Forbright Bank’s 2026 Savings Survey Highlights Everyday Habits That Strengthen Financial Wellness
Forbright Bank has released findings from its 2026 Savings Survey, highlighting the financial habits Americans use to manage uncertainty, strengthen savings, and build greater long-term financial resilience. Based on responses from more than 3,200 Americans nationwide, the survey examines how people approach saving, budgeting, debt repayment, and conversations about money across different generations.
The findings suggest that financial wellness is often shaped by consistent everyday decisions rather than major financial changes. Regularly contributing to savings, setting a budget, reducing unnecessary expenses, and paying down debt emerged as important strategies respondents associate with greater financial stability and peace of mind.
The survey also identifies generational differences in financial behavior and attitudes. Millennials reported the highest rate of regular contributions to emergency savings, while Generation Z respondents were the most comfortable discussing money. Meanwhile, the results indicate that communication about finances within families remains a challenge for many consumers, including conversations between parents and children.
Forbright Bank’s findings emphasize the role of practical financial habits in helping consumers prepare for unexpected expenses and work toward longer-term goals. The survey also highlights how digital banking tools, including automatic bill payments, recurring transfers, and account alerts, can make it easier for people to manage their finances consistently.
“Our survey shows that consumers are finding confidence through simple, consistent actions,” said Matt Quale, President of Digital Banking at Forbright Bank. “Over time, small steps like saving regularly, budgeting, reducing unnecessary spending, and paying down debt can create greater stability, resilience, and peace of mind.”
Regular Savings and Budgeting Remain Central to Financial Wellness
One of the key messages from Forbright Bank’s 2026 Savings Survey is that financial wellness can be supported by maintaining straightforward, repeatable habits. Respondents identified regular saving, budgeting, reducing unnecessary spending, and paying down debt as important strategies for improving their financial position.
These activities can help consumers establish a clearer understanding of their income, expenses, and financial priorities. A regular savings routine, for example, allows individuals to set aside money for future needs rather than relying entirely on their available income when unexpected expenses arise.
Budgeting can also help households understand where their money goes each month. By reviewing recurring expenses and distinguishing essential costs from discretionary purchases, consumers may be better positioned to identify opportunities to save and manage their spending.
Reducing unnecessary expenses can complement these efforts. Small changes, such as reviewing subscriptions, limiting avoidable purchases, or comparing service costs, can create additional room in a household budget. When the savings are maintained over time, these adjustments may contribute to longer-term financial goals.
Debt repayment is another important part of the financial wellness picture. Managing outstanding balances can help consumers reduce financial obligations and improve their ability to allocate income toward savings and other priorities. The most suitable repayment approach depends on individual circumstances, including interest rates, outstanding balances, and available cash flow.
The survey’s broader findings indicate that consumers do not necessarily need to make sweeping lifestyle changes to improve their financial habits. Instead, developing a routine around saving, budgeting, spending management, and debt repayment can help individuals build a more structured approach to their finances.
Millennials Report the Highest Rate of Emergency Fund Contributions
The survey found that Millennials were the most likely generation to report regularly contributing to an emergency fund, with 71% saying they maintained this habit. This was the highest proportion among the generations included in the survey.
Emergency savings can help households manage unexpected financial demands, including urgent home repairs, medical bills, vehicle expenses, or temporary income disruptions. Having funds set aside for such situations may reduce the need to rely on credit cards or other borrowing when an unplanned expense occurs.
The survey suggests that Millennials may place particular importance on maintaining emergency savings. Forbright Bank noted that this generation came of age during the 2008 Great Recession, an economic period that may have influenced how some Millennials view saving and financial security.
However, financial behavior is shaped by many factors, including income, household expenses, employment stability, family responsibilities, and previous financial experiences. The survey finding establishes the reported difference in emergency fund contributions but does not, by itself, determine why Millennials are more likely to save regularly.
For consumers across age groups, the finding highlights the value of making emergency savings part of a recurring financial routine. Even when the amount saved is relatively small, consistent contributions can gradually build a reserve.
Automating transfers into a dedicated savings account can make this process easier by reducing the need to remember to move money manually. Forbright Consumers can choose a contribution amount that fits their budget and review it as their income or expenses change.
The survey’s results reinforce the importance of treating emergency savings as an ongoing financial priority rather than waiting until a large amount of money becomes available.
Generation Z Shows Greater Comfort Discussing Money
Forbright Bank’s survey also examined how different generations feel about discussing financial matters. Generation Z respondents reported the highest comfort level, with 72% saying they were comfortable talking about money.
The reported figure compared with 56% of Millennials, 47% of Generation X respondents, and 31% of Baby Boomers. These differences indicate that younger respondents in the survey were more likely than older respondents to express comfort discussing financial topics.
Open conversations about money can help individuals exchange information, clarify expectations, and develop a better understanding of financial responsibilities. For younger adults, discussing budgeting, saving, debt, and financial goals with family members or trusted people may provide opportunities to learn from different experiences.
Financial communication can also play an important role within families. Conversations about spending, saving, and planning for future expenses can help parents introduce children to basic money-management concepts and encourage responsible financial habits.
However, the survey indicates that comfort with discussing money does not necessarily extend to every family relationship. Only 28% of Forbright Bank customers and 20% of general consumers said they felt comfortable talking with their children about finances.
These findings suggest that family financial conversations may remain difficult for many people, even as some younger respondents report greater overall comfort discussing money.
Parents may find it challenging to explain household budgets, financial setbacks, debt, or long-term planning in ways that are appropriate for their children’s ages and levels of understanding. Others may view money as a private subject or feel uncertain about how much financial information to share.
Nevertheless, introducing age-appropriate discussions about saving, spending choices, and financial goals can help children begin developing practical money-management skills. Simple conversations about comparing prices, saving toward a purchase, or distinguishing needs from wants can provide a starting point.
The survey highlights that financial wellness involves more than personal money-management decisions. Attitudes toward communication and the ability to discuss financial matters with family members can also influence how people approach money throughout their lives.
Digital Banking Tools Help Consumers Maintain Financial Routines
Digital banking is another area highlighted in Forbright Bank’s 2026 Savings Survey. The findings point to the potential value of tools that automate routine financial tasks and help consumers manage their money more efficiently.
Features such as automatic bill payments, recurring savings transfers, and account alerts can reduce the amount of manual effort involved in everyday money management. By establishing these activities in advance, consumers may find it easier to maintain consistent habits even when their schedules become busy or their financial circumstances change.
According to the survey, 66% of Forbright Bank customers reported using automatic bill payments to avoid late fees. This was the highest-ranked action among the time- and money-saving measures reported by the bank’s customers.
Autopay can help consumers keep track of recurring obligations, such as utility bills, loan payments, and other regular expenses. When payments are scheduled automatically, there may be less risk of forgetting a due date. Avoiding late payments can also help consumers reduce fees associated with missed deadlines.
However, automatic payments still require oversight. Consumers need to ensure that sufficient funds are available in their accounts and review payment amounts and due dates. Monitoring account activity can help identify unexpected charges and prevent avoidable overdrafts or other fees.
Recurring transfers can also support saving habits. For example, a consumer may schedule a transfer to a savings account shortly after receiving income. This approach can make saving more consistent by incorporating it into the regular management of household finances.
Account alerts offer another practical benefit by notifying customers about balances, transactions, or other account activity. These notifications can help consumers monitor their accounts and respond when their attention is required.
Together,Forbright these digital tools can make routine financial tasks easier to manage. The survey’s findings suggest that consumers can use banking technology not only to access their accounts but also to support behaviors that contribute to financial organization and consistency.
High-Yield Savings Accounts Can Encourage Positive Financial Habits
The survey also identified opening a high-yield savings account as a source of pride for respondents. Forbright Bank reported that in both its 2025 and 2026 surveys, more than eight in 10 respondents said opening a Growth Savings account made them feel proud of their financial habits.
The finding suggests that establishing a dedicated savings account can represent an important personal milestone for many consumers. Opening an account may reflect a decision to organize finances, prepare for future expenses, or begin working toward a specific savings goal.
High-yield savings accounts are designed to offer interest on deposited funds. Depending on the account terms and prevailing rates, they may help consumers earn interest while keeping savings accessible. The amount earned can vary with the interest rate, balance, fees, and account conditions.
Consumers evaluating savings accounts may wish to compare annual percentage yields, minimum balance requirements, account fees, withdrawal conditions, and other relevant terms. Interest rates can change, so the return available at the time an account is opened may not remain the same indefinitely.
The emotional aspect identified by the survey is also noteworthy. Feeling proud of a financial decision may help reinforce the behavior that led to it. When consumers see saving as a meaningful accomplishment, they may be more motivated to continue contributing toward their goals.
Nevertheless, an account alone does not guarantee financial security. Its effectiveness depends on the customer’s ability to save consistently, select an account suited to their needs, and maintain a broader approach to managing spending and debt.
The survey’s findings position high-yield savings accounts as one option consumers may consider as part of their financial routines, rather than a complete solution to every financial challenge.
Small, Consistent Actions Can Support Long-Term Goals
Forbright Bank’s survey emphasizes that financial wellness does not necessarily require dramatic changes in lifestyle or spending. Instead, everyday decisions can become meaningful when they are repeated and aligned with a clear objective.
Creating a savings plan is one way to establish that structure. Consumers can identify what they are saving for, estimate the amount needed, and determine a realistic contribution schedule. Goals may include building an emergency reserve, preparing for a large purchase, or setting aside money for future expenses.
Regular budgeting can help support these goals by giving households a clearer picture of available income and spending commitments. Reviewing a budget periodically also allows consumers to adjust when costs increase, income changes, or priorities shift.
Reducing unnecessary spending can free up money for savings or debt repayment. The amount available will differ across households, and some consumers may have limited flexibility after meeting essential expenses. A useful financial routine should reflect individual circumstances rather than rely on a single approach for everyone.
Paying down debt can also form part of a longer-term plan. Consumers may review interest rates, minimum payments, and outstanding balances to decide how to allocate additional funds. Maintaining essential payments while considering the cost of borrowing can help individuals make more informed decisions.
Digital tools can reinforce these behaviors by automating selected tasks and providing reminders. At the same time, periodic reviews remain important to ensure that automated payments and transfers continue to fit a person’s current financial situation.
Taken together, the survey findings suggest that financial wellness is built through a combination of planning, consistency, and the willingness to review financial decisions as circumstances evolve.
Forbright Bank Highlights Financial Resilience Through Everyday Habits
The 2026 Savings Survey offers insight into how Americans approach financial wellness and how those approaches differ by generation. Millennials reported the highest rate of regular emergency fund contributions, Generation Z respondents reported the greatest comfort discussing money, and digital banking tools emerged as a practical way for consumers to manage routine financial tasks.
The findings also show that financial communication within families remains an area where many consumers report discomfort. While attitudes toward discussing money vary across generations, conversations about saving, budgeting, and financial priorities can form part of a broader approach to financial education.
Forbright Bank’s results point to several habits consumers associate with stronger financial management: saving regularly, budgeting, reducing unnecessary spending, and paying down debt. Opening a high-yield savings account and using automation to manage recurring financial tasks can also help people establish more consistent routines.
As Americans navigate changing economic conditions and competing financial demands, these practices may provide a practical framework for organizing money and preparing for unexpected expenses. The survey does not suggest that one approach works equally well for everyone. Instead, it Forbright highlights the value of developing habits that fit individual circumstances and can be maintained over time.
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