Traditional and Non-Traditional Money-Saving Holiday Ideas

Nov 21, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Coach Southern Bancorp Most of us love the holidays and the traditions that come with them. Establishing those traditions can sometimes cause financial stress, but knowing how to navigate the traditional space can work to your...

How to Avoid Overspending During the Holidays

Nov 14, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

How to Avoid Overspending During the Holidays By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Coach Southern Bancorp Ahh, the holidays are coming, and I can’t wait to celebrate! But along with the festivities comes the temptation to overspend. Overspending during the...

Financial Well-Being How to Remain Healthy, Wealthy & Wise

Nov 6, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

Financial Well-Being: How to Remain Healthy, Wealthy & Wise By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Coach at Southern Bancorp If you’re not feeling the pinch during this shutdown, chances are you know someone who is. Being financially stretched can be a...

End-of-the-Year Financial Planning Tips

Nov 3, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Coach at Southern Bancorp This article marks the conclusion of our month-long celebration of National Financial Planning Month! I hope you’ve found a few golden nuggets in the series and have already begun implementing some of...

Open Enrollment Season: What You Need to Know

Oct 24, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Coach at Southern Bancorp We’ve often emphasized the importance of financial planning for your overall financial well-being. One topic that tends to be overlooked is reviewing your health insurance policies. If you’re not...

Finding a Qualified Financial Planner

Oct 17, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Coach at Southern Bancorp National Financial Planning Month is a great time to seek expert advice from a certified or qualified financial professional. However, finding the right person can be challenging if you’re unsure...

How to Qualify for Down Payment Assistance Programs for Your New House

Oct 16, 2025 | Blog

By Miguel Vega, Director of Mortgage Production Are you eager to make your homeownership dreams a reality? At Southern Bancorp, we recognize that gathering funds for a down payment is often a significant obstacle for homebuyers. To alleviate this challenge, we offer a...

How Fed Rate Cuts Affect Mortgage Rates for Future Homeowners

Oct 16, 2025 | Blog

By Kortni Beene, VP, Mortgage Production Leader In the current mortgage financing environment, recent Federal Reserve rate cuts have significantly affected mortgage rates for potential homebuyers. It’s essential to grasp these changes, as a decrease in the...

Eight Components of Developing a Financial Plan

Oct 10, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Coach at Southern Bancorp In last week’s article, I discussed October being recognized as National Financial Planning Month. This week, I’ll explain the eight key components of developing a financial plan. These components...

October is National Financial Planning Month!

Oct 3, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Coach at Southern Bancorp October is the perfect time to review your finances. During the fall season, nature’s changes are evident with just a glance at your surroundings. The same can be said when you take a good look at your...