1.    Call with travel plans

Call your financial institution whenever you plan to travel outside your normal spending area, not just out of the country. This will help prevent interruption in your Advantage Checkcard usage. 

 

2.    Worldwide Acceptance

Advantage Checkcards are accepted worldwide - everywhere Visa is accepted. Cash back at a PIN POS terminal is not generally available internationally. (Pulse PIN Debit is available at locations that display the Pulse logo in Canada, a small number of Caribbean countries and Mexico.)

 

3.    Purchases

When a debit card is used for a purchase outside the US, a currency conversion fee (usually 1-3%*) is charged on each purchase. Visa's Zero Liability policy applies to all purchases made with an Advantage Checkcard so you are protected in case of a lost card or fraudulent use. Write down your bank or credit union customer service number and the 24-hour international lost/stolen card number (608-240-7700) and carry these numbers with you. (The domestic 24-hour lost/stolen number is 800-236-2442.)

 

4.    ATM Usage and Fees

ATMs in foreign countries dispense the local currency and/or Euros and/or American dollars. When you use your Advantage Checkcard at an ATM in a foreign country, you are charged per withdrawal:

a. your institution's service fee and

b. surcharge fees by the ATM owner (which could be as high as 10% of the amount drawn - for example, a $300 USD withdrawal could incur a $30 USD surcharge) and

c. applicable currency conversion fees (usually 1-3%*).

You could choose to incur these fees and withdraw funds as needed rather than carry a large amount of cash. Cash advances may be made at banks and other locations; additional fees may apply.

 

5.    Gift Cards:

Refer to the Terms and Conditions for information about usage in foreign countries, liability to cardholders for lost cards and unauthorized use. Some gift cards cannot be used at ATMs. One benefit is that if a gift card is lost, the only funds in question are what is loaded on the card. A gift card could also serve as "back-up" in case the debit card was lost. It is generally inadvisable to carry one gift card with a large dollar amount loaded on it or to carry many small-amount gift cards, which would be like carrying cash.

 

6.    Explore the Advantage website

Be sure to Visit the Cardholders/using-your-card page to learn about ATM Safety Tips, POS Use Guidelines and Fraud Protection steps you can take to minimize risk exposure.

 

* Each financial institution has determined whether or not to pass this fee directly to cardholders or to charge a higher fee.