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Spring Cleaning Your Finances

Just as you declutter your closets and tidy up your living space, now is the perfect time to give your financial situation a thorough once-over. At Extraco Banks, we understand the importance of keeping your financial house in order, which is why we've put together 10 simple, yet effective, tips and tricks to help you freshen up your finances.

6 Steps to Creating a Great Financial Plan

The biggest mistake in financial planning is not having one. Creating a financial plan is not difficult, but it is daunting! We've broken down the six key steps to the financial planning process.

How Mobile Banking Can Ease Your Back-to-School Stress

Mobile banking is a great way to complement a hectic schedule and keep your finances on track without adding stress. By leveraging the features mentioned above, you can keep track of your money and bank accounts and focus more on what truly matters — supporting your child throughout the new school year.

Money Mentor vs. Financial Planner vs. Financial Advisor: Which is Best?

The new year brings a unique chance to change your future and financial situation. According to a recent survey by intelliflo, a cloud-based technology platform for financial advisors, 71% of Gen Z (ages 18-25) and 72% of Millennials (ages 26-41) say they want financial advice but don't know how to get it.

Ways to Save More Money: Tips to find extra funds to save and cut your monthly expenses

If it seems like every news article you read drags you down, and every trip to the gas station and grocery store makes your budget cry, then you’re not alone. Yes, prices are rising. Sometimes it seems like they’re rising daily, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to save more of your hard-earned money. It just means that, at least in today’s market, you sometimes might need to get a little more creative about how you go about saving money. Although this list isn’t all-inclusive, here are several tips to get you started.

Reviewing Loan Applications

When you apply for a loan at Extraco, we review your application information to help determine your credit worthiness. Key considerations: 1. Your credit score tells us your past performance in meeting your financial obligations. 2. Your credit report shows stability as well as borrowing behaviors.

Extraco Banks - Who We Are

Read our latest blog to learn more about what sets Extraco Banks apart from other central Texas banks. When you bank with Extraco, you bank with the best

Dorm Room on a Dime: How to Get the Look for Less

When you are budget-savvy and looking for stylish living solutions, finding the look for less is top of the to-do list. That’s why we’re digging in to offer hacks and solutions that won’t break the bank.

Ten Steps to Financial Wellness for Women

This comprehensive checklist covers key areas and provides a roadmap for women to manage finances effectively. Each step contributes to building a strong financial foundation, fostering empowerment, and securing a stable future.

Holiday Travel on a Budget

For many, the holiday time often involves travel, whether it's a short trip to visit relatives or a more extended vacation to explore new destinations. However, with travel comes expenses, and managing these costs can be a daunting task.

What Is a Trust Fund?

Trust funds provide a financial safety net for your family in an unexpected tragedy. Creditors cannot access the money you place in a trust fund. However, the fund can pay for funeral expenses, medical bills, and other immediate needs. Trust funds can also ensure that your loved ones have the money they need to care for themselves financially, even after you're gone.

ICYMI: November Bank & Brews | Digital Marketing 101

The November edition of our Bank & Brews virtual workshop series was all about Digital Marketing in the era of COVID-19 and beyond. The workshop was led by Gordon Law, President of Swimming Duck, a marketing agency based out of Dallas. Gordon is also a professor at SMU where he teaches marketing and digital media. He has over 40 years of marketing and advertising experience and is a great friend of Extraco Banks. We were thrilled to have him lead our final virtual workshop of 2020. 

How Can You Save Money With Home Insurance?

Need home insurance but could use some help figuring out where to start? We can help! Homeowner's insurance is essential to protecting your home and property. Your home is your biggest investment. So, you'll want to ensure it is well-protected should something happen that causes damage or liability concerns. And homeowner's insurance protects your home against loss or damage.

Is a VA loan right for you?

Extraco Mortgage wants to help our Veterans, Active Duty Military and Surviving Spouses get the mortgage loan they have earned. A VA loan is a mortgage loan that is guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. It is different from a Conventional loan and a FHA loan in several ways.

The Magic of Compounding Interest: How It Can Supercharge Your Savings

When most people think of compounding interest, credit cards, mortgages, and personal loans come to mind. Whether your goal is to build your net worth or save for retirement, compounding interest is a powerful tool to supercharge your savings, allowing your money to work harder for you.

Smart Money Tips: How to Start Investing Today

Stocks, bonds, and real estate are a few of the many ways to invest your money. Yet, if you’re new to investing, where and how do you start? It’s a question that begs an answer. The problem is, you’ll always get a different answer, depending on who you ask.

The Role Title Plays When Purchasing a Home

The purpose of the title company is to make sure the title to the home is lawfully given to the buyer. Once the title company has completed its verification, it will support that guarantee with title insurance. Title insurance protects the bank and the owner if someone were to make a claim to the property.

Tax Refunds: Frequently Asked Questions

At the beginning of each year, you’ll start to receive tax information in the mail. After using these forms to file your taxes, you might expect a tax refund. While you can choose to have it deposited to your bank account, the IRS controls the entire processing and transaction process.

Five Ways to Ring in National Financial Planning Month

October marks the beginning of a financial journey towards the holiday season. As we celebrate National Financial Planning Month, it's the perfect time to embrace the spirit of saving and planning for the festive months ahead.

How to Protect Older Adults and Loved Ones from Fraud

As autumn draws near, it’s time to consider the holiday season ahead. Although fraud can happen to anyone anytime, it’s especially concerning during the holidays. Older adults and loved ones often feel the brunt of these attacks. The FBI reported Americans aged 60 and older lost nearly $1.7 billion in 2020, with fraud claiming over 92,000 victims that year.

3 Tips to Get the Most from Your Financial Advisor

Make 2023 your best year yet with a financial advisor’s help. But how do you ensure you get the most from their services? After all, hiring an advisor isn’t cheap and can set you back between $2,000 and $7,000 per year for those who charge a flat rate. Others, however, charge a percentage of your account.

How to Get a Student Loan to Cover Financial Gaps from Scholarships

Making ends meet as a student when you’re not receiving enough financial aid from scholarships or grants can be challenging. Sometimes, it feels like there’s no way to make up the difference to get the funds you need. Grants and scholarships are an excellent start for funding your education, but they often don’t cover everything you need to get through a semester, let alone the entire school year. However, a student loan can help bridge that gap and get you the necessary funds.

American Heart Month: The Costs and Warnings of Heart Attack

One thing we don’t talk enough about is health. We care about you. So, we want you to be as healthy as possible. February is American Heart Month, so it's a great time to learn about heart disease. Heart disease affects people of all ages, from babies to adults. And heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death for men and women.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Credit Card

In a 2020 Bankrate survey, 59% of U.S. adults reported carrying a credit card, yet 31% did not redeem their rewards. Whether you already have a credit card or are shopping around for your first one, getting the most out of your credit card is essential.

How to Shop Local for Fun and Unique Gifts

Finding the right gift, especially for someone who has virtually everything, is challenging. While you could do a web search to find gift ideas, why not take another approach by supporting your local businesses and finding something unique?

Bank Jugging: What it is and how you can protect yourself

As long as there are people making money, there will be others who will try to take it from them. While Skimming has been around for a while, the newest forms of theft are Bank Jugging and Card Cracking. You need to be aware of these new schemes so that they don’t happen to you.

Credit Card Debt: How to Know When You’re in Over Your Head

It’s best to avoid going too deep into credit card debt, and the way to do that is with careful planning and by creating a solid budget that you can live with. Knowing what you can reasonably afford and when you’ve reached that point is half the battle to preventing debt.

7 Festive Ways to Save Money Christmas Shopping

It’s that time of year again, and if you haven’t started your Christmas shopping yet, now is the time to do it. However, shopping for gifts can be challenging during economic uncertainty, especially when you’re looking to save money. Budgets are tighter, and the things you want and need cost more. Yet, this doesn’t mean you can’t have a great holiday. We devised a plan to make your holiday shopping and gift-giving easier. Here are 7 festive ways to save money while Christmas shopping.