Vacation season is just around the corner. Whether you’re traveling close to home or around the world, here are some tips to keep your money safe.
Carry more than one form of money.
You know that old saying, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket”? Make sure you take cash and a credit or debit card or two cards. If you run out of cash or lose access to a credit or debit card, you won’t be stuck with no money to get home.
Get cash for the country you’re visiting.
We exchange more than 90 foreign currencies, available in various denominations. Travelers can order currency while at the bank conducting other business. Whatever you don’t spend we’ll buy back at competitive rates of exchange. With cash in hand, you can skip ATM and cross-border fees and won’t lose precious vacation time looking for a place to buy local currency. You can also avoid the security risk of exchanging large amounts of money locally.
Consider a prepaid travel card.
A prepaid travel card can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. It is a great option for children on school trips, or a college student studying abroad. Simply set the card up with a prepaid balance and add funds online as necessary. A Companion Card is also available for more than one traveler.
Make sure we have your contact information.
Our credit and debit cards include fraud monitoring, so you can rest assured we’re watching for any suspicious activity. If we do see unusual spending on your card, we’ll get in touch to make sure you made that transaction. So before you travel, make sure we have current contact information for you. If we have a cellphone number, we can send fraud alerts via text so you can address it right away and avoid disruption. If you do get a fraud alert, please read it carefully before responding.
Make sure you have ours.
If the worst-case scenario does happen, and your card is lost or stolen while traveling, contact us right away at 1-855-342-3400. In fact, if you have any issues with your card, give us a call. We recommend saving that number in your cell phone for easy reference.
And, don’t worry, if your card is lost or stolen, you are not responsible for fraudulent activity. There are conditions and exceptions; go to www.mastercard.com for full details.
If you’d like more information or personalized advice, First Interstate is here to help. Stop by any of our branches or call our Client Contact Center at 1-855-342-3400, and one of our bankers will be happy to give you a hand.