Should you call your bank before traveling?

Send money abroad

Before going on a trip, you’ve probably heard someone tell you: “Call your bank before you fly so your card doesn’t get declined.” Years ago, this was solid advice, especially since not having a working credit card abroad could put a damper on your travel plans.

However, in 2026, the answer is usually no. Banks have implemented solid security measures for credit cards, and credit card holders can expect flexibility when using them both locally and abroad. Many financial institutions¹ say they no longer require (or even accept) travel notifications, because fraud monitoring now happens automatically.

So, what should you do? You prep your account the same way you prep your suitcase. Update your contact info, turn on alerts, and have a backup plan for your finances in case your card gets blocked while you’re abroad.

Are you still supposed to notify your bank?

Most of the time, you don’t need to notify your bank when traveling, especially if your bank has removed the travel notice feature entirely. Chase¹ explicitly says it no longer accepts travel notices, and Capital One says travel notifications aren’t needed. Similarly, Bank of America² says it no longer requests travel notifications and recommends making sure you can be reached while you’re away.

That being said though, people still run into card hiccups abroad. However, it's not because you forgot a travel notice. It's usually because your bank can’t verify it’s you. Here’s a few reasons why your bank might flag your credit card transactions:

Your bank flagged a charge as unusual and tried to verify it, but couldn’t reach you (no roaming, new SIM, dead phone, missed email).
Your purchase pattern changed suddenly (multiple transactions in a new country within minutes).
The merchant’s payment terminal triggered an extra security step your bank didn’t like.
Your bank app couldn’t send you a push notification because you were on spotty Wi-Fi.

If you’re asking “should I call my bank before traveling,” the better question is: “Can my bank reach me if something looks off?”

Take, for example, this hypothetical scenario. You land in Tokyo, grab a cab, and stop at a convenience store for snacks and a transit card top-up. Your first small card tap goes through. But, when you check into your hotel, your card gets declined on the deposit.

You assume it’s because you didn’t notify the bank. However, what actually likely happened is your bank’s system saw that your card was used in a new country, tapped for a string of quick purchases followed by a large hotel charge, and it paused the transaction to double-check.

Normally, your bank would send a quick alert to ask if you’re the one who triggered a transaction and you’d approve it in seconds. This time, though, you weren’t able to respond as quickly as you normally would. The bank can’t confirm it’s you, so the hotel deposit stays blocked until you call.

Why did the notification disappear?

Travel notices were basically a manual note that said, “I’m going to Mexico, please don’t flag my card.” Many banks phased them out for a few practical reasons. The main reason is that security technologies became better and more advanced.

Fraud systems got better at spotting real risk.
Instead of relying on a travel notice, banks use ongoing monitoring and security tools to detect suspicious activity.

Many banks now prefer to “verify at the moment.”
Banks can instead monitor accounts and send alerts if suspicious activity is detected, so being reachable matters more than filing a notice.

Travel plans change, but a travel notice doesn’t update itself.
If you extend your trip, hop to another country, or forget to list a stop, the notice may not match what your account activity shows.

Alerts do more than a travel notice ever could.
Keeping contact information current and making sure you can receive SMS or calls while abroad are crucial because that’s how you resolve fraud checks quickly.

Although travel notifications are no longer mandatory, you still need to keep in mind safety tips that will help keep your card usage secure while you’re abroad.

A practical checklist before your trip

The last thing you want is your credit card declining during an important purchase. Here are some steps to prevent that from happening during your trip.

Update your phone number and your email. Log into your bank app and confirm your current number and email. If your bank flags a purchase, Wells Fargo³ details some safety tips on how you’ll clear it fast.
Turn on transaction alerts. Set alerts for purchases, large transactions, or “card not present” activity. Talk with your mobile carrier as well to check out your options for receiving SMS alerts while you’re abroad.
Plan your phone situation. Before going on your trip make sure you’re able to answer “yes” to these three questions:
-Will your number work abroad?
-Will you be able to receive SMS on your plan?
-Can you easily be contacted by your bank in case they have questions?
Know how to reach your bank from overseas. Save your bank’s international or collect call number, and save the number on the back of your card.
Bring a backup way to pay. Carry a second card or another payment method. Consider mobile banking to have easy access to your funds while abroad.
Carry small bills. For some countries, cash is still king, so having cash with you can come in handy while you’re going around. Even if you’re mostly using cards, you’ll want cash for taxis, tips, small shops, or when a terminal is down.
Keep an emergency “money access” option. This is where a service like BOSS Money can help as a practical backup. If you need to move funds quickly (either to a loved one or to yourself) BOSS Money supports multiple payout methods like cash pickup, bank deposit, mobile wallet, and home delivery, depending on the destination.

Special cases– when notification is still important

You usually don’t need a travel notice, but these situations are more likely to trigger verification checks, so plan ahead:

Long trips or multi-country travel (Over two weeks)
You’re more likely to change SIMs, miss alerts, or be harder to reach. Before you go, confirm your contact info and set up account alerts so your bank can verify unusual activity quickly.

Debit-card-heavy trips (lots of ATM withdrawals or debit purchases)
Some banks recommend enabling international usage and controls for debit cards and keeping alerts on so you can spot issues fast.

New card or unusual spending pattern.
If you rarely travel (or just got a replacement card), early overseas charges can look off. The fix is usually simple, and that’s to make sure you can receive alerts and respond quickly.

You rely on cash for travel spending.
If you prefer cash (or don’t want to rely on cards), have a realistic way to access or move money while you’re away. BOSS Money supports sending cash through retail partner locations without needing a card.

The bottom line is in these “higher-risk for flags” situations, a travel notice isn’t the main solution. Being reachable is your best protection. Before you leave, double-check your contact info, turn on alerts, and carry a backup payment option (or a cash-friendly way to access funds) so a quick verification doesn’t turn into a bigger headache.

FAQs

Do I need to notify my bank when traveling internationally?

Often, no. Some banks say travel notifications aren’t required and, in some cases, aren’t accepted anymore.

How to let your bank know you’re traveling (if there’s no travel notice feature)?

Instead of a travel notice, do the modern version:

Confirm your phone and email
Turn on alerts
Save international contact numbers
Carry backup payment

What’s the difference between a debit card travel notice and a credit card travel notice?

Historically, both served the same purpose to reduce false fraud flags while you were away. Today, many issuers don’t use travel notices for either scenario. Fraud monitoring is automated, and alerts and verification are the priority.

Why does my card still get declined if travel notices aren’t needed?

Usually, your card can get declined because the bank needs to verify it’s you and can’t reach you. That’s why updating contact info and making sure you can receive alerts while abroad is the real fix.

Travel with confidence with BOSS Money

Travel notices aren’t the “must-do” step they used to be. What matters now is staying easy to reach (so you can confirm a charge fast), keeping alerts on, and having a backup way to pay if something gets flagged.

And if you want an extra layer of flexibility (especially when you’d rather not carry a lot of cash) BOSS Money can help you move funds quickly with transparent fees and payout options that fit real life, depending on the country. You can explore cash pickup, bank deposit, mobile wallet, or home delivery. That way, a temporary card hiccup doesn’t turn into a trip-ruining problem.

Sources: all third party information obtained from applicable website as of January 07, 2026

https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/rewards-benefits/should-you-notify-your-credit-card-company-when-traveling
https://info.bankofamerica.com/en/digital-banking/alerts#:~:text=Is%20there%20a%20cost%20to,back%20of%20your%20card%20anytime
https://www.wellsfargo.com/privacy-security/fraud/articles/travel-tips/

This article is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to address every aspect of the matters discussed herein. The information in this article is not intended as specific personal advice. The information in this article does not constitute legal, tax, regulatory or other professional advice from IDT Payment Services, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, “IDT”), and should not be taken or used as such by any individual. IDT makes no representation, warranty or guaranty, whether express or implied, that the content in this article is current, accurate, or complete. You should obtain professional or other substantive advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the information in this article.