You’ve saved and planned for vacation for months. Whether a trip of a lifetime or a relaxing week at the beach, don’t forget to also plan to keep your finances safe while away! Fraudsters love when your guard is down and with a little preparation, your trip can save you from being stranded without any form of payment.

🧳✈️ Ready, Set, Travel!

Image setting out on a relaxing vacation with not a care in the world only to run into financial chaos while away. Don’t worry, NexTier Bank is here to help understand how you can keep your finances safe while on vacation.

Consider these tips while traveling this summer:

Tip 1: Let Us Know You’re Traveling

Before heading out on vacation, make sure to download the NexTier Bank Mobile App, if you haven’t already. In the Cards section of the Mobile App, you can alert us of your travel plans so that we know out of town purchases are not fraudulent. It is here you can add countries and states you plan to visit, with two travel plans per card and 15 destinations within each travel plan.

Don’t have a smart phone or prefer not to use our Mobile App? Stop into any Branch and let a Teller know you will be traveling!

Tip 2: Pay Bills Before You Leave

Leading up to vacation, check the due dates for upcoming bills to avoid having to make payments while away. Paying bills on public Wi-Fi is risky because unsecure networks leave your login credentials and debit card numbers vulnerable. Fraudsters are also known to set up fake networks that use legitimate names. By connecting to their network, they can gain full visibility into your browsing history and transactions, monitor unencrypted information, and push malware directly to your device. Use your cellular data or a personal hotspot instead.

Pay all bills before leaving or place them on auto pay to avoid late fees.

Tip 3: Turn on Real-Time Transaction Alerts

By enabling push notifications in the NexTier Bank Mobile App you will be alerted for every transaction made using your debit card. If a fraudster uses your card without your knowledge, you will know immediately, not days later or when your transaction is declined for insufficient funds.

Tip 4: Use Credit, Not Debit, When Possible

Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards. When debit card fraud happens, the money is taken directly from your account and can take several days or weeks to recover. With a credit card, you are disputing a charge, not trying to get your money back. It is best to use credit cards while on vacation and leave your debit cards at home. If you do not have a credit card, only carry what you need.

Tip 5: Be Smart at the ATM & Watch for Skimmers

In the event that you run out of cash or are in need of cash for tipping purposes, stick to ATMs inside bank branches or hotel lobbies when possible. Avoid standalone machines in high-traffic areas, which are more commonly targeted with skimming devices. Before inserting your card, give the card reader a quick tug as skimmers are often loosely attached. Don’t forget to cover the keypad when entering your PIN and always be aware of people nearby (a practice known as “shoulder-surfing”).

Skimmers are more common than you might think and secretly read and store the data from your card’s magnetic strip or chip so fraudsters can clone the card and steal your funds.

Tip 6: Protect Your Physical Cards and Wallet

The best place to keep your debit or credit card, even your wallet, is in a front pocket. Your back pocket is practically an open invitation to skilled pickpockets in crowded tourist destinations. If you have a Radio Frequency Identification-blocking wallet, use it! An RFID-blocking wallet prevents wireless card skimming in crowded places. Never leave cards or your wallet unattended, even briefly at restaurants, in your hotel room, or poolside.

Tip 7: Be Mindful on Social Media

Posting your location is essentially announcing that you’re away from home which can attract the wrong attention. Consider sharing travel photos after you return home rather than when it is happening.

Tip 8: Know Your Numbers Before You Go

Save NexTier Bank’s Fraud and Card Support telephone numbers in your phone before you leave. If your debit card is lost, stolen, or compromised while traveling, you’ll want to be able to reach us quickly. You can also turn your debit card off using the NexTier Bank Mobile App to prevent any unauthorized purchases. If you can, keep a small amount of emergency cash stored separately from your wallet as a backup.

Protecting your financial security remains our highest priority. Visit the NexTier Bank Fraud Center for up-to-date information on scams.