Travel Advisory

Visa® Debit and ATM Card Travel Advisory

Important information for customers traveling abroad and planning to use their ATM or Visa Debit cards.

How Our Travel Advisory Program Works

Americans shopping abroad may experience merchants refusing to accept their debit or credit card. Specifically in the United Kingdom, cardholders must now have a smart card and a PIN to make a purchase.

Using your card in the United Kingdom

• Most U.S. issued cards have magnetic stripes only (not a computer chip) and any PIN associated with the card will not work in the U.K. at the point of sale. However, the PINs will still work at ATMs overseas.
• The American Automobile Association (AAA) says some merchants in the U.K. are not aware that a U.S. magnetic stripe card will work in the new terminals and other merchants may be reluctant to accept only a signature.
• The U.K. fully switched to the “Chip & PIN” program this year. AAA encourages Americans to be more persistent with merchants to complete the transaction with a signature, instead of a PIN.

We monitor all cardholder transactions

• In addition, Elsewhere Bank monitors all cardholder transactions for potential fraud. The Bank encourages all cardholders to contact us when making travel plans.
• A Elsewhere Bank representative will complete a Cardholder Travel Form when speaking with a customer to ensure we have the details of your trip and contact information should a suspect transaction occur.

Let us know your travel plans

We pride ourselves on customer service and security. We want to ensure you are able to make your purchases without any interruption. Please contact us and let us know your travel plans.

• Toll Free: 1-800-555-9000