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Summer Travel Tips to Protect Your Card Use

Published: July 3, 2025

Summer Travel Tips to Protect Your Card Use

Planning a summer getaway? Before you hit the road or board a plane, take a few easy steps to help ensure your cards—and your trip—stays secure.

Travel light—only take the cards you need.
Clean out your wallet before leaving for vacation. Carry only the cards you plan to use and keep them in a secure spot. Fewer cards mean less risk if your wallet is lost or stolen.

Let us know you're traveling.
Heading out of town? Let us know before you go. Card issuers often monitor for unusual activity and may flag transactions in unfamiliar locations. Adding a travel notice helps reduce the risk of legitimate purchases being declined. With myUSSFCU Online & Mobile Banking, you can securely message us to provide your travel dates and destinations.

Use your digital wallet when possible.
Digital wallets like Apple Pay™, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay™ offer a safer way to pay—especially while traveling. They reduce the need to carry physical cards and use encrypted tokens instead of your card number, adding a layer of fraud protection. You can add your USSFCU debit or credit card through your device’s wallet app in just a few taps.

Use credit over debit when possible.
Credit cards generally offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards. If you're booking travel, making hotel deposits, or shopping in unfamiliar places, consider using your USSFCU Smart Rewards Visa® to protect your funds and earn points. Unlike debit card fraud, which can directly impact your checking account, credit card issues are typically easier to resolve without affecting your cash flow.

Be smart about ATM use.
Stick to ATMs located in secure, well-lit areas—ideally inside a bank, store, or airport terminal. Before inserting your card, inspect the machine for any unusual attachments or loose parts around the card reader or keypad. Fraudsters sometimes install “skimmers” to steal card data. If anything looks off, find another machine.

Avoid public Wi-Fi for banking.
Avoid logging into your financial accounts or entering card information while connected to public Wi-Fi networks—especially in hotels, airports, or cafés. Use a secure network or your phone’s mobile hotspot whenever possible to keep your information protected.

Turn on real-time transaction alerts.
Enable card and account alerts through myUSSFCU Online & Mobile Banking to monitor your accounts closely while you travel. Real-time notifications let you know when your card is used and can help you spot suspicious activity the moment it happens.

Keep an eye on your accounts.
While you're enjoying your vacation, check your account activity regularly using the mobile app. Popular tourist destinations can attract fraudsters, so monitoring your accounts during and after travel is key. If you notice any suspicious charges, contact us immediately.

Know what to do if your card is lost or stolen.
If your USSFCU credit or debit card goes missing, call us right away at 800.374.2758 to report it. You can also log into your myUSSFCU app and use the Card Controls feature to instantly lock or unlock your card. Acting fast can help limit any potential losses.

Wherever your travels take you this summer, USSFCU is here to help you stay financially safe—every step of the way.

Article content is for informational purposes only.

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