Everyone likes a good adventure but the fastest way for that adventure to go south is by not being prepared when it comes to your financials. Not only is it a big deal to have enough money to be on your journey, but it is important to have your funds available throughout your time.
So often the biggest mistake those traveling make is forgetting to contact their financial institution before their travels. When this happens, your card is taking a trip to which your bank is unaware and because of that it often you face financial shut down.
In my own journey, I have found that very scenario, when I moved to a new city only a short distance away and began purchasing things for normal life, my bank raised a big red flag. I must say there is nothing more embarrassing than being at a check out stand with money in your account but no way to access it.
Typically when this happens you are given a call from the institution, however this call does not always come at the time of your embarrassing purchase. In this case, you must call your bank, and hope it is during their operational hours to confirm your purchases and validate that you in fact are using your card in these locations.
When traveling from state to state, however many times instead of awaiting this call, there is a hold placed and many times a reissue immediately to the user at their home address. This can prove to be a sticky situation for those traveling because this process can take up to two weeks.
The best way to save yourself from all of this, simply call your institution before and let them know the dates of travel and the expected states of your adventure. Many institutions also now offer this service on their downloadable apps to make the process quick and easy for those traveling.
I know the feeling of embarrassment can only be dwarfed by the feeling of financial panic so don’t let this turn into your situation and simply be prepared.
Quick Reference For Financial Institutions:
Bank of America: 1-800-432-1000
Wells Fargo: 1-800-869-3557
CitiBank: 1-888-248-4226
Capital One: 1-877-383-4802
USAA: 1-800-531-8722