CUTX News
Buying a Home
Buying a Car
Fraud Protection
Home Improvement
Improving Your Credit
Managing Your Money
CUTX News
Buying a Home
Buying a Car
Fraud Protection
Home Improvement
Improving Your Credit
Managing Your Money

Having Good Credit Can Save You Thousands Per Year

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Having Good Credit Can Save You Thousands Per Year

Many people think credit scores only matter if you’re buying a house or a car. While it’s true that they’re important for those big purchases, there are a lot of other ways your credit score can impact your life. Whether you realized it or not...
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Home Equity Loans for Debt Consolidation

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Home Equity Loans for Debt Consolidation

Having a lot of debt can feel overwhelming. Even when you're keeping on top of your payments, having to juggle different loans or credit cards with different interest rates and due dates can be stressful. Consolidating that debt into a home equity loan..
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How Much Does a Credit Pull Really Hurt?

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How Much Does a Credit Pull Really Hurt?

Lenders use your credit score and credit report to determine your ability to repay loans. When lenders access your full credit report, it’s called a “hard pull” or “hard inquiry.” Your credit report details your credit standing and is used to...
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How to Build Your Credit From the Ground Up

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How to Build Your Credit From the Ground Up

Before you start building credit, you should at least have a basic understanding of what it is and why it’s important. Credit is money you borrow from someone or an institution that you have to pay back at a later time, usually with interest. This is...
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How To Check Your Credit Score

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How To Check Your Credit Score

You’ve seen the commercials and heard the phrase repeated just about everywhere: credit scores. They’re important not only for getting loans and good rates on credit cards, but they can also affect your ability to get an apartment or even a new job.
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How to Fix Your Credit

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How to Fix Your Credit

The Importance of Good Credit. Unless you are living off the grid in the middle of the desert with no intent to come back to civilization, you are going to need to establish good credit. Otherwise, things are going to be difficult and more...
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How to Get Help Managing Debt

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How to Get Help Managing Debt

American consumers passed a record $1 trillion in revolving debt in 2018. Moreover, for many people, that debt is out of control. That means they pay more on credit cards than for any other bills, pay one card with another, or max out cards.
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Popular Methodologies for Getting Out of Debt

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Popular Methodologies for Getting Out of Debt

In 2018, U.S. consumers hit a record high of revolving debt, more than $1 trillion. Revolving debt is debt that can be paid down, and then consumers can use again—like credit cards. For many people this ability to go back to the proverbial well...
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Tips for Getting Out of Credit Card Debt

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Tips for Getting Out of Credit Card Debt

Heavy credit card debt can make even day-to-day expenses difficult to manage. If your debts are causing you to stress it is time to make a plan to pay them off, once and for all.
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What is a Credit Score?

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What is a Credit Score?

Your credit score is a three-digit number that represents your credit history and tells financial companies how risky you are from a credit perspective. This can affect the rate you get on a loan or whether you can get a loan at all. Credit scores...
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Why You Should Avoid Payday Loans

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Why You Should Avoid Payday Loans

If you are stranded at sea and have little or no water, you may be tempted to drink seawater. Unfortunately, the salt in the seawater will dehydrate you and kill you even faster than you would have died without any water. That's the metaphor for payday...
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Why You Should Monitor Your Credit Score

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Why You Should Monitor Your Credit Score

You rely on credit scores and reports when making major purchases. Lenders will approve or deny loans that you apply for based on your credit history. Some employers, insurance companies, and utilities may review your credit report before offering...
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Best Cars to Lease For Your Lifestyle

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Best Cars to Lease For Your Lifestyle

Deciding which vehicle you should lease can be a huge and intimidating decision. With Americans behind the wheel for over 300 hours on average each year, you’ll likely be spending a lot of time in your car. So much so that the vehicle you choose is...
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Best Family Vehicles

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Best Family Vehicles

When you hear the term “family car” the image that pops into your mind is probably an ugly minivan. While many families do choose the quintessential minivan route at around the same time they trade in the “restaurants” line item on their monthly...
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GAP Coverage for FairLease Vehicles

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GAP Coverage for FairLease Vehicles

In an unpredictable world, GAP (Guaranteed Asset Protection) protects you financially if your leased car is totaled or stolen while you owe more than it’s worth. FairLease automatically includes GAP coverage in every vehicle we lease. Here’s why that matters.
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How Do Auto Loans Work?

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How Do Auto Loans Work?

Most people buying a new car will need to borrow money to do so. If you’re buying a new car from a dealership, you can often apply for the loan right when you pick out your car. You find a car you like and fill out loan application documents.
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How Does a Vehicle Trade In Work?

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How Does a Vehicle Trade In Work?

You want a new car. Also, you want to get money for your current car. The easiest way to do that is in one transaction—an automobile trade in at a dealership.
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How Excessive Mileage Fees Are Handled by FairLease

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How Excessive Mileage Fees Are Handled by FairLease

People go over the maximum number of miles agreed to on their lease contracts for a number of perfectly understandable reasons, and we’ve heard them all. Sometimes it’s because they are in a happy long-term relationship (congratulations!) and are...
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How FairLease Compares to Other Leasing Companies

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How FairLease Compares to Other Leasing Companies

Some people think, “A leasing company is a leasing company, right? All the same to me.” Too many consumers wrongly believe that our nation’s laws and regulations automatically ensure that any leasing partner they choose is just as good and safe as the...
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How Much Car Loan Can I Get Approved For?

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How Much Car Loan Can I Get Approved For?

Frequently, a car is a person’s first major purchase. It’s exciting, especially with all the cool features you can get these days. Everybody knows that your car is like your clothes. It says something about who you are; so most of us aren’t inclined to...
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How to Buy a Car From a Private Seller

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How to Buy a Car From a Private Seller

Automobile dealers are famous for having tricks up their sleeves to get you to buy a car. That is one reason it can be more relaxing to buy a car from an individual who has a relatively fixed price and doesn’t use all the high-pressure sales tactics.
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Want To Buy That Car You’re Leasing?

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Want To Buy That Car You’re Leasing?

If so, several factors should play into your choice. We’ve gathered a few here to help guide your decision. Maybe you’re crazy about the car.
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How To Get A Car Loan

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How To Get A Car Loan

Purchasing a new car can be intimidating, but it should be more exciting than scary. Securing a car loan can take some of the financial pressure off consumers making a major purchase and will help you get the vehicle that best suits your needs and...
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How to Get Approved for a Car Loan

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How to Get Approved for a Car Loan

Unless you already have the funds to pay for your new vehicle, you’ll probably need a car loan. And to get approved for that car loan, you may want to consider a few things that can improve your chances of getting approved for a great rate and payment.
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How to Refinance Your Car

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How to Refinance Your Car

Refinancing an auto loan sounds difficult, but it's actually fairly simple. When you refinance an auto loan at Credit Union of Texas, you’re essentially taking out a new loan with us to pay the balance on your current loan with your other lender.
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Leasing Your Next Vehicle with FairLease Makes Sense

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Leasing Your Next Vehicle with FairLease Makes Sense

Even the best car lease comes to an end. That situation can be good or bad, depending on the end-of-lease terms, your financial position, and your plans for getting your next vehicle. Start by knowing your options.
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Should I Trade In Or Sell My Vehicle

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Should I Trade In Or Sell My Vehicle

Buying a new car tends to be the fun part, whereas dispensing with your old vehicle is not as much fun. Should you trade it in, or should you take the time and energy to sell it to a private buyer? The answer usually comes down to whether you want...
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Tips for Trading In Your Car

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Tips for Trading In Your Car

You’re ready to trade out your car for a newer model. Ideally, you want to get the maximum amount for your car on trade in, meaning you would owe less for your new car. But how do you do that?
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What Happens At The End of a Lease

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What Happens At The End of a Lease

For you and your vehicle, an end-of-lease event can be exhilarating, bittersweet, and a little scary all at once. But who needs that kind of drama? With a little knowledge and planning, you and your car will face the inevitable...
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What Happens When You Refinance Your Car Loan

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What Happens When You Refinance Your Car Loan

You’re thinking about refinancing your automobile for whatever reason — a lower interest rate, better terms, to transition from a lease to ownership. What exactly happens when you do that? What happens to the old loan?
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When to Refinance Your Car Loan

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When to Refinance Your Car Loan

Most people have heard of refinancing a house, but did you know you could refinance a car loan? Since car loans are generally for a much shorter payment term than mortgages, it might seem simpler just to pay it off. However, changes in your circumstances
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Why You Should Get Pre-Approved Before Heading to Dealership

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Why You Should Get Pre-Approved Before Heading to Dealership

When it's time for a new car, do you go straight to the dealership? If you do, you can look forward to a full day of paperwork, finance disclosures, credit reviews, and lots of waiting. One alternative to spending a day at the dealership is to get...
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Complete Guide to Buying a Home

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Complete Guide to Buying a Home

Whether it's your first time or your 15th, buying a home is always a complicated process that requires a lot of research and planning. This is especially true if you're attempting to buy a new home and sell your current home at the same time.
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Cost to Refinance Your Home

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Cost to Refinance Your Home

Costs to refinance your home can run from $0 upfront, to several thousand dollars, depending on how the loan is structured. Usually it's between 2% and 5% of the amount of the loan. Getting your home mortgage refinanced is, sadly, no less complicated...
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Does a Mortgage Refinance Make Sense?

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Does a Mortgage Refinance Make Sense?

How do you know if it makes sense to refinance your mortgage? After all, it can be an ordeal, it can cost thousands of dollars, and it can take a significant amount of time. Even though there’s no rule against refinancing as many times as you like...
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The Complete First-Time Home Buyers Guide

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The Complete First-Time Home Buyers Guide

Buying a home for the first time can be as exciting as it is nerve-wracking. You want to find the perfect home for a great price, and you want to do it quickly. But where do you even begin?
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Guide to Low Down Payment Mortgage Options

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Guide to Low Down Payment Mortgage Options

It may seem like mortgages that let you pay a small down payment are few and far between. However, they’re the norm. A _National Association of Realtors 2017 survey said 88% of home buyers financed 90% of their home purchase.
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Guidelines for FHA Loans

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Guidelines for FHA Loans

Back in 1934, after the Great Depression, the federal government started insuring mortgages as part of FDR’s New Deal and have been doing so ever since. FHA Loans are issued through the Federal Housing Commission. These loans are mortgage loans backed...
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Home Projects To Do Before You Move In

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Home Projects To Do Before You Move In

Moving into a new home can be equal parts excitement and stress. To keep your eye on the prize, get started early! There are a handful of house projects you can take on before you even move in, so when your new home is a sea of boxes, you’ll still feel...
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How Much Money Should a First Time Home Buyer Put Down?

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How Much Money Should a First Time Home Buyer Put Down?

It’s tempting, when thinking about buying a first home, to compare the price of a month’s rent to that of a monthly mortgage payment—apples to apples. So, if your rent is $1,000 and the mortgage payment would be $1,000, why not buy the house?
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How Much Mortgage Can I Afford?

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How Much Mortgage Can I Afford?

You’ve decided to explore homeownership — it’s a thrilling time. And it’s also a time to do some research. One of the first questions you’ll ask in your quest is, “How much mortgage can I afford?” As you scan homes for sale, you’ll notice there are...
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How to Choose the Best Mortgage

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How to Choose the Best Mortgage

What kind of home mortgage loan is the best loan for you? There's a lot of advice on the Internet touting different kinds of loans, but really it depends on who you are and what your plans are for the future. It depends on how you like to pay for...
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How to Find And Choose a Mortgage Lender

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How to Find And Choose a Mortgage Lender

Mortgages are complicated. There are obscure terms many people are unfamiliar with, and all kinds of calculations that determine which is the best mortgage for you. The important thing is to find a lender who is interested in earning your business and...
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How to Get Rid of Mortgage Insurance (MIP/ PMI)

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How to Get Rid of Mortgage Insurance (MIP/ PMI)

What is mortgage insurance? Mortgage insurance is a type of protection set up by the mortgage lender as a safeguard against a buyer defaulting on their home loan. Insurance is often required for no down payment or low down payment mortgages.
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How to Get the Best Mortgage Rate

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How to Get the Best Mortgage Rate

Your mortgage will probably be the most complicated loan you’ll ever have. So, it’s important to get the lowest rate possible, especially if you are going to pay for it over a long period of time. We are just going to concentrate on how to get the best...
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How to Refinance Your Home

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How to Refinance Your Home

There are a lot of reasons to refinance your home. When interest rates drop, people often refinance to get a lower rate and lower payment. Borrowers with an adjustable rate mortgage frequently start with a 1- to 5-year fixed interest rate and...
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Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Should Avoid

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Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Should Avoid

Buying a home is a big undertaking. First-time and even veteran home buyers are prone to missteps, but with this guide, you can avoid many of the most common homebuyer mistakes
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Prepare Your Home To Sell Fast

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Prepare Your Home To Sell Fast

"Bathrooms and kitchens sell houses," is an adage for a reason. According to HGTV, a basic bathroom remodel tends to yield a 102% return on your investment. But wait, there's more! We've got a few additional recommendations for putting your home's best...
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Advantages & Disadvantages of Fixed Rate Mortgages

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Advantages & Disadvantages of Fixed Rate Mortgages

When choosing a mortgage, you need to consider a wide range of personal factors and balance them with the economic realities of an ever-changing marketplace. In any long-term scenario an individual’s personal finances often experience periods...
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What are Closing Costs on a Mortgage?

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What are Closing Costs on a Mortgage?

When people talk about home buying, they often say, “Don’t forget about closing costs.” What the heck are closing costs? On the day a buyer goes into the lender’s office and signs all the loan and home purchase paperwork, they will also be "signing...
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What Debt-to-Income Ratio Is Good When Applying For a Mortgage?

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What Debt-to-Income Ratio Is Good When Applying For a Mortgage?

DTI refers to your ‘debt-to-income’ ratio, and it is one of the ways lenders determine whether you can afford to take on a new loan. Your mortgage lender needs to be assured that you can repay the money you’ve borrowed, and of your ability to take on...
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What Does My Mortgage Payment Include?

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What Does My Mortgage Payment Include?

Whether you're in the process of applying for a mortgage, or whether you've just taken a closer look at your mortgage statement and noticed the breakdown of all the components of your payment, you may be wondering what all of these charges are for.
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What is an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)?

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What is an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)?

You’ve decided to become a homeowner — congratulations! Maybe you’ve spent time over the weekends visiting open houses and have an eye on a particular neighborhood. It’s an exciting time, but before you start picking out new curtains you will need to...
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What is an FHA Loan?

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What is an FHA Loan?

FHA Loans are simply mortgage loans insured by the government through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). They typically offer low down payments on a home mortgage to those that qualify. What is the FHA?
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Best Account Security Tools at CUTX

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Best Account Security Tools at CUTX

Keeping your account safe is a priority at CUTX, and that includes both the security of your assets and your personal information. If we notice any suspicious activity on your accounts, we’ll contact you to verify its authenticity.
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How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

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How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

Identity theft is a widespread problem in the U.S., affecting an estimated 60 million Americans. Thieves can use your identity to make purchases, take out loans, access medical care, or conduct any number of other fraudulent activities. This can...
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How To Safely Dispose Of Your Computer & Hard Drives

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How To Safely Dispose Of Your Computer & Hard Drives

These days it seems technology barely lasts a year before it needs to be replaced or upgraded. If you’re getting a new computer, you’re probably wondering, “What do I do with my old one?” You not only want to be environmentally conscious, but you want...
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How to Spot (And Avoid) Phishing Scams

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How to Spot (And Avoid) Phishing Scams

You're on a lake or by a stream, casting your rod and waiting for a bite - that's fishing and it's a relaxing pastime. Phishing, on the other hand is a type of deception designed to steal your personal data such as credit card numbers, passwords, or...
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Tips for Donating During the Holidays

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Tips for Donating During the Holidays

The holidays are a season of gift giving, and part of that giving is to charitable organizations. But deciding which charity to choose can be daunting if you aren’t mindful of the integrity of the organizations you’re giving to and protecting yourself...
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Tips for Preventing Online Fraud

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Tips for Preventing Online Fraud

Online shopping hits its peak during the holiday season, but you can be vulnerable to people who want to defraud you of your money at any time of the year. These tech-savvy fraudsters are very good at finding new and creative ways to get to your...
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What To Do If Your Identity Has Been Stolen

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What To Do If Your Identity Has Been Stolen

Identity theft is often talked about as an abstract thing that only happens in the dark corners of the internet. Unfortunately, the impact is all too real. Some estimates suggest as many as 16 million people have their identity stolen each year.
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Being Financially Fit When Raising a Child

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Being Financially Fit When Raising a Child

Sticking to a budget is hard. It’s even harder when you have kids because they want a lot of stuff. Staying on track is difficult because there are so many things marketed to them (and for them to you), especially those tiny clothes and shoes that are...
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Boost Your Savings With a CD From CUTX

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Boost Your Savings With a CD From CUTX

If you don’t have a portion of your savings in a CD, you may be selling your earnings short. This article explains how to change that. First, a quick look at savings accounts. Why are they popular? At a minimum, savings accounts do exactly what they...
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Childcare Costs

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Childcare Costs

Daycare Costs How Much? Ok, so did you just have a baby? Are you still basking in the newborn glow, casually scouting out daycare costs on the internet?
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Debit Cards vs Credit Cards

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Debit Cards vs Credit Cards

Should you pay for stuff with your credit card or with a debit card? Bottom line, it comes down to how financially disciplined you are. If you're the kind of person who only charges what they need and pays their balance off every month like clockwork...
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How to Grocery Shop on a Budget

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How to Grocery Shop on a Budget

When it comes to grocery shopping on a budget, the good news is that you're grocery shopping rather than ordering food out—which is five times more expensive. But these days, the grocery world is in turmoil, Amazon getting in the game...
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Having a Baby? You Need This Checklist

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Having a Baby? You Need This Checklist

Before we introduce our thoughtfully curated list of ways that we recommend you get your proverbial stuff together before you meet your baby, we’d just like to offer this disclaimer: there will always be things that catch you off guard after the...
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How to Host a Baby Shower On A Budget

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How to Host a Baby Shower On A Budget

If you've ever been to a baby shower, you're aware of how much goes into throwing a party for a little person who hasn't even been born yet! It's a pretty exciting event that can be as extravagant as an evening gala or as laid back as a backyard BBQ.
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How CD Laddering Works

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How CD Laddering Works

You have both short-term and long-term goals. You want to be able to save your money to achieve these goals. You want growth, and you also want to be able to access your money when you need it. Sometimes it’s hard to find the specific savings product...
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How Much Money Can You Make Being a Driver?

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How Much Money Can You Make Being a Driver?

If you’re looking for a solid side gig to bring in some extra cash, or want a job with a little more freedom and flexibility, you may have considered putting your wheels to work. With rideshare companies popping up all over the place, and frankly...
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How Much Money to Carry In Checking vs. Savings

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How Much Money to Carry In Checking vs. Savings

This is a common question people ask when they are just starting out. We can help you answer this question, and we’ll get you off on the right foot with money management habits that will serve you well in the future. Your checking and savings accounts...
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How to Budget for a Vacation

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How to Budget for a Vacation

When dreaming of your next vacation, it’s much more fun to imagine the sunny days and endless free time you’re going to enjoy, than to plan the budget. But get real – you don’t want the massive credit card bill to wipe out all that relaxation.
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How to Pay For Your Wedding

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How to Pay For Your Wedding

Ok y’all. We’re tackling something big here because we care about your financial well-being and your personal well-being. However, we need to be up front: we’re not wedding experts. There are a lot of them out there, and we’re not trying to pretend...
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How to Build a Budget That Works

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How to Build a Budget That Works

Budgets are a great tool but two-thirds of Americans don’t make them, and of the third who do, many don’t keep them. Why? Because a budget sounds like a diet. People think of both of these things as a punishment for being undisciplined...
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How to Develop a Family Budget

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How to Develop a Family Budget

Creating a family budget is a great way to stay on track with your financial goals. However, finding a way to create that budget can be a challenge. Many families struggle with their spending, especially if one person tends to spend more than others.
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Diversify Your Savings "Portfolio"

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Diversify Your Savings "Portfolio"

When you think of diversifying your portfolio, you think about your approach to investing in a variety of stocks or mutual funds to spread your exposure to risk across multiple investments. Investing in one type of asset is risky. Diversification helps...
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How to Gift Money

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How to Gift Money

One of the big changes brought by the 2018 tax reform is how much money (or stuff) one individual can give before getting taxed. Each person has a lifetime maximum they can give before those gifts are taxed. It used to be $5.49 million. Now it has risen...
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How to Save Money On A Wedding

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How to Save Money On A Wedding

No matter what kind of wedding you want, you’ve got to make it happen within a pre-set budget. Now, that doesn’t mean you’ll have to give up on all your hopes and dreams for your big day. There are plenty of ways to get what you want without starting...
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Ways to Stick to Your Budget

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Ways to Stick to Your Budget

People tend to make budgets only when their finances are giving them trouble, and not before. So, they may sit down in a fit of inspiration and knock out a budget that they forget within a week. Alternatively, they may make them in a flurry of...
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How to Survive Newborn-hood

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How to Survive Newborn-hood

Welcome to parenthood: no sleep, learning to do everything one-handed, not fitting into any of your clothes, and questioning every decision you make. (Aren’t you glad we didn’t tell you any of that was going to happen before you joined the club?)
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How to Teach Your Kids Financial Responsibility

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How to Teach Your Kids Financial Responsibility

It’s never too early to start talking to your kids about money. Teaching children strong financial habits early on will help set them up for success later in life. But how exactly do you go about building those habits?
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Is Stay-At-Home Parenting Right For You?

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Is Stay-At-Home Parenting Right For You?

It doesn’t matter if you’re thinking about starting your family, pregnant, a new parent, or growing by two. The question of whether one parent should stay home with the kid(s) or if the family would be better off with two working parents is bound to...
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Preparing Financially for Your New Child

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Preparing Financially for Your New Child

Are you having a baby? Congrats! Stop going out for coffee and start getting really friendly with your kitchen, because it’s time to start saving money wherever you can. Just kidding, kind of, anyway. I’m sure you’ve heard it dozens of times already...
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Saving for the Short and Long Term

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Saving for the Short and Long Term

One of the most common reasons you save money is to achieve goals — some you'd like to accomplish in the short term, like in the next year or two, or maybe even five. Some you'd like to accomplish in the long term, in the next ten years or even longer
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Savings vs Investments Balancing Return With Liquidity

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Savings vs Investments Balancing Return With Liquidity

If you're reading this, you likely have money left over after expenses, and you're wondering what to do with it. Maybe you just got a well-deserved raise, have encountered a windfall, or your efforts to stick to a budget have paid off.
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Smart Things To Do With Your Tax Refund

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Smart Things To Do With Your Tax Refund

It's tempting to fantasize about what to do with a windfall—like your tax refund. Got a $2,000 tax refund coming? You could pay off the balance on that credit card, pay off your car, or buy the vacation to Bali you deserve, or start that emergency fund.
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Smart Ways To Save For College

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Smart Ways To Save For College

To your kids, it's a chance to live a life of freedom and determine what they want to do with their life. To you, it’s a monumental expense that’s coming up way too quickly. It’s college and if the costs of paying for your children’s higher education...
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Start Saving by Improving Money Habits

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Start Saving by Improving Money Habits

Most of us have money habits and attitudes we are not even aware of that profoundly impact our financial lives. For example, some people become very anxious about buying big ticket items but won't think twice about spending $1,500 a year on daily stops...
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Tax-Advantageous Things to Do With Your Money

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Tax-Advantageous Things to Do With Your Money

Many people think of money as linear—it comes in, it goes out. It's associated with immediate need or gratification. Sometimes you save a little. In fact, money is multi-dimensional. It can do more than one task at a time—like create future savings...
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Tips for Saving Money

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Tips for Saving Money

Saving money doesn't require extreme measures. Most of us leak money all the time through dozens of small losses that add up to big losses. It's about plugging the holes. Here are some money-saving tips anyone can use.
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Complete Guide to Financing Home Improvements

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Complete Guide to Financing Home Improvements

Everything you need to achieve the home renovation of your dreams.  Many homeowners dream of renovating their homes top to bottom but will often settle for making smaller improvements over the years. If you’re serious about taking on a major project, congratulations! You’ve made it farther than most people, but you still have a lot of work ahead of you...
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How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost?

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How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost?

Trying to figure out how much your bathroom remodeling dreams might cost you? Surely there must be a ballpark figure for this kind of popular home improvement project. The trouble with supplying a flat figure to a bathroom remodel is that so much...
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What is the Cost of a Kitchen Remodel?

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What is the Cost of a Kitchen Remodel?

How much will it cost to remodel my kitchen? On average, according to homeadvisor.com, a kitchen remodel will run about $150 per square foot[1]. In reality, that number can vary greatly, as there are many variables to consider when taking on what’s...
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How Much Does it Cost to Build a Garage?

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How Much Does it Cost to Build a Garage?

Garages range from the merely functional to the deluxe. An uninsulated shed with just enough room to protect a car from the blistering sun and torturing hail is a garage. But so is a structure that not only protects your automobile but also gives you...
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How Much It Costs to Build a Pool

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How Much It Costs to Build a Pool

The all-time high temperature recorded in Dallas is 113°F, which occurred during the heat wave of 1980. It might not get quite that hot this summer, but there’s nothing like a dip in a backyard pool to keep your family cool, and guests entertained all...
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The Hidden Costs of Building a Swimming Pool

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The Hidden Costs of Building a Swimming Pool

There’s the cost of building a swimming pool. Then there’s the real cost of building a swimming pool. Many pool owners in the Dallas area will tell you it’s worth building a pool in your backyard, but every pool owner will tell you to prepare yourself...
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Home Equity Loan Process

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Home Equity Loan Process

Getting a home equity loan can be a fairly painless process if you have done your homework (pun intended). Getting all your financial documentation in order can help expedite the process greatly, but knowing how the whole process works can help you...
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Home Equity Loan vs HELOC

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Home Equity Loan vs HELOC

Whether you're sending a family member to college, you'd like to make some home improvements or consolidate debt, or an unexpected expense has come up, you can access your home's equity by taking out a second mortgage. Perhaps the value of your home has...
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How Does a HELOC work

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How Does a HELOC work

If you're looking to pay for a big purchase, large scale project, or other expense, you may have heard that home equity loans are one of the lowest-rate options for financing. That is because a home equity loan is tied to the available equity in your home
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How Texas Home Equity Loans Work

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How Texas Home Equity Loans Work

When is a home more than a home? When it’s a solid financial asset that expands your borrowing power. Your home may have what’s called equity, or stored value. You can offer your home’s stored value as collateral to banks and credit organizations...
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How to Calculate Your Available Home Equity Texas

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How to Calculate Your Available Home Equity Texas

Maybe you have some home improvement projects you've meant to take care of, or maybe it's time to get that new car or truck you wanted. If so, it might be a good time to think about a home equity loan. These loans provide you with the money you need...
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5 Common Bathroom Problems and How to Fix Them

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5 Common Bathroom Problems and How to Fix Them

It’s not glamourous, and it’s not what you’d like to talk about at that dinner party this weekend. However, as a homeowner, bathroom issues are some of the most common things that crop up, making you wish you still had a landlord to call.
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How to Get a Home Equity Loan

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How to Get a Home Equity Loan

So, you’ve decided to get a home equity loan. Maybe you need the money to remodel your bathroom or kitchen, or your kids are going off to college and you need a little extra for tuition, or an unexpected medical expense came up...
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5 Low-Budget Home Renovations (That Can Actually Make a Difference)

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5 Low-Budget Home Renovations (That Can Actually Make a Difference)

Did you know that the ROI (return on investment) on your home improvement projects is a variable estimate? It’s true. It’s about more than what’s on-trend.
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What is a Home Equity Loan

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What is a Home Equity Loan

A home equity loan is a type of loan that allows you as a homeowner to borrow against the equity (the difference between your home’s market value and how much you still owe on the mortgage loan) of your home. Similar to your mortgage...
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