How to Notify Your Bank About Travel
Dealing with a credit card issues is never ideal, but it can be crushing when you are trying to enjoy your perfect hunting, fishing, or vacation trip. We want you to go out and pursue your favorite sport, while protecting yourself financially. Check out our tips below for saving yourself a spoiled trip by notifying your bank before any major travel.
You are ready for your trip. You have checked into your flight, packed all your clothes and gear, and everything is set up with your hunting or fishing guide. You’re confident that you have done everything needed for a successful trip. But, there’s one small thing you’re probably missing but is crucial for your vacation—notifying your bank about your trip.
In the past, credit and debit card theft was simple. A person would steal your purse or wallet, heads to the nearest ATM or store, and spend your hard earned money. Today, due to advancements in technology, debit and credit card theft can happen without them ever leaving your possession.
In fact, credit card thieves can read your credit card number right off the card with electromagnetic technology as you walk by them in the airport. And, they’ve devised other clever devices such as thin inserts into ATM machines that will read your card number without you even knowing it was in there. Then, before you know it your number will be used to charge something anywhere in the world.
Luckily, banks have developed very intelligent systems and algorithms to check for unusual charges on accounts. These systems often automatically trigger if a new charge comes through in a location that doesn’t match your previous charging patterns.
They can notify you any time something seems out of the ordinary, and can automatically freeze activity on your cards. The good news part of this is that it will prevent the thieves from continuing to use the cards and prevent you from further fraudulent charges.
You are ready for your trip. You have checked into your flight, packed all your clothes and gear, and everything is set up with your hunting or fishing guide. You’re confident that you have done everything needed for a successful trip. But, there’s one small thing you’re probably missing but is crucial for your vacation—notifying your bank about your trip.
In the past, credit and debit card theft was simple. A person would steal your purse or wallet, heads to the nearest ATM or store, and spend your hard earned money. Today, due to advancements in technology, debit and credit card theft can happen without them ever leaving your possession.
In fact, credit card thieves can read your credit card number right off the card with electromagnetic technology as you walk by them in the airport. And, they’ve devised other clever devices such as thin inserts into ATM machines that will read your card number without you even knowing it was in there. Then, before you know it your number will be used to charge something anywhere in the world.
Luckily, banks have developed very intelligent systems and algorithms to check for unusual charges on accounts. These systems often automatically trigger if a new charge comes through in a location that doesn’t match your previous charging patterns.
They can notify you any time something seems out of the ordinary, and can automatically freeze activity on your cards. The good news part of this is that it will prevent the thieves from continuing to use the cards and prevent you from further fraudulent charges.
However, this same safeguard can back fire, especially when you are traveling. If the bank notices charges in another state or country, they can immediately freeze your card while you are trying to use it. Then, right when you may need it, your card is frozen. This is why you should notify your bank of any upcoming travel.
A frozen credit card while on vacation can turn anyone’s holiday into a nightmare, whether it’s a one-month adventure across Europe or a one-week long-planned outdoors trip.
You should contact your bank before leaving so they will know to expect purchases from a foreign country. Let them know when and where you are travelling and provide them with the dates of your absence. The bank will make a note in your file and prevents the system from flagging your account when making foreign purchases.
Lee Huffman, a travel expert at BaldThoughts.com, says that if you’re using your credit card in a new location, especially a foreign country, that it’s a huge red flag for potential fraud. “My wife and I were visiting friends in Dallas a few years back and were buying some groceries,” Huffman says. “When it came time to pay, my card was declined as a potentially fraudulent transaction. I was beyond embarrassed to have this happen in front of my wife and friends.”
Traveler’s Ed, a columnist for IndependentTravel.com, suggests: “Call your bank or credit card company and let them know about your travel plans. Most banks and credit card companies keep track of spending patterns and may interpret an unexpected purchase as credit card fraud. Your bank or credit card company could lock your account if you use your card in another country without notifying them.”
Another benefit to alerting the bank of your travels is that many banks charge extra fees when you spend or withdraw money while abroad. The Bank of America foreign transaction fee is a great example of this. Bank of America actually has multiple fees that can be imposed. These include the Bank of America debit card foreign transaction fee and the Bank of America credit card foreign transaction fee. If you let them know that you will be traveling, you have a chance at getting them to proactively waive those fees, resulting in you saving a bit of money. Even if they won’t waive the fees, you can ask how much it will cost to use your card in another country since the fees vary based on where you’re travelling. This can be very helpful while you’re budgeting ahead of time and want to calculate how much money you will need for your holiday.
The cards that have no foreign transaction fees are: Amazon Rewards Visa Signature, Chase Ink Business Preferred, Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Private Client (CPC) Checking or Savings accounts, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, The Hyatt, United MileagePlus Club, Marriott Rewards Premier Plus, IHG Rewards Club Premier, British Airways Visa Signature, Marriott Rewards Premier Business, Private Banking accounts, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier, Premier Plus Checking accounts with Military Direct Deposit Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business, United Explorer, United MileagePlus Explorer Business, and United TravelBank.
Other things you could do to keep your money safe is to make copies of your important information and documents, like your account number and your bank’s 24-hour telephone. If you are able to bring, more than one debit or credit card and keep it in a safe place outside your wallet in case of your wallet getting stolen or lost.
It’s a good idea to prepare your PIN before traveling abroad because some international ATMs only support four-digit PINs. You have to make sure that your PIN does not start with a zero and know your PIN by the numbers, owing to the fact that some foreign ATMs do not have letters on the keypads. Some foreign card readers may require you to use a PIN with your credit card. In that case you will have to use the PIN assigned to your card and you will need to know it ahead of time. Also, research the area that you are visiting and see if your bank has ATMs in the area. Banks that operate worldwide have banks and ATMs in many countries, which could limit the amount that you have to pay in transactions of this. For banks such as Chase, Citibank, and Bank of America international ATMs are not uncommon.
A great tip is to have a copy of your banks phone number in case your card is stolen, and you need to cancel it. Even though you can easily look up the number if you have access to the internet, that’s not always the case, and it’s better to have the numbers on you in case you’re in a remote area and it’s an emergency.
Also, keep in mind that when travelling outside the United States, you will want to use a card that does not charge foreign transactions fees. Even if you have a card that you are able to churn points with, the foreign fees can negate the value of points and miles you’re earning.
To make it easy, we have made a list of how to notify the top ten banks about your travel. These options explain how to notify them online. If you don’t have online banking, you can just call your bank ad set up a travel alert on your account or go to your local branch and speak with a representative.
1) Chase Travel Notification
Luckily, setting up a Chase travel notification is easy. If you have a Chase credit card, you start by logging in to your online account. First you click on the icon with three horizontal bars at the top left of your screen, and then click on “Profile & Settings”. After you have selected “Profile & Settings”, you scroll down to the bottom under “More Settings” and click on “Travel”. At the far-right side of the credit card section there should be a section named “Update” that you should click. Lastly, you list your departure and return dates alongside your destination.
The travel notification on Chase can be set u to a year in advance for up to 90 days. There are some countries Chase can’t set up travel notifications for due to sanctions by the federal government’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
2) Wells Fargo Travel Plans
Wells Fargo travel plans section makes updating your information quick and simple. You just need to log into your account, go to the “Accounts” drop-down menu at the top of the screen, and click on “Manage Travel Plans”. Then, you enter your travel destination and the dates you depart and arrive.
3) Citi Travel Notification
Citi allows you to send travel notifications through its dedicated travel notice page instead of through your online account.
The process consists of going on the page and clicking on “Set Up/Manage”. Then, using your user ID and password you log in and select the card you plan to take with you on your trip. Then, click on “Add a travel notification”, and select which user will have the card, the destination you’re going, and your travel dates.
The steps for sending a travel notification are similar on the Citi phone app. You start by clicking on “Card Management” and then on “Travel Notices”, which takes you to the Citi’s Travel notices pages, where you click on “Add a Trip” Lastly, you select the card you plan to take with you and enter the trip’s date.
4) Bank of America Travel Notice
Setting up a Bank of America travel notice for your Bank of America Visa, Bank of America American Express card or other similar cards, can be done through your online account or phone app. When doing it through the online account, you need to log in and go over the “Help & Support” tab on the menu, and then click on “Set Travel Notice”. Afterwards, you enter your travel dates and destination, cards you’re taking with you, a contact number, and any other travel details that are relevant according to you. Make sure to keep a copy of your Bank of America credit card number handy so that you are setting up the alerts on the right card.
You will also want to review some of the best Bank of America credit cards for travel. They offer 4 different credit cards that they offer that are supreme. However, the best for travel is probably the Visa Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card. If you are a Bank of America customer, but are not using this card, definitely look into it. It has a $0 annual fee, 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase and 0% interest for the first 12-month cycle.
5) American Express Travel Notification
There isn’t an option to create a travel notification online for American Express. Due to the fraud detection practices this bank uses, setting an American Express travel notification is completely unnecessary. However, you will want to make sure that your contact information is up to date in case the card company needs to contact you. You can also download the Amex app so that tracking your spending is even easier.
6) Capital One Travel Notification
A Capital One travel notification is also unnecessary. They state that you don’t need to set a travel alert of any type before using your card outside the United States because the bank uses EMV chip technology and its users can make secure transactions abroad without notifying Capital One in advance.
7) Discover Travel Notification
In order to set up a travel notification with Discover, you need to log into your account online. Once you have logged in, you should select the card you plan on taking with you and click on the “Manage” menu tab that’s at the top of your screen. Then, click on “Register Travel” which is under the “Manage Cards” section, and enter your trip dates and destination.
PNC Travel Notice
To log a PNC travel notice, you need to Log into Online Banking and click on the Customer Service tab. Look for the Account Services section, and select Debit/ATM Card Services. Select Edit/View Preferences and a profile of your current card will pop-up. In the corner of that page is an option to “Notify PNC of Foreign Travel”. Add the date you are leaving and returning, countries you will be visiting, and any applicable contact information. Then just hit submit and you are done!
8) S. Bank Travel Notification
The U.S. Bank doesn’t allow creating a travel notification through your online account and instead recommends that you contact its customer service team directly. They note that if your card is blocked, they have a 24/7 Cardmember Service team that can help. The customer service number is, 1 (800) 872-2657.
9) SunTrust Travel Notice
When you log into your online account, click on “My Settings”, then on “My Profile”, and select “Travel Notifications” from the menu bar on the left. In the “Travel Dates” field you should enter the beginning and end dates of your vacation. In the Destination” field, select “United States” or “international” and then select your destination state or country. Lastly, submit the notification.
If the aforementioned banks aren’t the bank you we’re looking for, you can just call your local branch and they will give you instructions on the process for notifying them of your travels.
In conclusion, notifying your credit card company of your planned trip will not only protect you from any fraudulent activity, but it will also help you keep your credit card from being frozen in error. This will keep your money flowing freely and available when you need them the most while travelling abroad.
