Do I still need to tell my bank I'm going abroad?

Should you inform your bank if going abroad?

Yeah, duh. Tell your bank. Seriously. Think of it like this: you wouldn’t leave your pet goldfish unsupervised for a month, right? Your bank account is way more valuable than any Carassius auratus.

Failing to inform them is like leaving a giant, neon “Rob me!” sign on your financial life. They’ll freak, flag your transactions, and you’ll be stuck explaining yourself to some bored customer service rep while sipping lukewarm airport coffee. Not fun.

Here’s the deal:

• Online portal: Most banks have a slick online system. Use it. My bank, First National Bank of Awesome, has one. It’s ridiculously easy.
• Phone call: If you’re a Luddite (like my Uncle Barry), call them. Prepare for elevator music and potentially a long wait.
• Credit cards: Don’t forget those plastic rectangles! My Amex platinum card was once almost canceled in Paris. True story.

Pro Tip: For 2024 travel, do this at least two weeks before you go. Don’t be that guy. You’ll thank me later. Unless you enjoy needless stress. Then, knock yourself out.

Do I need to inform my bank when I travel abroad?

Ugh, remember that trip to Rome in 2024? Total chaos with the bank. My debit card got blocked! Completely useless for three days. I was stuck, seriously panicking, had to use my credit card, which had a lousy exchange rate. That sucked.

I’d completely forgotten to tell Capital One. So dumb. Felt like an idiot. Should have noted it on their app. They have an online travel notification thing, right? I just… didn’t. Lesson learned, the hard way.

Next time, I’m doing it differently. No question. Actually, I already did for my trip to Portugal last month. It was smooth sailing.

Here’s what I know now:

• Always notify your bank BEFORE you leave. Seriously, this is non-negotiable.
• Use the bank app if possible. It’s way easier.
• If not app, call. Don’t avoid the phone call.
• Credit card companies too! Don’t forget about them. They are often different. It is important.
• Keep your bank’s emergency number handy. Seriously. Write it down somewhere.

That Rome trip…man. Cost me extra in fees and stress. Never again. Travel insurance is also a good idea. I’m buying that next time for sure.

How do I let my bank know I am going out of the country?

So you’re jetting off, huh? Fancy pants. Don’t be a clueless tourist and get your bank account frozen like a popsicle in a blizzard.

Online Banking? Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Most banks have a “travel notice” thingamajig. Think of it as your passport for your plastic. It’s online, you just type in where you’re going – even if it’s a multi-country adventure like a James Bond film – and how long you’ll be gone. Piece of cake, right?

No online banking? You’re a dinosaur. Grab your rotary phone, dial your bank and tell them you’re not hiding in a witness protection program in Belize. Yes, it’s 2024, but some people still use phones that have actual buttons. Wild, I know. You need a travel alert, and the sooner you do it the better.

Why bother? Because your bank is paranoid, like my aunt Mildred who thinks squirrels are stealing her dentures. They don’t want your card declined in some foreign land, leaving you penniless and forced to eat only exotic fruits. This is especially true in 2024 with increased fraud. Avoid being stranded like my cousin Barry, he almost had to sell his vintage Beanie Babies collection in Prague.

• Fraud prevention: Think of it as a superhero cape for your debit card.
• Avoid account freezes: Don’t let your money become an ice sculpture.
• Peace of mind: Unless you enjoy stress eating churros in Cancun, inform your bank!

My buddy Mark forgot to tell his bank he was going to Jamaica and his card got blocked. He had to resort to begging tourists for spare change—true story! Don’t be like Mark.

How to notify a bank when going overseas?

Oh, jetting off somewhere exotic, are we? Don’t forget to tell the bank. They get so anxious when you start swiping in places they don’t recognize. It’s like they think you’ve been replaced by a rogue robot with a taste for paella.

• Online banking is your friend. Travel notice section is usually where it hides. Punch in where you are going and when you are coming back. Super simple. So easy even I can do it, and I once tried to pay for groceries with bottle caps.
• Multiple countries? No worries. Just list them all. Think of it as giving your bank a geography lesson. They might actually learn something!
• No online banking? Call them. Yes, actually talk to a human. I know, terrifying. But they are there. Setting up a travel alert is kinda their thing. And that’s that.
• Or, don’t tell them. Just kidding! Your card will get blocked faster than you can say “Espresso, por favor,” and then you are stuck doing the lambada for spare change. Not fun, trust me.
• Speaking from experience. I once didn’t tell my credit union I was going to Canada. They thought I was hacked, and I got a very stern talking-to when I got back.

Don’t be me.

Additional details:

• Double-check: Ensure your contact information is up-to-date. If they need to reach you, you want them to be able to. Maybe update your emergency contact while you are at it. My mother still thinks I am 12.
• Debit and credit cards: Alert them both. They are distinct entities. Do not assume informing them about one card covers the other. Trust me; I have learned the hard way.
• Consider a backup: Bring a second card from a different bank, just in case. Redundancy is your friend when wandering around the world. It is better to be safe than sorry. Also, maybe bring cash. Just saying.
• Review your spending limits: Make sure you are aware of your daily withdrawal and spending limits. You do not want to hit a limit while trying to buy that authentic beret in Paris. Although, are berets still a thing?

I will be on a plane soon enough to the Maldives. I must let them know before I end up doing the salsa for funds.