Resources

Why Investing in the Stock Market Should Be Your Next Money Move

It's the perfect time to reflect on our financial goals and set ourselves up for success. This year, why not make investing in the stock market your top resolution? Extraco gives you access to a digital investment solution, EasyInvest, directly via our digital banking platform. This way, you can invest like the top 1%, starting from as little as $10.

ICYMI– Bank & Brews Temple | Business Plans

A solid business plan is essential for all businesses. Jason Ehler of the Small Business Development Center and Brian Reinhardt of Extraco hosted a great session on what to include in your business plan (as well as what NOT to include), how often to revisit your plan after the COVID-19 pandemic, and resources that all business-owners should be utilizing.

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.

Top Five Benefits of Building a Solid Banking Relationship

At Extraco Banks, you're not a number — you're not just ‘another customer.’ Instead, we consider you family, and family deserves more attention, better service, and a personal approach. Read our blog to learn more!

Home Insurance

Home insurance is not just a box to check; it's a crucial tool to safeguard your home and everything it holds. Like any other aspect of your financial plan, your home insurance needs to be periodically evaluated and adjusted to meet your changing circumstances and the evolving market dynamics.

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.

Mobile & Online Banking

Our online and mobile banking features offer you access to your accounts – anytime, anywhere.

Bank & Brews Waco | Utilizing Google Web Tools in Your Small Business Marketing Strategy

Take a deep dive into some of the essential (and free) Google website tools that all businesses should be utilizing. For our August Bank & Brews workshop, Extraco’s own Digital Marketing Specialist, Carina Yebra, walked attendees through what she considers to be essential, and often underutilized, tools for all businesses– Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Google Search Console, and Google My Business.

How to Boost Savings with a Money Market Account

Need a way to grow your money faster and with less effort? A money market account can help you achieve short-term financial goals and long-term solutions.

ICYMI– Bank & Brews (Bell County) | How to Hire the Right Employees

Finding and hiring awesome talent is difficult. Designing the processes, finding and interviewing candidates may take time and effort, but is sure to pay off in the long-term. These are they ways that Extraco Banks has mastered the hiring process.

ICYMI– Building and Facilitating Business Partnerships

Partnerships can create unique development opportunities for businesses. Whether they are simple relationships or complex ventures, well-executed partnerships can strengthen any size of business.

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.

Fifteen Smart Strategies to Grow Your Emergency Fund Faster

Need a boost to your emergency fund? Follow our 15 smart strategies to save more money and build a financial safety net faster.

Planning a Side Hustle: What you need to think about before starting a side business

According to software company Zappier, 40% of Americans have a side hustle, and that number is growing. Planning a side hustle is a great way to pad your savings, pay down debt, save for a specific goal, or give you some extra wiggle room in your monthly budget. However, if you’re looking to add a side hustle, there are a few things you should know before you begin, and it starts with a plan.

Does Being Frugal Make You Feel Richer?

It's easy to rationalize why frugality makes sense today. We’re seeing higher prices at the pumps, the grocery stores, and everywhere else. When costs climb, it’s time to focus on the things that truly matter and identify those that could wait a bit longer.

Philanthropy Through Trusts and Estates Isn’t Just for the Ultra-Wealthy

Philanthropy through trusts and estates isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy—it’s an accessible way for individuals at many income levels to support the causes they care about. By incorporating strategies like charitable bequests or charitable remainder trusts, you can create a lasting impact while still providing for loved ones. With thoughtful planning, anyone can leave a meaningful legacy that reflects their values.

Upcoming Changes to Wire Transfers: What You Need to Know About ISO 20022

At Extraco Banks, we’re committed to keeping you informed about changes that could affect how you manage your finances. If you send or receive wire transfers, there’s an important update you should know about.

ICYMI— The Human Resource Lifecycle of a Business

By: Alex Eichenberg, Liz Barton & DJ Snyder

Why Hiring an Investment Professional is a Good Idea

Like most people, you probably think hiring an investment professional is a waste of money. You might believe using a pocket investor or investment app is just as good — or better — than working with an investment professional. However, this isn't always the case. There are many reasons why hiring an investment professional is a good idea and can maximize your return beyond what fractional investing can achieve.

ICYMI— Celebrating Waco Women: A Power-Hour Panel on Female Entrepreneurs

October is National Women’s Small Business Month commemorating the signing of the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988.

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.

Tips on How Student Loan Forgiveness and Refinancing Works

With a federal student loan moratorium scheduled to expire soon and more talk about student loan forgiveness, now is a great time to decide how to proceed if you carry student loan debt. The weight of any student loan, especially a large one, can feel like a drag, but it doesn’t have to end that way. There are ways to reduce your loan term, lower your interest, or lower your monthly payment. You might even eliminate all or part of your student loan. However, knowing the difference between student loan forgiveness and refinancing is vital before beginning.

Benefits of Gift Card Programs for Your Business

Want to attract new customers and keep existing ones returning? A gift card program can help! In this blog, we'll highlight four benefits of using gift card programs. Here at Extraco Banks, we offer Cashback+ to our customers to purchase digital gift cards with bonus offers any time they want using funds directly from their checking accounts.

ICYMI— The Human Resources Lifecycle of a Business

We want to share our expertise and knowledge about the lifecycle of an employee – from hiring to firing – with you. Below is a recap of our October Bank & Brews workshops focused on four aspects of human resources which are vital to a business (and improving the bottom line): hiring, building, coaching & disciplining employees. Make sure to download the templates from each workshop!

118 Years Strong

Read our Extraco Week recap blog highlighting the festitivies we had across our branches to celebrate 118 years in business!

ICYMI— Bank & Brews | Marketing Skills: Leveling the Playing Field

Part two of the series was led by Startup Waco’s Jon Passavant. In his mentorship of business owners, he often sees the same issues arise. Entrepreneurs often struggle to determine the fundamentals of their business, such as goals, purpose, and identity.

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.

6 Tips for How to Pay for a Major Medical Expense 

This year, the Susan G. Komen Foundation predicts there will be 287,850 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women and 2,710 new cases of male breast cancer. While early detection and prevention are essential, cancer care and treatment costs can be astronomical. So how do you pay for these and other major medical expenses?

What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Means for You

In July of 2025, the federal government signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—a sweeping piece of legislation that reshapes the tax landscape for individuals, families and business owners alike. Whether you're an investor, a retiree or a business owner, this new law carries implications for your financial strategy.

Understanding Escrow Accounts and Escrow Analysis

An escrow account helps simplify homeownership by spreading out property tax and insurance costs through your monthly mortgage payment. Each year, an escrow analysis reviews these expenses to ensure enough funds are available, which may result in a shortage or surplus and cause your payment to change. Understanding how escrow works can help you plan ahead and avoid surprises.

How Southwest Contract Revolutionizes Student Housing Furniture

A significant factor in Southwest Contract's success has been their strong partnership with us here at Extraco. This relationship has provided the financial support and resources needed to sustain growth and navigate the challenges of the business.

Can You Spot a Phishing Scam? 🕵️‍♀️

Every day, scammers trick people into giving away personal information through emails, texts, and phone calls disguised as their bank. With more of us relying on online and mobile banking, these scams are on the rise. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission reported that Americans lost a shocking $10 billion to phishing scams and fraud in 2023—a 13.6% increase over 2022.

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.

Important Information Regarding Stimulus Checks

As the U.S. Treasury has begun depositing Economic Impact Payments to bank accounts, it's important for you to have the right tools and resources to check the status of your payment.

401K for Millennials: Planning Retirement with Confidence

Millennials, take control of your financial future and learn how 401K planning can maximize your savings and secure a comfortable retirement later.

How to Pay Bills & Send Payments to Friends Using Your Mobile Phone

Extraco’s online bill pay allows you to make one-time or recurring payments through your eBank.

Our commitment to the Gatesville community

Extraco's long-standing presence in the Gatesville community has allowed us to build meaningful relationships with our customers and become a trusted partner in their financial journeys. We are excited to open our new branch in fall 2023.

Buckle Up: Check Fraud Is on the Rise—Here’s How to Stay Safe

Even though check usage has decreased by 25%, reports of check fraud have nearly doubled since 2021. Criminals are getting more sophisticated, stealing financial information to access—and fly off with—your hard-earned money.

Halloween On A Budget

In this blog post, we'll unveil some thrifty and budget-friendly tricks to make this Halloween a spooky success without draining your wallet.

The VA Home Loan: A Powerful Benefit for Veterans and Active Military

Explore VA home loans for Veterans and active military. Learn about eligibility, benefits, and how Extraco Banks can help you buy your next home with zero down.

ICYMI— The Ultimate Bizkill: Top 3 things that can derail your business plan

By: Mark Reynolds & Tim Holtkamp

ICYMI— Mission Marketing: Integrating Your Mission into Branding & Marketing Strategies

Every business owner has probably heard of a mission statement, but have you heard of Mission Marketing? August’s Bank & Brews workshop was all about just that— integrating your company’s values, goals and mission into your brand and marketing strategy.

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.

Building a Budget and Minimizing Debt

Accumulating debt can be overwhelming. See how we've worked with customers to change their current financial situation and prepare for their 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.

Should You Choose Dividend Stocks to Combat Inflation and Rate Hikes?

Inflation in the US has surged to the highest level in nearly 40 years, reaching 7.9% in February 2022. This, coupled with the US Federal Reserve’s decision to raise interest rates, has alarmed many investors

ICYMI— Recap of March’s Bank & Brews – Don’t Quit Your Day Job…Yet

By: Sam Brown

ICYMI— Bank & Brews | Marketing Skills: Keeping Things on Track

Part three of the series was led by Startup Waco’s Jon Passavant and covered some of the topics from Section 3 of the Marketing Skills Toolkit– Keeping Things on Track.

5 Tips for Maximizing Your New Year’s Resolutions

With inflation beginning to cool, this year might be an excellent time to set your resolutions for meeting your financial goals. After all, we could all use more money in our pockets and bank accounts. To maximize your chances for success, we have some tips to get you started, and you can begin by creating smart goals.

Calculating Your Debt-to-Income Ratios

Learn how to calculate your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) to estimate how much you can afford on your next mortgage. In addition to your credit score, your debt-to-income (DTI) ratios are looked at by closely by mortgage lenders when you apply for a loan. This ratio is extremely important in determining the risk associated with approval.

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Resources