Blogs

Deposit Your Next Check With Your Phone Making a deposit with your phone is an easy process and will save you a trip to the bank. But, if you have never done this before it may be a bit intimidating. At Dubuque Bank & Trust, a division of HTLF Bank, we want to make this process as easy as possible for you - it's as simple as sign, tap, snap, deposit: Sign: Sign and endorse check with “For Mobile Deposit Only.” Tap: Tap “Deposit Check” in the app, enter the check amount and then select your account Snap: Snap a picture of the front and back of your check Deposit: Confirm the details, hit submit and you’re done! We are in...

Use This Powerful Financial Tool with Care Do automatic payments make sense for your finances? Setting up regular withdrawals for your bills and subscriptions can make life significantly more convenient, but it can also come with some downsides. Keep these pros and cons in mind as you consider whether to integrate automatic payments into your everyday life. Types of Automatic Payments Typically, automatic payments are made using one of two methods. With the first method, you can authorize your financial institution to automatically withdraw money from your account and send it as a payment each...

Avoid Using Your Savings For the Unneeded Things Sometimes there’s not enough room in the budget for extras. Perhaps you have your eye on a new pair of shoes, are eager to upgrade your living room with a new couch or you have to be the first in your friend group to possess the latest gadget. If you need funds for a shopping spree or splurge, consider the following tips to earn extra money. Get a Side Gig A part-time job or side gig is one way to earn another paycheck to cover wanted expenses. If you love dogs, offer your services as a dog sitter or dog walker. NerdWallet recommends the Wag...

Spending Money Now to Benefit Your Future No matter what your plans are for your life, you don’t want money to get in the way of achieving your goals. As such, you may want to consider investing your money during each stage of your life to make your aspirations are more attainable. Going to School Saving money for your education can be difficult, especially if you intend to continue your schooling right after high school. However, in addition to setting aside spare cash for your post-secondary education, you should set up a 529 college savings plan. While 529 plans are typically set up by...

Practices that reduce your spending and save you money The foundation of successfully managing your finances is budgeting, and a pillar of budgeting is learning to distinguish your needs from your wants. If you can’t differentiate those, you could wind up overspending on luxuries that you can’t afford. Give your budgeting skills a refresher by improving your ability to distinguish your wants from your needs. Why Should You Budget For Your Wants? If something makes you happy, why should you deny yourself that pleasure? Haven’t you earned that indulgence for working hard every day? The problem...