How to create a credit card travel notification

Written by: Ben Luthi
• Updated •4 min read
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Woman with backpack holds her cell phone while sitting at the airport waiting for her flightImage: Woman with backpack holds her cell phone while sitting at the airport waiting for her flight

In a Nutshell

If you’re leaving on a trip, don’t forget to put travel notifications with your credit cards on your to-do list. To save you time, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide for common issuers.
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If you’re planning an upcoming trip, your to-do list is probably already a mile long. But before you leave, it may be in your best interest to keep your credit card issuer in the know with a travel notice.

“If you’re using your credit card in a new location, especially a foreign country, that’s a huge red flag for potential fraud,” says Lee Huffman, a travel expert at BaldThoughts.com.

To protect itself and you, your issuer may end up declining the charge.

If this happens, you’ll typically have to call the issuer to prove you attempted to make the purchase and get the go-ahead to try again. But it can still be an embarrassing experience.

“My wife and I were visiting friends in Dallas a few years back and were buying some groceries,” Huffman says. “When it came time to pay, my card was declined as a potentially fraudulent transaction. I was beyond embarrassed to have this happen in front of my wife and friends.”

If you’re overseas or visiting an area with bad cell service, it could get even worse. If you can’t get ahold of your bank and don’t have a backup payment method, you may end up stranded.

To help avoid this potential hassle or an embarrassing situation, contact your bank to let it know your travel plans. It’s also a good idea to make sure your contact info with the issuer is up-to-date. That way, it can easily contact you if it spots an issue while you’re away.

How to set travel notifications with common credit card issuers

“The easiest method of placing a travel alert is to call the number on the back of your credit card,” Huffman says. “You can also send a secure message through the bank’s online portal.”

But if you don’t want to wait on hold for customer service or you’re leaving for your trip in the next few days and can’t wait for a message to be processed, you may have other options. And depending on the issuer, you may not even need to create a notification at all.

American Express

Because of the fraud detection practices the issuer uses, setting an American Express travel notification is unnecessary. In fact, there’s not even an option to create one online.

Bank of America

Bank of America no longer requires customers to set travel notices.

Barclays

Barclays states that customers do not need to provide notice of travel abroad but you may still be able to set up an alert through the mobile app or online:

  1. Log in to your account and go to Tools/My Travel.
  2. Share where you’re traveling to and the dates you’ll be gone.

Capital One

As with American Express, setting a Capital One travel notice isn’t necessary. While there still seems to be an option through your online account, clicking on it gives you the message, “Travel notifications are no longer needed!”

Chase

Chase no longer accepts travel notifications.

Citi

Rather than searching through your online account, Citi allows you to create travel notifications through its dedicated travel notice page.

  1. Click on “Set Up/Manage.”
  2. Log in using your user ID and password.
  3. Select the card you plan to take with you and click on “Add a Travel Notification.”
  4. Select which user(s) will have the card, your travel dates and destination.

You can also create a travel notification through Citi’s mobile app:

  1. Click on “Card Management.”
  2. Click on “Travel Notices.”
  3. This will take you to Citi’s Travel Notices page. Once there, click on “Add A Trip.”
  4. Select the card you plan to take with you.
  5. Enter your trip’s start and end date.

Discover

To set up a travel notification with Discover, start by logging into your account online.

  1. Select the card you’re planning to take with you.
  2. Click on the “Manage” menu tab at the top of your screen.
  3. Click on “Register Travel” under the “Manage Cards” section.
  4. Enter your destination(s) and trip dates.

U.S. Bank

You can set up a travel alert with U.S Bank through your online banking account, using the app or by contacting its customer service team directly.

Wells Fargo

You can set up a Wells Fargo travel plans notice through the bank’s mobile app or through your online account.

  1. Start by logging into your account.
  2. Hover over the “Accounts” drop-down menu at the top of the screen.
  3. Click on “Manage Travel Plans,” which is under the “Manage Cards” section.
  4. Enter your travel dates and destination(s).

Fast Fact

What if I’m traveling to several places?

Depending on the issuer, you may be able to choose multiple destinations, so you don’t have to set a different travel alert every time you move to a different location.

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Bottom line

Setting up credit card travel notices is a good idea if you want to avoid the hassle of contacting your credit card issuer while traveling. And while you’re at it, make sure you have the right card for your trip. For example, some of the best travel credit cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making them a great travel companion for overseas trips.

Some of them also offer special travel protections, such as travel accident insurance or trip cancellation and interruption insurance, which can reimburse you for some costs if your trip is canceled or cut short for a covered reason.

Shop around and compare several cards with your current one to make sure you’re getting as much value as possible.

About the author: Ben Luthi is a personal finance freelance writer and credit cards expert. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and finance from Brigham Young University. In addition to Credit Karma, you can find his wo… Read more.