000. You might also be expected to maintain a minimum balance to earn interest. There could even be fees for dropping below the minimum required balance. Always take the time to read the terms and conditions. Shop local for the best rates No two savings accounts are the same. Different financial institutions are going to offer different types of savings accounts with different interest rates, fees, and minimum balances. It’s up to you to look around and find the best savings account for you, and the best place to start is your local credit union or community bank. Because they’re nonprofit and member-owned , credit unions generally offer higher interest rates than banks, so be sure to give them a look. Ask about mobile banking Having a brick-and-mortar location close by is convenient, but in this day and age, most people expect to be able to handle the bulk of their financial transactions through their phone. You should be able to manage your savings account from anywhere, so be sure to ask about online and mobile banking services when kicking the tires on different financial institutions. If you’re interested in opening a savings account, get in touch with us ! Previous Item Next Item

Get help managing your financial portfolio from Vibrant's own certified financial advisers. Make an appointment today. You can become a Vibrant member no matter where you work or live* We welcome all U.S. citizens and permanent residents. To get started, choose the category that describes you I'm already a member Hey there! Because you're already a member, you don't need to go through all the red tape to open an additional account. See for yourself how easy it is! Get started I live or work in Iowa Do you live in or work for a business in one of these eligible Iowa counties ? You automatically qualify for membership. Open an account I live or work in Illinois Do you live in or work for a business in one of these eligible Illinois counties ? You automatically qualify for membership. Open an account I live or work in Wisconsin Do you live in or work for a business in Grant , Green , or Lafayette County ? If so, you automatically qualify for membership. Open an account I want to be a part of the Be The Good Foundation. Become a Friend of Vibrant’s Be The Good Foundation. We’ll make a $5 donation on your behalf to support financial literacy, youth life skills, and strengthen communities through grants, volunteers, and partnerships. Open an account I live or work in Indiana Do you live in or work for a business in Fountain , Vermillion , or Warren County ? You're welcome to join. Open an account I'm a member of an association that Vibrant partners with Are you a member of one of these eligible associations ? Not sure if this applies to you? Get in touch and we'll check to see if you qualify! Open an account I want to join the Illinois Consumer Council The Illinois Consumer Council (ILCC) is a nonprofit member organization dedicated to consumer advocacy, financial education, and championing the rights of all consumers—and its members are automatically qualified for Vibrant membership, too. Open an account I'm not sure! Help! There are other ways to qualify for membership. Contact us at 1-800-323-5109 to discuss your eligibility or apply for membership online. Get started * Pursuant to Vibrant’s current eligibility requirements, which may include Field of Membership and internal policies.

TPC Community Business Disclaimer Giveaway Overview: Individuals who attend a community banking meeting (in person or virtual) are eligible to receive up to four (4) TPC Deere Run golf passes per person, while supplies last. Schedule your meeting here . Participants may also qualify by referring a friend. Once the referred individual completes their meeting, both the referrer and the referee will be eligible to receive two (2) golf passes each. Submit your referral here . By providing your email address, you consent to receive marketing communications. Unsubscribe at any time. OFFICIAL RULES FOR GIVEAWAYS OR DRAWINGS NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  The Giveaway (“Giveaway or Drawing”) is sponsored by Vibrant Credit Union. (“Vibrant” or “Credit Union”). Each Giveaway is governed by these Official Rules (“Official Rules”). By participating in a Giveaway, each entrant agrees to abide by these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements, and understands that the Giveaway results, as determined by Vibrant and its agents or representatives, are final in all respects. The Giveaway is subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with any social media platform such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc. Any questions, comments, or complaints regarding any promotion should be directed to Vibrant, not to the social media platform. ELIGIBILITY The Giveaway offer is limited to U.S. residents aged eighteen (18) years of age or older. Vibrant, Board of Directors, Committee members, and all immediate family members are ineligible to participate in the Giveaway. Vibrant has the right to verify the eligibility of each entrant and, in its sole discretion, disqualify any individual from participating in the Giveaway. The Giveaway is void where prohibited. The Giveaway and these Official Rules will be governed, construed, and interpreted in accordance with Illinois law and any applicable federal law. GIVEAWAY PERIOD The Giveaway begins and ends on the dates specified in the Guidelines for the particular promotion. All entries or submissions must be received on or before the time stated. Vibrant reserves the right to extend or shorten the Giveaway at their sole discretion. HOW TO ENTER Entrants must follow all required rules of entry to participate in the Giveaway. For social media specific Giveaways, rules may include “Liking” a post on Vibrant’s corresponding social media or commenting on a Timeline as instructed. No post or tag etc., on a personal timeline will be considered. After complying with the instructions and submitting the required information, the entrant will automatically be entered to win. You may enter as many times as you wish unless specifically prohibited by in the Guidelines for the particular promotion. By entering, the entrant agrees to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Vibrant. WINNER SELECTION All eligible entries received during the Giveaway Period will be gathered into a database at the end of the Giveaway Period. A certain number of winners will be chosen at random by Vibrant with the number notated on the Credit Union’s corresponding Guidelines to the specific promotion. Some Giveaways may have as few as one (1) winner but may have more than one as announced. The winner(s) will be announced after the Giveaway Period ends. Announcements and instructions for prize collection will be sent via a posting on Vibrant’s social media and/or by other means in Vibrant’s discretion. The prize or prizes shall be selected at the discretion of Vibrant and will be notated on the Credit Union’s social media with other applicable information. Each entrant is responsible for monitoring Vibrant’s social media for posts regarding prize notification and receipt or other communications related to the Giveaway or as specifically stated in the Guidelines. Vibrant may at its discretion contact winners using email, social media messaging or by comment on a Post. Potential winners must pick up their prize within ten (10) business days of the Winner Announcement, otherwise they forfeit the prize and such will be awarded to another randomly selected eligible winner. SOCIAL MEDIA GIVEAWAYS AND DRAWINGS The number of Giveaways, prizes, and winners is at the discretion of Vibrant. Specific details relevant to a particular Giveaway are posted on Vibrant’s social media and by other means at Vibrant’s discretion. PRIZES, TAXES AND LIMITATIONS Prizes may consist of tickets for entry to a local venue or include gift cards or other items announced by Vibrant. Terms and conditions may apply. Incidental expenses and all additional costs and expenses that are not explicitly listed as part of a prize in these Official Rules and may be associated with the award, acceptance, receipt, and use of all or any portion of the awarded prize are solely the responsibility of the respective prize winner. All federal, state, and local taxes associated with the receipt or use of any prize are solely the winner's responsibility. Vibrant will not be responsible for reporting any winnings to the IRS. Odds of winning depend on the total number of entries received. ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS Prize(s) is non-transferable. No substitution or cash equivalent of prizes is permitted. Vibrant, its agents, and representatives are not responsible for any typographical or other errors in the o giveaway ffer or administration of the Giveaway including, but not limited to, errors in any printing or posting or these Official Rules, Guidelines, the selection and announcement of any winner, or the distribution of any prize. Any attempt to damage the content or operation of this Giveaway is unlawful and subject to possible legal action by Vibrant. Vibrant reserves the right to terminate, suspend or amend the Giveaway, without notice, and for any reason, including, without limitation, if Vibrant determines that the Giveaway cannot be conducted as planned or should a virus, bug, tampering or unauthorized intervention, technical failure or other cause beyond Vibrant’s control corrupt the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper play of the Giveaway. If any tampering or unauthorized intervention may have occurred, Vibrant reserves the right to void suspect entries at issue. Vibrant and its agents, and representatives, and any telephone network or service providers, are not responsible for inaccurate transcription of entry information or for any human error, technical malfunction, lost or delayed data transmission, omission, interruption, deletion, line failure, or malfunction of any telephone network, computer equipment or software, the inability to access any website or online service or any other error, human or otherwise. INDEMNIFICATION, LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND USE OF PLATFORM By entering the Giveaway, each entrant agrees to indemnify, release and hold harmless Vibrant and its agents and representatives, social media platforms, administrator(s), advertising and promotional agencies, and all their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, and agents from any liability, damages, losses or injury resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from that entrant’s participation in the Giveaway and the acceptance, use or misuse of any prize that may be won waiving any and all causes of action related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of, or in connection with, directly or indirectly, the Giveaway, drawing, prize, acceptance, possession, use of, or inability to use any prize (including) without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity, privacy or defamation, whether intentional or unintentional) whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty, or other theory. Vibrant does not collect users’ content or information, or otherwise access social media platforms, using automated means (such as harvesting bots and robots) or deploy the use of an automated system to generate invites, etc. Vibrant does use Social Media platforms for the promotion of commercial business, interaction with customers and potential customers alike as a means to promote its commercial enterprise. If a subject prize is within the control of a third party, or if the prize consists of the obligation of a third party to perform (e.g., without limitation, a coupon, a gift card from a retailer, or a ticket to an event), then Vibrant assigns all rights to performance and all entitlement to the prize winner. However, Vibrant does not guarantee the third-party's performance. The prize winner agrees that Vibrant is not liable or responsible to the prize winner for the failure of the third party to perform. Vibrant and its agents and representatives do not make any warranties, express or implied, as to the prize's condition, fitness, or merchantability. Vibrant and its agents and representatives, advertising and promotional agencies, and all their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, and agents disclaim any liability for damage to any computer system resulting from access to or the download of information or materials connected with the Giveaway. Vibrant reserves the right to change these Official Rules at any time, without prior notice, and in its sole discretion to suspend or cancel the Giveaway or any entrant's participation in the Giveaway. RELEASE Upon the request of Vibrant, the potential winner will be required to return a Release and Prize Acceptance Form. The winner is responsible for all applicable state, federal and local taxes associated with the prize(s) if any. If a potential winner fails to comply with these Official Rules, that potential winner will be disqualified. Prizes may not be awarded if an insufficient number of eligible entries are received. All prizes are non-transferrable. PUBLICITY By participating, each entrant or winner grants Vibrant permission to use their name, likeness, photo, voice, image, statements, or comments for publicity purposes including web, television, and print without payment of additional consideration, further authorization, or notification; except where prohibited by law. NO ENDORSEMENT OR SPONSORSHIP Vibrant may obtain prizes by purchase or donation from third parties. Vibrant’s offering of a prize, or use of the logo of others to publicize the prizes, does not suggest the endorsement, sponsorship, affiliation, association, or authorization by the third-parties. ENFORCEABILITY If any portion of these Official Rules is determined to be unenforceable, it will not invalidate the other terms and provisions of these Official Rules. Any unenforced terms or conditions of these Official Rules will not constitute a waiver of any of the terms mentioned above, and all remaining terms and conditions of these Official Rule will remain in full force and effect. Only a written, signed amendment, agreement, waiver or like-kind construction will constitute a waiver of these Official Rules by Vibrant. ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO ENTER GIVEAWAYS For an alternative way to enter, email your first and last name along with your phone number to marketing@vibrantcu.org . QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Any questions or comments regarding this Giveaway should be directed to the Vibrant Marketing Department by phone at 1-800-323-5109. Orig. 04/2025 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

Find a dealership in Vibrant Credit Union’s trusted network to finance your new or used car with our competitive rates. Fast, easy, and convenient auto loans to get you on the road. Find a trusted dealership near you We’ve teamed up with dealerships across the region to make financing your next vehicle easier than ever. Visit a participating location, choose your car, and ask to finance with Vibrant to get great rates and fast approval—right on the spot. How it works How it works Visit a participating dealer (list coming soon) Choose your vehicle — new or used Finance through Vibrant directly at the dealership Drive away with confidence. Frequently asked questions How long does approval take? Approvals are almost instant. Once you complete the short application at the dealership, most financing decisions come back within minutes, so you can finalize your loan and drive away the same day. Can I manage my loan online? Yes — you can make payments, view your balance, and track your loan progress anytime through your Vibrant account or mobile app. Can I finance both new and used vehicles? Absolutely — financing is available for both new and pre-owned vehicles. Are the loan terms flexible? Yes. Terms vary based on vehicle age, mileage, loan amount to vehicle value and your credit history. Where can I find a participating dealer? We’re expanding our dealer network rapidly across Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. New dealerships are joining Vibrant every month, giving you more places to shop, finance, and drive away with ease. Check back soon for our up-to-date list of participating dealers — chances are, your favorite lot will be on it soon. Do I need to be a Vibrant member to finance my car? Yes — but becoming a member is easy. When you finance through a participating dealer, anyone can join. As part of the loan process, the dealer makes a $5 donation on your behalf to the Be the Good Foundation, so you automatically become a member while supporting community programs. Ready to get started? Click below to see if you qualify for GetMyCash. It’s quick, it’s secure, and it’s designed to work when life doesn’t. Apply now

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

Set up direct deposit You'll need to know your full checking account number and Vibrant's routing number (271183646) To find your account number, grab a check (your number is to the right of our routing number at the bottom) or your Member Service Agreement. To direct-deposit your paycheck: Contact your HR department or log in to your HR system to update your information. To direct-deposit other recurring payments, contact the brokerage or other entity that issues the payment for instructions. Confirm your changes and keep an eye out for your deposit. Previous Item Next Item

Opening a checking account is a big deal for a lot of people. Suddenly, you have a place to put your money besides your wallet, your piggy bank, or under your mattress. But what does a checking account mean for your credit? It may not be as important as you might think, but knowing what does and does not affect your credit score can be helpful as you start to build your credit history from scratch. Will a checking account affect your credit score? Opening a checking account is a big deal for a lot of people. Suddenly, you have a place to put your money besides your wallet, your piggy bank, or under your mattress. But what does a checking account mean for your credit? It may not be as important as you might think, but knowing what does and does not affect your credit score can be helpful as you start to build your credit history from scratch. Does opening a checking account affect my credit score? Even though opening a checking account is usually the first box you check when you first take steps into the financial world, the cold hard truth is that your credit score does not care. As far as your credit score is concerned, your deposits and withdrawals are your business. There are a handful of exceptions, though. The lender you open your account with may perform a hard inquiry on your credit report. To be clear, this isn’t the norm. Most financial institutions will only make a soft inquiry before opening a new checking account. Soft inquiries have no impact on your credit score, but a hard inquiry could drop your score a few points. Lenders have also been known to make hard inquiries if you sign up for overdraft protection. On that same note, not signing up for overdraft protection and then overdrawing your checking account could impact your credit score. Should you fail to repay the amount in a timely fashion, the lender could turn the matter over to a collections agency. The same thing could happen if you close your account with a negative balance and don’t pay the lender back. Long story short, your credit score is not as excited as you are about your new checking account, but it will be paying attention if you mismanage that account. What affects my credit score? What exactly is a credit score? And who exactly is keeping score? Two good questions that not everyone knows the answer to — even if they might pretend like they do. “Credit score” is such a common financial term today that many people never even question it, when actually understanding how it is calculated can help you boost your score. Credit bureaus are the ones who calculate your credit score. Each of them has their own unique algorithm for calculating credit scores and they are all as tight-lipped as a magician’s assistant when it comes to revealing the specific math behind their algorithms. But what we do know is that five basic financial categories are the keys to determining your score: Payment history. Your payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score. Credit utilization. The amount of credit you have available to you and the percentage of that credit you are using regularly accounts for 30% of your score. Length of credit history. The age of your accounts is 15% of your credit score. The longer your credit history, the better your score, usually. Types of credit. The different types of credit you utilize — credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, etc. — accounts for 10% of your score. New credit. The final 10% of your credit score is determined by how many new lines of credit you have applied for. Opening multiple new accounts in a short period of time can be seen as a sign of financial troubles to a lender. What is a good credit score? Your credit score is a number between 300 and 850. If your score is less than 600, you have what is considered a poor credit score. The sweet spot is between 661 and 780, which is where the good credit scores live. If you’re an overachiever, aim for 781 or higher. If ever you find yourself with a credit score higher than 781, you have done pretty well for yourself. You deserve a gold star, but you’ll have to settle for a great credit score instead. If you are interested in opening a new checking account or have questions about your credit score, please get in touch with us . Math is our specialty! Previous Item Next Item

Get our routing number Vibrant's routing number is 271183646. You can find it on the footer of every page on our website! Previous Item Next Item

Relentlessly focused on the products it knows it does better than its competitors, Vibrant is devoting its energy and investments into building up the service channels its members prefer to use, especially its digital banking platforms and its Moline-based call center. Meet the new Vibrant: The best place to move your money Relentlessly focused on the products it knows it does better than its competitors, Vibrant is devoting its energy and investments into building up the service channels its members prefer to use, especially its digital banking platforms and its Moline-based call center. Moline, IL — April 3, 2024 Last fall, Vibrant Credit Union decided it was time to start offering members something they couldn’t find at any other local financial institution: interest on their savings and checking balances that adds up to more than a handful of pennies a year. Interest rates on consumer borrowing, especially car and home loans, have risen significantly over the last 2+ years as the Federal Reserve has raised the federal funds rate to combat inflation. At the same time, interest rates on consumer deposits—the funds that financial institutions use to make many of those loans—have remained stubbornly low. Most big banks still offer a measly 0.01 percent annual percentage yield on consumer savings—meaning that if you deposit $10,000 in a savings account, by the end of the year, you’ll earn a single dollar in interest. Put that same $10,000 in Vibrant’s new Preferred Savings account, though, and you’ll earn $450. Further, the account has no monthly service fees, no minimum balance requirements, and no hidden conditions about setting up direct deposit or making a certain number of debit card transactions each month to qualify. It's a strategy that’s proving wildly successful for the credit union. In February alone, current and new members moved an additional $26 million in deposits to Vibrant. So why aren’t other financial institutions following suit? Matt McCombs, Vibrant’s president and CEO since 2015, thinks it’s because Vibrant’s new model goes against the conventional wisdom of what a credit union is supposed to look like. “Over the last few years, we’ve taken a long hard look at where we’re spending our members’ money and how well that aligns with what they actually want us to spend money on,” says McCombs. “For instance, a decade ago, more than half our members did at least some of their banking in person at one of our branches. Last year, that number was down to about 16 percent, and it’s continuing to drop. “So we asked, what if we invested more in the technologies and services our members are actually using—like our online banking platform and our call center? What if we close some of our branches outright and use the savings to pay our members more interest on their deposits?" That’s the new Vibrant: relentlessly focused on the products it knows it does better than its competitors and devoting its energy and investments into building up the service channels its members prefer to use, especially its digital banking platforms and its Moline-based call center. “It’s a matter of understanding our strengths and doubling down on them,” says McCombs. For now, it means that Vibrant doesn’t look like anyone else in the area. But McCombs is confident Vibrant’s model is the way of the future. “The days of getting all your financial needs met by a single institution are over. When someone wants to buy a house, they can get on Rocket Mortgage. When they want to buy a car, they go straight to the dealership. We don’t mind if our members get the best deal on their loans from someone else, because that means we’re able to give them the best deal on their deposits.” Even given the rise of so many internet-only financial institutions, McCombs also sees an important place for credit unions like Vibrant. “In general, people prefer to do business with local people,” McCombs says. "When they have questions, they want to be able to talk with someone they know. They want to support local jobs. They're just not going to do it at the expense of passing up a much better deal online. Our savings and checking options give people an excellent reason to keep their money here in our communities.” About Vibrant Vibrant was founded in 1935 as a federally insured credit union with its roots in agricultural manufacturing. Now an industry-leading deposit rate competitor, customers across the country can bank with the best utilizing easy access apps and money movement-friendly accounts with top earning rates. In the community, Vibrant strives to bring specialized products to nonprofits and small businesses to foster all to "be the good." Not far from their roots, Vibrant also provides relationship- and education-focused equipment financing programs to outdoor equipment manufacturers nationwide. Previous Item Next Item