Travel Tips
There is always a risk of debit card fraud and identity theft when you travel. Below is a list of tips to help protect yourself and your accounts when traveling to help ensure a safe vacation.
- Know your card’s PIN and withdrawal limits.
- Have multiple payment options. Keep an alternate form of payment in a different bag in case your wallet is lost or stolen.
- Only use secure Wi-Fi networks. Do not access important information such as your bank account through public Wi-Fi networks, such as airports or restaurants. Your sensitive information and bank accounts could be at risk if you use an unsecure network.
- Report your lost or stolen card quickly.
- Ensure your contact information is up to date so our Fraud Detection department can reach you in case we detect suspicious activity.
- Contact us before you travel with the dates and location of your visit. This will help us when monitoring activity and identifying if this was an authorized transaction or possible fraud.
Restricted Card Usage
- To minimize risk to our customers, we have restricted certain countries and merchants due to possible fraudulent activity and/or scams.
- If an area is restricted, you may not be able to use your American Bank card for any transactions in that location.
- Review our list of current blocked countries or contact a member of our Customer Service Team at 888.366.6622 to see if a country you may be visiting might be restricted.
Protecting Your American Bank ATM and Visa Check cards
- Protect your card and keep it in a safe place, just as you would with cash, checks or credit cards.
- Keep your PIN a secret. Never disclose it to anyone or write it down, especially on your card.
- Never give information about your card or PIN over the phone. We will never contact you asking to verify your PIN.
- Always be aware of your surroundings when using an ATM, especially at night. If you observe suspicious individuals near the machine, go to a different location.
- Look at the ATM for possible skimming devices which can be used to compromise your card and PIN information. Potential indicators of skimming devices may include resistance when pressing the keypad, loose, damaged, scratched, or crooked pieces/attachments on the card slot, sticky residue or adhesive criminals used to attach skimming device.
- Be careful no one around you can see your PIN as you enter it into the ATM. Watch out for shoulder surfers and use your other hand to shield the ATM keyboard as you key in your PIN.
- If you choose to receive a receipt after your ATM transaction, take it with you. Do not leave it at the ATM.
- Count your money and review your transaction receipt after you have left the ATM. It is not safe to display your cash out in the open. Remember to always be alert of your surroundings and limit distractions.
- When making online purchases with your card, make sure it is a trusted and secure site.
- Report lost or stolen cards immediately.
- Check your account activity by using our online banking service. Review your balance and transaction history, if you notice anything off, contact a member of our Customer Service Team at 888.366.6622.