Open an account online With Premier Checking, you can turn your spending money into earning money. Earn 4.00% APY* on balances up to $24,999 You've never seen a checking account like this before Get all the perks, including free online banking with mobile deposit and free credit monitoring, without paying extra. No monthly fees You don’t have to keep a large balance to earn a great rate. You’ll start earning interest with every dollar you deposit. No minimum balance requirement Unlike many high-yield checking accounts, we don’t require you to sign up for direct deposit or make a minimum number of monthly transactions. No hoops to jump through Each month, you’ll receive a monthly dividend based on your average daily balance. Get monthly interest dividends Add a Title Open an account online With Premier Checking, you can. turn your spending money into earning money. Earn 4.00% APY* on balances up to $24,999 Premier Checking Rates *APY = "Annual Percentage Yield." APYs accurate as of August 12, 2024. **Premier Checking is a tiered account. For this account the specified Dividend Rate for a tier will apply only to the portion of the account balance that is within that tier. Limit of one Premier Checking account per member. $5 Membership Share account required. Rates subject to change without notice. Federally insured by NCUA. Average Daily Balance APY* $ 0 – $24,999.99 4.00% $25,000+ 1.50% – 4.00%

Open an accont online With Preferred Savings, your money can start working as hard as you do. Earn 4.50% APY* on savings up to $14,999 You’ll start earning interest at the same rate million-dollar depositors do with the very first $5 you deposit. Build up savings fast With Preferred Savings, you can reach your goals faster with monthly dividend payments. Save up for a big purchase Even though you’ll earn interest comparable to a high-yield CD, you can make a withdrawal at any time with no penalty. Earn more without sacrificing flexibility No monthly fees. No minimum balance requirements. What's your savings goal? Add a Title Earn 4.50% APY* on savings up to $14,999 With Preferred Savings, your money can start working as hard as you do. Open an account online Average daily balance APY* $0 –$14,999.99 4.50% $15,000+ 4.50% – 1.00% Preferred Savings is a tiered account; for this account, the specified Dividend Rate for a tier will apply only to the portion of the account balance that is within that tier. Limit of one Preferred Savings account per member. ​ *APY = "Annual Percentage Yield." APYs accurate as of August 12, 2024. Preferred Savings is a tiered account; for this account, the specified Dividend Rate for a tier will apply only to the portion of the account balance that is within that tier. Limit of one Preferred Savings account per member.​ $5 Membership Share account required. Federally insured by NCUA. Preferred Savings Rates Current as of August 12, 2024

Lock in "the best CD rates available" while you can Don't just take our word for it—Investopedia, MarketWatch and CBS News agree. Open a CD Don't just take our word for it—Investopedia, MarketWatch and CBS News agree. Lock in the "best CD rates available" when you can Open a CD Lock in a great rate until 2024. Open your CD with a minimum deposit of just $5. Earn a 5.00% APY* on a 13-month CD Open a CD Featured rates Rates this high may soon be history. You can lock them in now with a minimum $5 deposit. New and current Vibrant members New and current Vibrant members Investopedia calls this CD one of the "Best CD Rates Today. " It's yours with a minimum deposit of $5. New and current Vibrant members (new money only) Get an extra 0.10% APY added to your certificate if you have a Vibrant Preferred Savings account with a balance of $10,000 or more. ​ Preferred members (new money only) Lock in an extra 0.25% APY if you have a Vibrant Elite Savings account with a balance of at least $100,000. It might just be the best CD rate in the country right now. Elite members (new money only) Open a CD *APY="Annual Percentage Yield." Rates current as of October 28, 2024. Investopedia included Vibrant’s 6-Month CD in its list of October’s Best CD Rates. See https://www.investopedia.com/best-cd-rates-4770214 for details. CBS News named Vibrant's 6-Month CDs one of "the 12 best CDs to open before rates change" in September 2024. See 12 best CDs to open before rates are cut in September - CBS News for more information. The 6-Month CD was also a MarketWatch Pick for September 2024 . ​ The 6-Month Certificate Special has a base APY of 5.00%, with a 0.10% APY increase if the member has a Preferred Savings account with a balance of at least $10,000 or a 0.25% APY increase if the member has an Elite Savings account with a balance of at least $100,000. Members can only qualify for one rate increase option. The 6-Month Certificate Special can only be opened with new money that has not been on deposit at Vibrant Credit Union for more than seven (7) days. If funds are moved from Vibrant Credit Union to another financial institution, funds cannot be redeposited as New Money for at least 60 days. Maximum deposit per 6-Month Certificate is $250,000. Limit of two (2) 6-Month Certificates per member. The 6-Month Certificate will auto-renew into a 6-month certificate at the rate available at the time of maturity. ​ The 13-Month Certificate will mature into a 12-month certificate at the rate available at the time of maturity. ​ The 23-Month Certificate will mature into a 24-month certificate at the rate available at the time of maturity. ​ $5 minimum to open account. $5 Membership Share account required. Penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Federally insured by NCUA. Frequently asked questions Who can become a Vibrant member and open a CD? 1. Any U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. can become eligible for Vibrant membership by joining the Illinois Consumer Council. The ILCC is a nonprofit member organization dedicated to consumer advocacy, financial education, and championing the rights of all consumers. Vibrant Credit Union will enroll you and cover costs associated with the ILCC membership. ​ OR ​ 2. You can qualify for membership without joining the ILCC if you are a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident who fits into one of the following categories: You're a member of one of the associations we partner with You're a current or retired employee of one of the many businesses, professions, and/organizations we partner with within the U.S. Your domestic partner or immediate family member is a current Vibrant Credit Union member You live or work in one of the neighborhoods, communities, or rural districts defined in our geographical area: Illinois Bureau, Carroll, Clark, DeKalb, Edgar, Henderson, Henry, Jo Daviess, Knox, Lee, Mercer, Ogle, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Stephenson, Vermillion, Warren, Whiteside, Winnebago, and parts of Cook County Indiana Fountain, Vermillion, and Warren Iowa Cedar, Clinton, Dallas, Des Moines, Dubuque, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Louisa, Muscatine, Polk, Scott, Story, and Warren Wisconsin Grant, Green, and Lafayette This is not a complete or exhaustive list of membership eligibility criteria. Please contact us at 1-800-323-5109 to discuss your eligibility for membership at Vibrant Credit Union or apply for membership online . How long will these rates be available? These rates are available for a limited time only, so don't miss the opportunity to maximize your earnings before the Federal Reserve decides it's time to cut rates. Is there a penalty for early withdrawal? You could potentially lose all the interest you've earned if you withdraw funds from your CD before the end of the term. Talk with us about your options. The 6-month CD is limited to "new money." What does that mean? If you already have money on deposit at Vibrant—whether that’s in a checking or savings account or another CD—you cannot use those funds to open a 6-month CD unless you’ve deposited those funds within seven (7) calendar days of opening a 6-month CD. Similarly, if you move funds from Vibrant to another financial institution, those funds cannot be redeposited as “new money” for at least 60 days. Can I earn two rate bonuses if I have both a Preferred Savings account and an Elite Savings account? Sorry, you can’t—but we’re glad you like our high-yield savings accounts! Members are only eligible for a single rate bonus for the 6-month CD. But hey, 5.25% APY is still a pretty terrific rate. What if I want to deposit more than $250,000? If you are opening a 6-month certificate, be aware that there's a maximum deposit of $250,000. Each member has the opportunity to purchase a maximum of two 6-month certificates. There are no deposit limits on any of our other CDs—but you might also want to check out our Elite Savings account. What happens when my CD reaches maturity? We’ll reach out to you shortly before your CD reaches its maturity date to find out if you want to withdraw cash, roll your deposit into a different CD, or let it automatically renew. The 6-month certificate will renew as a 6-month CD at the rate available at the time of maturity. The 13-month CD will renew as a 12-month CD at the rate available at the time of maturity. The 23-month CD will renew as a 24-month CD at the rate available at the time of maturity.

Rates These rates are effective as of October 28, 2024. Unless otherwise noted, rates are subject to change without notice. APY = "Annual Percentage Yield." Interest rates on lending products will be based on credit criteria. Which rates are you checking? Checking Savings Certificates of deposit (CDs) Credit cards HSA IRA Business checking Business membership savings Business money market Community checking Community savings Back to top Ready to make your money work harder? Open a checking account . *APY = "Annual Percentage Yield." APYs accurate as of October 28, 2024. **Premier Checking is a tiered account. For this account the specified Dividend Rate for a tier will apply only to the portion of the account balance that is within that tier. Limit of one Premier Checking account per member. $5 Membership Share account required. Rates subject to change without notice. Federally insured by NCUA. Account Average Daily Balance APY* Everyday Checking Any 0.00% Premier Checking** $0 - $24,999 4.00% Premier Checking** $25,000+ 1.50% – 4.00% Checking Account Rates Saving Accounts Rates Average Daily Balance Membership Savings Everyday Savings ^ Preferred Savings ^^ Premier Savings ^ Elite Savings ^ APY* APY* APY* APY* APY* $0-$99 0.00% 0.10% 4.50% 0.10% 0.50% $100 - $9,999 0.05% 0.10% 4.50% 0.10% 0.50% $10,000 - $14,999 0.05% 1.50% 4.50% 0.10% 0.50% $15,000 - $24,999 0.05% 1.50% 1.00% – 4.50% 0.10% 0.50% $25,000 - $49,999 0.05% 2.00% 1.00% – 4.50% 3.50% 0.50% $50,000 - $99,999 0.05% 2.00% 1.00% – 4.50% 3.50% 0.50% $100,000 - $199,999 0.05% 2.00% 1.00% – 4.50% 3.50% 4.00% $200,000 - $249,999 0.05% 2.00% 1.00% – 4.50% 3.50% 4.00% $250,000 - $499,999 0.05% 2.00% 1.00% – 4.50% 3.50% 4.25% $500,000 - $1,000,000 0.05% 2.00% 1.00% – 4.50% 3.50% 4.25% $1,000,000 + 0.05% 2.00% 1.00% – 4.50% 3.50% 4.50% ^Everyday Savings, Premier Savings, and Elite Savings accounts are tiered accounts; if the account balance falls within the range for a particular tier, the dividend rate and APY for that tier will apply to the entire balance in the account. ^^Preferred Savings is a tiered account; for this account, the specified Dividend Rate for a tier will apply only to the portion of the account balance that is within that tier. Limit of one Preferred Savings account per member. *APY = "Annual Percentage Yield." APYs accurate as of October 28, 2024. $5 Membership Share account required. Federally insured by NCUA. Ready to earn more on your money? Open a savings account . Back to top Certificate of Deposit (CD) Rates Term APY* 6-Month CD Special (2) 5.00% 8 Month++ 0.01% 9-Month*** 0.01% 12 Month 0.01% 13 Month*** 4.75% 15 Month*** 0.01% 18 Month 0.01% 23 Month (1) 4.25% 24 Month 0.01% 30 Month 0.50% 36 Month 0.01% 40 Month Bump Up Special(+) 1.90% 48 Month 0.01% 5-Year Add-On Certificate** 0.01% *APY= Annual Percentage Yield. **During the term of the Add-On certificate, you may make deposits of $5 or more at anytime. ***9- , 13- and 15-month certificates will automatically renew into a 12-month term at maturity. +For the 40-Month Bump Certificate Special , members may request that Vibrant raise their rate to the current Vibrant Credit Union published rate on the 40-month certificate. Members will then earn the higher rate for the remainder of the term. Members may only exercise this feature one time during the term. Promotional rates made available in special offers are excluded. When the certificate matures it will auto renew into a 36-month certificate. ++8-month certificate will automatically renew into a 6-month term at maturity. 1. 23-month CD will automatically renew into a 24-month term at maturity. 2. The 6-Month Certificate Special has a base APY of 5.00%, with a 0.10% APY increase if the member has a Preferred Savings account with a balance of at least $10,000 or a 0.25% APY increase if the member has an Elite Savings account with a balance of at least $100,000. Members can only qualify for one rate increase option. The 6-Month Certificate Special can only be opened with new money that has not been on deposit at Vibrant Credit Union for more than seven (7) days. If funds are moved from Vibrant Credit Union to another financial institution, funds cannot be redeposited as New Money for at least 60 days. Maximum deposit per 6-Month Certificate is $250,000. Limit of two (2) 6-Month Certificates per member. The 6-Month Certificate will auto-renew into a 6-month certificate at the rate available at the time of maturity. $5 minimum to open account. Penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Federally insured by NCUA. Need to grow your cash steadily and securely? Open a CD . Back to top Credit Card Rates Type APR as low as Vibrant Credit Mastercard 9.90% APR = “Annual Percentage Rate.” APRs accurate as of October 28, 2024. $5 Membership Share account required. Rates subject to change without notice. Back to top Back to top Looking to supplement your healthcare coverage? Talk to us about an HSA . *APY = “Annual Percentage Yield.” APYs accurate as of October 28, 2024. $5 Membership Share account required. Any fees could reduce potential earnings. Rates subject to change without notice. Federally insured by NCUA. Average Daily Balance APY* $100 - $4,999 0.01% $5,000+ 0.01% Health Savings Account (HSA) Rates Back to top Looking for a basic savings account without monthly fees or transaction limits? Open a business savings account. *APY = “Annual Percentage Yield.” APYs accurate as of October 28, 2024. $5 Membership Share account required. Rates subject to change without notice. Federally insured by NCUA. Average Daily Balance APY* $100+ 0.005% $0 – $99.99 0.00% Business Membership Savings Rates Back to top Want to ditch those monthly fees and requirements? Open a business checking account. *APY = “Annual Percentage Yield.” APYs accurate as of October 28, 2024. $5 Membership Share account required. Any fees could reduce potential earnings. Rates subject to change without notice. Federally insured by NCUA. Average Daily Balance APY* Business Checking Account Rates Back to top Searching for flexibility and earnings on your balance? Open a business money market account. *APY = “Annual Percentage Yield.” APYs accurate as of October 28, 2024. $5 Membership Share account required. Rates subject to change without notice. Federally insured by NCUA. The Business Money Market Account is a tiered account; if the account balance falls within the range for a particular tier, the dividend rate and APY for that tier will apply to the entire balance in the account. Average Daily Balance APY* $100 - $9,999 0.01% $10,000 - $24,999 0.01% $25,000 - $99,999 0.01% $100,000 - $199,999 0.01% $200,000 - $499,999 0.01% $500,000 + 1.00% Business Money Market Rates Learn more Looking for mortgage rates? Back to top Ready to save powerfully for retirement? Open an IRA. *APY = “Annual Percentage Yield.” APYs accurate as of October 28, 2024. $5 Membership Share account required. Any fees could reduce potential earnings. Rates subject to change without notice. Federally insured by NCUA. Average Daily Balance APY* $100 - $9,999 0.01% $10,000 - $24,999 0.01% $25,000 - $49,999 0.10% $50,000 - $99,999 0.30% $100,000 + 0.35% Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Rates Back to top Are you a small or mid-sized business looking for a checking account that earns interest? Talk to a relationship manager about a community checking account. *APY = “Annual Percentage Yield.” APYs accurate as of October 28, 2024. Membership Share account required. Rates subject to change without notice. Federally insured by NCUA. The Community Checking Account is a tiered account; if the account balance falls within the range for a particular tier, the dividend rate and APY for that tier will apply to the entire balance in the account. Average Daily Balance APY* $50,000+ 1.00% $0 to $49,999.99 3.00% Community Checking Rates Back to top Are you a small or mid-sized business looking for a higher yield on your savings? Talk to a relationship manager about a community savings account. *APY = “Annual Percentage Yield.” APYs accurate as of October 28, 2024. Membership Share account required. Rates subject to change without notice. Federally insured by NCUA. Average Daily Balance APY* $0 and up 3.50% Community Savings Rates

Disclosures Members Member Service Agreement Rates and Service Charges (updated 10.28.2024) Online Banking Account Access Agreement and Disclosure Statement Your Home Loan Toolkit Mastercard Account Disclosure BillPay Terms and Conditions eSign Consent Notice Text Messaging and Opt-Out Policy ​ Business Members Business Service Agreement Business Rates & Service Charges (updated 10.17.2024) Master ACH Agreement for Businesses Business Online Banking Account Access Agreement and Disclosure Statement Other IDFPR – Notice Regarding the Community Reinvestment Notice Security and Refund Policy

We're not just saying we're the best . It's been scientifically proven. Savings Checking CDs 4.50% APY* on balances up to $15,000 Vibrant 0.35% APY* ​ Average U.S. Bank 0.21% APY* ​ Average U.S. Credit Union 4.00% APY* ​ on balances up to $24,999 Vibrant 0.22% APY* Average U.S. Bank 0.14% APY* Average U.S. Credit Union 4.75% APY* ​ Vibrant 13-month CD 2.41% APY* Average U.S. Bank 1-year CD 3.26% APY* Average U.S. Credit Union 1-year CD * For illustrative purposes only. "APY" = "Annual Percentage Yield." Savings comparison: As of September 27, 2024, NCUA reports the national average interest rate for savings accounts offered by banks is 0.35% APY, based on a $2,500 balance, and the national average interest rate for savings accounts offered by credit unions is 0.21% APY, based on a $2,500 balance. Vibrant APY is for the Preferred Savings account and is accurate as of October 10, 2024. Rates are subject to change. Preferred Savings is a tiered account; for this account, the specified Dividend Rate for a tier will apply only to the portion of the account balance that is within that tier. Limit of one Preferred Savings account per member​. $5 Membership Share account required. Federally insured by NCUA. ​ Checking comparison: As of September 27, 2024, NCUA reports the national average rate for interest checking accounts offered by banks is 0.22% APY, based on a $2,500 balance, and the national average rate for interest checking accounts offered by credit unions is 0.14% APY, based on a $2,500 balance. Vibrant APY is for the Premier Checking account and is accurate as of October 10, 2024. Premier Checking is a tiered account. For this account the specified Dividend Rate for a tier will apply only to the portion of the account balance that is within that tier. Limit of one Premier Checking account per member. $5 Membership Share account required. Rates subject to change without notice. Federally insured by NCUA. ​ CD comparison: As of September 27, 2024, NCUA reports the national average rate for 1-year CD offered by banks is 2.41% APY, based on a $10,000 deposit, and the national average rate for a 1-year CD offered by credit unions is 3.26% APY, based on a $10,000 deposit. ​ Vibrant APY is for the 13-month CD and is accurate as of October 28, 2024. When the 13-month certificate matures it will automatically renew into a 12-month certificate. ^$5 minimum to open account. Penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Federally insured by NCUA. ​ Opening a new account? Our system will undergo brief maintenance on Sunday, October 20, sometime between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. CT. If you encounter a snag, try again in about 10 minutes. Bank with the best Move your money to a Vibrant checking or savings account and start earning up to 450x more interest on your balance. Open an account Move your money to a Vibrant checking or savings account and start earning up to 450x more interest on your balance. Bank with the best Open an account If you can't be the best, why even bother? Market-leading rates Paying you more interest on your checking and savings every day is pretty much our whole deal. Check 'em out ZERO hidden requirements No monthly fees. No minimum balance. No direct deposit required. The only thing you have to do to qualify for our best rate is ... open an account. Find the right account No waiting around Bank at Vibrant speed—open an account in minutes, deposits checks from your phone 24/7, and hey, get that direct deposit up to 2 days early. Open an account We're the best kind of local. Learn more Sure, our rates are right up there with those internet-only banks. But there's one big difference between us and them—the money you deposit at Vibrant stays here, from the interest you earn to the investments we make in the communities we serve.

5 New Years resolutions that will be easy to keep We all start a new year with the best of intentions, but building new habits is hard. If you want to take better control of your personal finances in 2022, here are a few things you can do that won’t require a lot of time—or a lot of willpower. We all start a new year with the best of intentions, but building new habits is hard. If you want to take better control of your personal finances in 2022, here are a few things you can do that won’t require a lot of time—or a lot of willpower. Resolution #1: How to save more money One reason New Year’s resolutions fail is because they are too easy to break. You can turn regular savings into a habit by automating the process. Set up an automatic transfer each pay day that transfers a small amount of cash into your savings account. It’s okay to start small—you don’t want to be tempted to cancel your transfer because you suddenly need that money for something else next month. You can always increase the amount in the future. Time required: 2 minutes to log in to online banking and set up a new automatic transfer Resolution #2: How to reduce your debt One of the fastest ways you can reduce your monthly debt expenses is by reducing your borrowing costs. With interest rates still near record lows, it’s a great time to explore refinancing your mortgage, your auto loan, or consolidating your debt into a single monthly payment. Right now, for instance, credit card rates average about 16% APR (annual percentage rate). If you have good (or better) credit, you can probably find a personal loan that charges considerably less. Time required: 60 minutes (and often far less) to fill out an application, talk with a banker, and sign documentation Resolution #3: How to reduce your spending Are you spending money right now on things you don’t even use? Take a look at your subscriptions—streaming services, magazines and newspapers, websites—and think hard about the value they provide. Do you watch enough baseball to justify a $129 subscription to MLB? Are Spotify’s ads really that annoying? Time required: 5 minutes or less to cancel an account, depending on whether it's one of those companies that makes you call instead of letting you cancel online (definitely stop giving those guys your money) Resolution #4: How to earn more money (easy mode) First, an easy thing you should check right now: Are you earning your full employer match on your retirement savings? Many employees, including Vibrant, will match your contribution dollar-for-dollar up to a certain percentage. If you’re not contributing at least that percentage of your salary to your retirement plan, you’re essentially telling your employer to keep an extra 1, 2, or even 5 percent of your annual salary for themselves. Time required: 15 minutes or less to ask your HR department what you need to do to increase your contribution Resolution #5: How to earn more money (advanced) Second, there’s never been a better time to think about changing jobs—or renegotiating your current salary. The latest economic data shows there are more than 10 million open jobs right now, while the number of Americans collecting unemployment is lower than 2 million. Lots of people are finding better jobs right now—which could mean that your current employer might be more willing to increase salaries to keep experienced workers from moving on. It’s probably a good time to mention that Vibrant is hiring—and we offer a 401(k) match up to 6 percent of your salary. Check out our current openings . Time required: As little as a couple of weeks to six months or longer, depending on your field and your location Next Item Previous Item

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! Next Item Previous Item

Understanding why interest rates change Interest rates are interesting. See what we did there? Word play is fun. Interest rates? Maybe not so much. Like we said, interesting is a more appropriate descriptor. They can often be an obstacle when you’re trying to get approved for a loan. Everyone wants a lower interest rate, but not every lender is willing to offer one. In most cases, lenders will use your credit history to determine your interest rate, but there are outside influences that can also affect interest rates. Interest rates are interesting. See what we did there? Word play is fun. Interest rates? Maybe not so much. Like we said, interesting is a more appropriate descriptor. They can often be an obstacle when you’re trying to get approved for a loan. Everyone wants a lower interest rate, but not every lender is willing to offer one. In most cases, lenders will use your credit history to determine your interest rate, but there are outside influences that can also affect interest rates. If you’re willing to follow along as we peel back the curtain, you can get a better understanding of what interest rates and how they are impacted by the world around us. What is an interest rate? Interest rates are the cost of doing business. If you want to borrow money from a lender, they’re taking a risk and expect a reward in return. You might be able to borrow money from a friend with nothing more than a promise to pay them back, but lenders don’t work on an honor system. The interest rate determines how much of a reward the lender gets. If you are approved for a loan with a 2 percent interest rate, in the end the lender will get back the total amount borrowed for the loan, plus an extra 2 percent. Think of that extra 2 percent as a tip for services rendered. One term you might see mentioned alongside the interest rate is Annual Percentage Rate (or APR). The APR is the total amount you pay each year to borrow money. Not only does that include the amount of interest paid, but it also considers any fees charged for the loan. Why do interest rates change? The answers you’ve been waiting five paragraphs for are here. Now that you know exactly what an interest rate is, you’re ready to see who is pulling the strings. Government. If the economy is a train, the U.S. Federal Reserve is the conductor. It wants to keep the train moving. If the economy is starting to slow down, the Federal Reserve can lower interest rates. When the interest rates are lower, people are more open to borrowing and spending money, which helps fuel the economy. Lower interest rates also make it cheaper for businesses to borrow money and use it to invest and create new jobs, reducing unemployment. The Federal Reserve is also known as the “central bank” of the U.S. It can create more money and deposit it with commercial bankers, increasing their supply of money. With more money in the bank, lenders can often lower interest rates to their borrowers. Supply and Demand. We all know the feeling of opening up the refrigerator, only to find it empty with nothing inside to satisfy our hunger. Well when you apply for a loan from a lender, they might not have money for you to borrow. They don’t have an infinite supply of cash. If the demand for money is greater than their supply, lenders will charge higher interest rates. Because they may have to borrow from another lender, they will be charged a fee, which the borrower ends up paying for. Inflation. Remember when a ticket to the movies was 25 cents? You probably don’t because that was the price of admission in 1920. Unless of course you’ve invented time travel, in which case we’d love to hear more about that. But back on topic, inflation has dramatically affected the value of our money over time, and that has consequences. Lenders will consider future inflation when figuring out interest rates to ensure that their return will still be profitable at the end of your loan. If you have any questions about interest rates or are in fact a time traveler willing to share your secrets, please get in touch with us . We’re here to help you! Next Item Previous Item

Protect yourself from smishing “Smishing” sounds cute, right? Like what you do when someone lets you hold their new baby or when your grandma envelops you in a big hug. But it's actually the name cybersecurity experts have given text-based frauds. (“SMS” and “phishing” equals “smishing.” Get it?) “Smishing” sounds cute, right? Like what you do when someone lets you hold their new baby or when your grandma envelops you in a big hug. But it's actually the name cybersecurity experts have given text-based frauds . (“SMS” and “phishing” equals “smishing.” Get it?) There are all kinds of text scams going around—free vacations, text “XXXXX” to donate to disaster relief—but the most common are focused on stealing your personally identifiable information, including account logins and passwords, Social Security numbers, security codes, birthdates, and more. Often, the senders impersonate reputable brands, like Microsoft, Amazon, or the financial institution where you bank, to gain your trust. Smishing is effective because the messages are short (so there’s less opportunity to say something that sounds fake) and because it’s hard to preview a link without clicking on it. Further, many mobile numbers are available in public databases, making it easy for scammers to hit up a bunch of potential victims without a lot of effort. 3 smishing warning signs Pay extra attention to texts that include: Links to websites. While there are times when legitimate senders will include a link in their message (for instance, Hy-Vee wants give you access to the receipt for your online order), most senders will tell you to call (and you should verify that number belongs to the sender before you do!) or ask you to reply to the message. Blocked, unknown, or incorrect Caller IDs. If you can’t see who’s sending the message, there’s a good chance it’s an attempted smishing attack. Appeals to respond quickly. Scammers don’t want you to think before you act. So they rely on messages designed to make you feel as though you’re at risk. How to respond if you're being smished Don’t reply “STOP” if it’s offered as an option. When you do, you confirm to the scammer that they’ve reached a valid number with an attentive person on the other end. This particular conversation may stop, but you’ll likely be hearing from them again. Don’t give out any personal information. No reputable organization will request your date of birth, Social Security Number, address, or payment information via text. Report scam texts to your mobile phone company and the FTC. You can forward scam texts to your mobile provider by forwarding the text message to 7726 (that’s SPAM). And you can share your scams with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-382-4357. How to minimize your risk of being smished Actively block or filter spam messages from your phone. On Android’s Messages app , click the menu in the upper right corner and choose DETAILS, then choose the BLOCK & REPORT SPAM option. On iPhone's Messages app , if you’ve opened the message, scroll to the bottom, select REPORT JUNK, then click DELETE AND REPORT JUNK. Make sure your phone software is up-to-date. Don’t put off those software updates! Back up your phone data. If you have an Android phone, it’s easy to move your photos and data to Google Drive. Apple iPhone users can use iCloud or back up to your PC or Mac via iTunes. Next Item Previous Item

Stay ahead of falling rates Lock in a great rate until at least 2025. Open a CD with a minimum deposit of just $5. Open a CD Lock in a great rate until at least 2025. Open a CD with a minimum deposit of just $5. Lock in a great rate until at least 2025. Open a CD with a minimum deposit of just $5. Lock in a great rate until at least 2025. Open a CD with a minimum deposit of just $5. Lock in a great rate until at least 2025. Open a CD with a minimum deposit of just $5. Lock in a great rate until at least 2025. Open a CD with a minimum deposit of just $5. Open a CD Open a CD Open a CD Stay ahead of falling rates Stay ahead of falling rates Lock in a great rate until at least 2025. Open a CD with a minimum deposit of just $5. Stay ahead of falling rates $5 minimum deposit You don't need a four-figure deposit to get our best rates. Lock in a great rate With interest rates falling, a CD can help you maximize your returns for longer. No-risk growth As long as you don't withdraw funds before the end of your CD term, your earnings are guaranteed— no matter what the market does. 6-month CD Current rate up to 5.25% APY* Our 6-month CD starts with a base rate of 5.00% APY *—but you can earn a rate increase of 0.10% APY* with your Preferred Savings account OR 0.25% APY* with your Elite Savings account. 13-month CD Current rate 4.75% APY* Maximize your interest earnings until fall 2025. Your balance is insured up to NCUA limits—and we can help you structure your deposit insurance for higher balances. 23-month CD Current rate 4.25% APY* If you're expecting interest rates to start dropping in the near term, this CD is a great way to lock in earnings until late 2026. Which CD is right for you? Open a CD account CD rates Rates current as of October 28, 2024 Term APY* 6-Month CD Special (2) 5.00% 8 Month++ 0.01% 9-Month*** 0.01% 12 Month 0.01% 13 Month*** 4.75% 15 Month*** 0.01% 18 Month 0.01% 23 Month (1) 4.25% 24 Month 0.01% 30 Month 0.50% 36 Month 0.01% 40 Month Bump Up Special(+) 1.90% 48 Month 0.01% 5-Year Add-On Certificate** 0.01% *APY= Annual Percentage Yield. **During the term of the Add-On certificate , you may make deposits of $5 or more at anytime. ***9- , 13-, and 15-month certificates will automatically renew into a 12-month term at maturity. +For the 40-Month Bump Certificate Special , members may request that Vibrant raise their rate to the current Vibrant Credit Union published rate on the 40-month certificate. Members will then earn the higher rate for the remainder of the term. Members may only exercise this feature one time during the term. Promotional rates made available in special offers are excluded. When the certificate matures it will auto renew into a 36-month certificate. ++8-month certificate will automatically renew into a 6-month term at maturity. 1. 23-month CD will automatically renew into a 24-month term at maturity. 2. The 6-Month Certificate Special has a base APY of 5.00%, with a 0.10% APY increase if the member has a Preferred Savings account with a balance of at least $10,000 or a 0.25% APY increase if the member has an Elite Savings account with a balance of at least $100,000. Members can only qualify for one rate increase option. The 6-Month Certificate Special can only be opened with new money that has not been on deposit at Vibrant Credit Union for more than seven (7) days. If funds are moved from Vibrant Credit Union to another financial institution, funds cannot be redeposited as New Money for at least 60 days. Maximum deposit per 6-Month Certificate is $250,000. Limit of two (2) 6-Month Certificates per member. The 6-Month Certificate will auto-renew into a 6-month certificate at the current rate on the maturity date. $5 minimum to open account. Penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Federally insured by NCUA. Frequently asked questions Who is eligible to open a CD with Vibrant? You can open a Vibrant account from anywhere in the United States. You are eligible to join Vibrant Credit Union if you: Are a member of one of the associations we partner with. Are a current or retired employee of one of the many businesses, professions, and/organizations we partner with within the U.S. Are a domestic partner or immediate family member of a current Vibrant Credit Union member. Live or work in one of the neighborhoods, communities, or rural districts defined in our geographical area. Become a member of the Illinois Consumer Council, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to consumer advocacy, financial education, and championing the rights of all consumers. We’ll even enroll you and cover any costs associated with your ILCC membership. This is not a complete or exhaustive list of membership eligibility criteria. Please contact us at 1-800-323-5109 to discuss your eligibility for membership at Vibrant Credit Union. How old do I have to be to open an account? You'll need to be at least 18 years old to open an account online. If you're younger than 18, you can open an account as long as at least one of your parents or legal guardians opens the account with you. Schedule an appointment to talk with a banker or call 1-800-323-5109 for more information. Is there a penalty for early withdrawal? You could potentially lose all the interest you've earned if you withdraw funds from your CD before the end of the term. Talk with us about your options. What happens when my CD reaches the end of its term? If you choose not to withdraw your funds at maturity, your Vibrant CD will automatically renew into another CD term. While most CDs will renew as a CD with the same term, there are exceptions. 13- and 15-month certificates automatically renew as 12-month CDs at maturity. The 40-Month Bump-Up CD renews as a 36-month certificate. The 23-month CD will renew as a 24-month term CD at maturity. What's the difference between a CD and a high-yield savings account like Preferred Savings? Depending on the CD term you choose, you may be able to secure a higher annual percentage yield on a CD than on a savings account. If you feel certain you won’t need to use your savings before the CD matures, it can therefore earn more interest than you’d earn with a savings account. ​ In addition, our high-yield savings accounts are tiered accounts—which means that your annual percentage yield changes based on the size of your balance. If you have more than $15,000 but less than $1 million in savings, you may be able to get a significantly higher rate by putting your cash in a CD. Of course, with a high-yield savings account, you can withdraw funds at any time without risk of penalties. Ultimately, which product is best for you will depend on how much money you have in savings and when you plan to use it.

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 isdevoting 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, ILLINOIS (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 repurposed some of those spaces that were being underutilized as branches and turned them into revenue-generating coffee shops that also offer video banking? What if we close some of those 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." With a belief in the spirit of human connections and partnership, Vibrant brings banking together with coffee to operate Vibrant Coffeehouse + Kitchen throughout the Midwest, which provide house-roasted coffee and offer a space for work, community, and fun. Not far from their roots, Vibrant also provides relationship- and education-focused equipment financing programs to outdoor equipment manufacturers nationwide. Next Item Previous Item