Bank OZKSmart Money Habits Blog

Lack of financial literacy in young adults is a growing problem that leads to a lifetime of struggle with financial capability and independence as adults. They will spend much of their early adulthood learning these lessons the hard way, and unfortunately, at that point, it is significantly harder to change that ingrained behavior. Fortunately, teaching […]

It can be difficult to think about saving when there’s hardly anything extra in your budget, or you’re living paycheck to paycheck. However, saving is possible, even on the tightest of budgets. One of the best ways to save is by paying off debt. Repaying debt in a timely manner saves you money on interest […]

Human resources managers serve an essential purpose for many companies. They often take care of training, recruitment, payroll, and the occasional complaint. They also can provide great insight to company employees on some financial matters, including insurance and retirement. Those are all necessary responsibilities; but have you ever considered how your HR office can help […]

When first starting a savings journey, many personal finance experts suggest making $1,000 your initial goal. This can be considered a “rainy day” fund, and it is perfect for those inconvenient and often-unplanned expenses like new tires or a plumbing issue. However, 2020 has shown us that when it rains, it pours. To prepare for […]

We live in an age of convenience, where everything is automated, from car washes to your fantasy football draft picks. Automation can also apply to your banking, especially in how you save money. From debit card round-ups to automated transfers, there is a full suite of banking services at your disposal, designed to amplify your […]

One of the best things about shopping at local businesses is their focus on customers. They treat you like family. They genuinely care about your experience because their business depends on you. Like a story I saw on CBS News about The Fuller Cut, a Michigan barbershop that promotes child literacy by offering a $2 […]

It’s hard to imagine now, but in 1998, there were no major retailers selling shoes online. The prevailing belief was people won’t buy shoes they haven’t tried on. Zappos.com founder Nick Swinmurn thought otherwise. Armed with a statistic that 5% of all shoes were sold from mail order catalogs, Swinmurn approached venture capitalists with his […]

There are so many reasons to shop local.  It helps your neighbors.  It helps the environment.  It grows the economy that matters most to you—the one outside your front door. Custom Made, which is an online marketplace for local artisans, created a fantastic infographic that shows just how important it is to support small businesses.  […]

Shortly before his death, author Kurt Vonnegut published a poem called “Joe Heller” in The New Yorker that contains a great financial lesson.  Check it out: True story, Word of Honor: Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer now dead, and I were at a party given by a billionaire on Shelter Island. I said, […]

Kids, go get your mother. She’ll never see another fire like this one. –Thomas Edison Many of us have burned through money. Even more of us have seen our finances go up in smoke. But Thomas Edison literally saw his life ravaged by fire over and over again. He lost his first job as a […]