Traveling can be an exhilarating experience, offering the chance to explore new places, meet new people, and create lasting memories.
Whether you’re heading out for a weekend getaway or a longer adventure, a little preparation can help keep your accounts secure while you’re away. Before you leave, take a few minutes to set up these digital banking tools and review a few simple ways to protect your financial information while you travel.
1. Set Up Real-Time Account Alerts
Real-time account alerts make it easier to keep tabs on your accounts wherever you are. You can customize alerts for activity such as large withdrawals or deposits, low or high balances, and cleared checks. Many alerts are typically sent within seconds of account activity, helping you stay informed while you’re away.
Learn how to set up real-time alerts here.
2. Add A Travel Notification
If you’re traveling outside your normal spending area, let Royal know before you go. To help prevent fraud, Royal monitors debit, credit, and ATM card transactions for unusual activity. Adding a travel notification can help prevent transactions from being blocked while you’re away.
If you’re planning to travel outside your normal spending area, submit a travel notification at least one business day in advance. You can conveniently add one using Card Management in online banking or the Royal mobile app.
Learn how to add a travel notification here.
3. Know How To Manage Your Cards
A missing debit or credit card is stressful enough at home, let alone when you’re traveling. If your Royal card is lost or stolen, Card Management lets you quickly turn the card off in online banking or the mobile app. Turning off a card prevents transactions from being made with the physical card, although transactions using the card number or a digital wallet may still be possible.
Learn how to turn payment cards on & off here.
4. Switch To Paperless Statements
Before you leave, consider switching from paper statements to e-statements if you haven't already. Going paperless means you won’t have statements containing personal and account information sitting in your mailbox while you’re away. It also keeps your statements conveniently available through digital banking when you need them.
Learn how to switch to paperless statements here.
5. Consider Using A Digital Wallet
A digital wallet can give you another secure and convenient way to pay while you travel. Digital wallets use security features such as encryption and tokenization to help protect your card information, and they allow you to keep multiple cards together digitally. Having your cards in a digital wallet also gives you another payment option without having to carry cash or every physical card with you.
Learn more about digital wallets here.
A Few More Ways To Protect Your Information While You Travel
Digital banking tools can do a lot to help you stay connected to your accounts, but a few simple precautions can provide additional protection while you travel.
Be careful with public Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi networks at airports, hotels, coffee shops, and other locations may not be secure. Avoid using public Wi-Fi for financial transactions, online shopping, or accessing sensitive information.
Watch for card skimmers. Before using an ATM, gas pump, or other card reader, look for anything that seems loose, damaged, or out of place. Card skimmers can be attached to legitimate card readers to collect card information.
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