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5
 min read

How Does Extra Work?

Extra is the first debit card that builds credit. We rounded up everything you need to know about how Extra works from debit card rewards to no interest fees!

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Credit Wizard
April 23, 2021
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Extra 101
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Credit 101
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4
 min read

How To Build Credit Without a Credit Card

The rumor that it takes credit to build credit is our biggest pet peeve. You can totally build credit without credit, but clearly not everyone’s privy to this life-changing information.

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Credit Wizard
March 24, 2022
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Credit 101
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4
 min read

6 Financial Resolutions You Can Actually Stick To

You may have some big money goals this year, and we’d like to help you achieve them, so we’ve made a collection of financial resolutions that you can actually stick to.

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Credit Wizard
February 28, 2022
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Finance 101
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3
 min read

Debit Card Rewards Programs Exist — Here's What You Need to Know

**Breaking news** debit card rewards programs exist! The rumors are true, and we’re excited to spill the tea.

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Credit Wizard
December 27, 2021
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Extra 101
4 ways to take control of your credit card debt
5
 min read

4 Ways to Take Control of Your Credit Card Debt

Don’t get us wrong, taking control of your debt can be challenging, but once achieved, it can be one of the most rewarding things you’ve ever done.

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Credit Wizard
December 24, 2021
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Credit 101
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4
 min read

The Pros and Cons of Debit and Credit Cards

Should you get a debit or credit card? A debate greater than team Jacob vs. team Edward.

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Credit Wizard
December 23, 2021
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Finance 101
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6
 min read

What You Need To Know About Lines of Credit

Borrowing money is a big deal so you should always know what options are available to you and use them wisely.

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Credit Wizard
December 17, 2021
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Credit 101
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4
 min read

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Building Your Credit

When trying to build your credit, you can come across some rocky terrain. Continue to be a responsible credit builder by avoiding these five mistakes:

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Credit Wizard
December 15, 2021
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Credit 101
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3
 min read

10 Things All 20 Year Olds Should Know About Money

If you feel lost when it comes to money management, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

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Credit Wizard
November 24, 2021
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Finance 101
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4
 min read

A Deep Dive Into Each Credit Score Range

While credit score ranges may be a completely new word in your vocabulary — don’t worry. We compiled the ultimate breakdown of each credit score range so you know exactly what your credit score means.

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Credit Wizard
November 22, 2021
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Credit 101
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4
 min read

Where to Begin When Cleaning Up Your Credit Score

Maybe you didn’t make some of the best financial decisions when you first got your credit card or auto loan, causing your credit score to take a pretty big hit. We’ve rounded up a to-do list for cleaning up that credit score!

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Credit Wizard
November 20, 2021
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Credit 101
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3
 min read

How to Dispute Your Credit Report

Your credit report is a breakdown of your financial history put together by the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Sometimes, there are errors made that you'll want to dispute.

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Credit Wizard
November 18, 2021
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Credit 101
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4
 min read

A Cheat Sheet To Decode Your Credit Report

Learn what’s in your credit report, how to get your credit report, and why being able to decode your credit report is the first step to building up your credit!

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Credit Wizard
November 17, 2021
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Credit 101
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4
 min read

How Is Credit Card Interest Actually Calculated?

Your credit card interest rate is the ultimate enemy of your financial goals! Knowing how credit card interest works can empower you to take back control. Let’s break this down. 

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Credit Wizard
November 15, 2021
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Credit 101
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4
 min read

What to Expect from a Landlord Credit Check

Before a landlord agrees to rent an apartment to you, they want to make sure you’ll be able to pay your rent every month. The thought of this can be a bit overwhelming, but there are some things you can do to prepare for your prospective landlord’s credit check.

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Credit Wizard
November 11, 2021
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Credit 101
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5
 min read

The Dangers of Credit Card Debt that Will Make You Stop Swiping

Credit card debt gets dangerous when it gets out of hand and it’s clear you’re living beyond your means with little to no plan of how to pay the credit card company back.

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Credit Wizard
October 24, 2021
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Credit 101
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4
 min read

​​What’s the Minimum Credit Score for a Car Loan?

Upfront, we’re going to let you in on a secret, there actually isn’t a universal minimum credit score required for a car loan. But, your credit score can affect your loan terms and ability to get approved. 

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Credit Wizard
October 22, 2021
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Finance 101
Credit 101
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3
 min read

Everything You Need to Know About Buying a House

Congratulations! You’re getting ready to buy your own home — that’s kind of a big deal.

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Credit Wizard
October 21, 2021
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Credit 101
Finance 101
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4
 min read

Can You Build Credit With a Debit Card?

It used to be that one of the only ways to build credit when you had literally no credit history was to get a secured credit card. Over here? None of that nonsense.

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Credit Wizard
October 19, 2021
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Credit 101
Extra 101
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4
 min read

What Your Credit Card Balance Actually Means

Credit cards can be great ways to pay for everyday purchases and a useful tool in your financial toolkit because they help you build credit. But, they can also be dangerous if you carry a balance you can’t pay off.

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Credit Wizard
October 19, 2021
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Credit 101
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4
 min read

How To Stop Asking Your Parents For Money

One of the first times you feel that you’re actually “adulting” is when you can finally stop asking your parents for money. Keep reading for everything you need to know to become financially independent. 

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Credit Wizard
October 18, 2021
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Finance 101
5
 min read

Breaking Down a Good Credit Score

For better or worse, your credit score is important. Everyone wants to have a good one, but everyone doesn’t even know what a good one is. Don’t worry, we’re gonna let you in on the secret. 

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Credit Wizard
October 6, 2021
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Credit 101
5
 min read

How to Save Money When You Barely Have Any

From furniture to an emergency fund, we’ve all got a long list of things we need to save for. But...how are you supposed to save money when you barely have any?

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Credit Wizard
October 6, 2021
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Finance 101
6
 min read

Gossip About Your Credit Score That Just Isn't True

Most of us didn’t get a class to cover credit or credit scores in school, leading to a lot of misinformation out there. That's why we busted 10 of the most common credit score myths!

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Credit Wizard
September 27, 2021
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Credit 101
4
 min read

Tips For Financial Planning In Your 20's

Most twenty-somethings can relate to the idea of “figuring things out," so we rounded up our top financial tips for twenty-somethings who just don’t know where to start when it comes to a budget.

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Credit Wizard
September 8, 2021
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Finance 101
5
 min read

What Credit Score Do You Need To Buy A Car?

It's no secret that most cars are expensive and that most car buyers in the US need a loan! The secret to a good loan? A good credit score!

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Credit Wizard
September 8, 2021
All
Credit 101
5
 min read

Breaking Down Credit Score Ranges

Everyone is talking about credit scores but no one is explaining what they are, or where to even find out what your credit score is, so we broke down some credit score basics for you!

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Credit Wizard
September 8, 2021
All
Credit 101
6
 min read

How Student Loans Affect Your Credit Score

If you went to college, you probably had to take out a student loan or two. Most college students don’t have much of a choice. What most college kids don't know, however, is how these loans affect your credit score!

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Credit Wizard
September 8, 2021
All
Credit 101
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2
 min read

Budgeting 101

A budget is the first step towards meeting your big financial goals. Check our ultimate guide to budgeting to learn how to save and spend wisely.

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Credit Wizard
August 19, 2021
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Finance 101
4
 min read

What Affects A Credit Score

Whether you’ve recently checked your credit score, or finally Googled what a credit score is, you may have questions about what makes up a credit score.

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Credit Wizard
August 19, 2021
All
Credit 101
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2
 min read

Debit Card Benefits You Didn't Know Existed

Your trusty debit card has some major benefits that you should take advantage of.

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Credit Wizard
July 23, 2021
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Extra 101

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The Aligned Company d/b/a Extra (“Extra”) is a technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by and the Extra Mastercard Debit Card is issued by Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC (“Issuing Bank”), pursuant to a license from Mastercard USA. Cardholders must be at least 18 years old and a citizen of the United States, or a permanent resident with a valid social security number (SSN) or ITIN. Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who applies for an Extra Debit Card. Your eligibility for the Extra Debit Card is the decision of the Issuing Bank. All transaction and account activity is subject to review and approval by both Extra and the Issuing Bank.

In order to transact with your Extra Debit Card, you must have an active, Plaid-compatible bank account linked to Extra’s services (“Partner Account”). In the event your Partner Account is disconnected from Extra services for any reason, you will not be able to use your Extra Debit Card. Within 30 days of the date of each transaction made using your Extra Debit Card, Extra will initiate one or more ACH debits to deduct equivalent funds from your Partner Account. These ACH debits typically deduct funds from your Partner Account within 2 to 3 business days after initiation by Extra. You are responsible for keeping track of your available Partner Account balance.  If the ACH debit is successful, Extra will report positive payment history to the credit bureaus. If the ACH debit fails and remains unpaid for 30 or more days as of the last day of the month, Extra may report negative payment information to the credit bureaus.

Increases or specific changes to your credit score are not guaranteed. On-time payment history can have a positive impact on your credit score. Late or non-payment may negatively impact your credit score. Impact on your credit may vary, as credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors, including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations. The Extra Debit Card and related services will not remove negative credit history from your credit report. Extra will report your activities to Experian® and Equifax®. Please refer to our
Terms of Service and Cardholder Agreement for additional details.