Resources

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 to Improve Your Credit Score

Your credit score is a three-digit number which helps lenders determine the risk of lending you money. If you aren’t getting approved for credit cards or loans, you may need to improve your credit score. Building your credit isn’t a speedy process, but there are several things you can do to start paving the way to a better credit score.

Boost Your Savings Strategy with Extraco

Are you ready to accelerate your savings growth? At Extraco Banks, we understand the importance of making your money work for you and offer powerful financial tools designed to maximize your money. From Certificates of Deposit (CDs) to Money Market accounts, we have the solutions you need to achieve your financial goals.

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.

Tips to Keep Your Business Secure Online

Consider Yahoo, Marriott International, Adult Friend Finder, Anthem, and Target. What do these companies have in common? They’ve all experienced some of the largest data breaches in history. The scary thing is that you can’t protect all your data all the time, but there are many things you can do to guard against a cyber-attack.

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.

Utilizing Financial Tools in Extraco eBank

Incorporate your Extraco accounts, external bank accounts, and manually added financials into our budgeting, savings, debt, and spending tools. Using Extraco eBank, we’ve made it easy for you to take a “big picture” look at your financial journey. Combine all of your accounts, non-Extraco included, to build out visual dashboards.

Are checks really safer than debit cards?

Once you decide to buy something, you then must determine the form of payment you’ll use. Is cash easiest? Will you write a check? Or is your debit card the best way to go? Pros and cons exist for all methods of payment. Many of us decide quickly without thinking through potential fraud or payment protection. 

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.

Bill Pay And Voice Pay

Bill Pay is an online service which allows you to pay a person and/or a company through your online bank account. You determine who you want to pay, when you want to make the payment, how often you want to send the payment, and which account you want the payment to come from. It's safe, secure and easy to use.

Switching from Paper Statements to eStatements

Switching from paper to electronic statements is quick and easy! Save paper and reduce clutter by receiving your statements via email instead of the mail. You can view your statements, notices, and all documents through Extraco Banks online banking portal or our app, Extraco eBank.

Settling Financial Matters When a Loved One Passes

During the loss of a loved one, it can be hard to think straight and know how to unravel your loved one’s finances once he/she passes. It can feel overwhelming trying to deal with all the details. We've compiled a checklist of the typical duties of an executor when settling an estate.

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.

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.

Join Us In Supporting Our Hill Country Neighbors

In response to the devastating floods impacting the Texas Hill Country, Extraco Banks has opened a special FBO (For the Benefit Of) donation account to support those affected by this natural disaster. The account is now open to the public, and 100% of all contributions will go directly to victims and their families in impacted communities.

Understanding eBank Security Alerts

Extraco eBank offers several security alert options to notify you of specific account activities. Utilize customizable alert settings for added security on your account. When logged into Extraco eBank, select the Settings tab on the left hand side and then Alerts. Standard alerts are automatically toggled on, but you can adjust any as you see fit.

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.

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.

Money Steps You Should Take Now

Higher prices for goods and services also translate to less money in your bank account and less to budget with each month. Fortunately, there are smart money moves you can and should make right now to protect your future, and it all begins with a budget.

ICYMI– Best Practices for Business Finances

The importance of well-organized business finances cannot be overstated. Keeping accurate and well-organized financial data is critical for knowing the status of your business, tax season, and especially when seeking financing.

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.

The Difference Between Cash Flow and Profit

Cash coming into your business and the actual profit you make are two very different things, and almost always never total up as identical amounts. Read more to learn the difference between cash flow and profit.

Homebase

Homebase is a leading workforce management platform designed to simplify employee scheduling, time tracking, and team communication for small businesses. Read more about how Extraco Banks is committed to building businesses.

How to Utilize Mobile Deposit

Deposit into your account with convenience. Extraco banks is committed to providing you access to your account anywhere you are. Set up mobile deposit today!

How to Help Your Teenager Build Credit

Credit is the ultimate catch-22. To get credit, you must have a credit history. Young people wanting to establish themselves financially often find themselves in this conundrum. They've never had a credit card, haven't purchased their own vehicle and are not a home-owner. In other words, they're invisible to the credit bureaus. 

Virtual Assistants in Banking: Get Fast Answers to Banking Questions

You’re already familiar with the concept of a virtual assistant. Chat bots and virtual assistants have been around for a while, but they aren’t always as helpful as we’d like them to be. Newer technology, however, has improved this to provide you with the best answers to some of the most common questions we receive. You may have a question that falls outside the norm. Never fear! Our brand new chat feature also helps you to reach a real Extraco Relationship Banker to streamline the process from question to solution.