Originally Posted by
RussianTexan
I was reading some of the threads on financial matters related to travel and I read about banks freezing peoples' cards when it seems that they're being used abroad, possibly illegally?
Well, what about ATM/debit cards? If I use my BoA card at a Deutsche Bank ATM in Germany, will they do something weird? Should I tell BoA in advance, just so they know? Or can I just use my card in Germany and know that it won't be frozen or anything? Just curious. Thanks for your help, guys!
Most issuers will just ignore notifications you give about foreign travel, but it is a good idea anyway. Bank Of America uses fraud risk algorithms that are quite aggressive if you depart from your normal patterns. Thus I would notify them, and also call (it you have a cheap way to do so) just after your first foreign transaction reminding them that the transaction is yours. That way you may catch them just as the warning triggers. If you do talk with them, try to get the fraud department rather than normal customer service. The links between those two are not yet perfect.
ATM cards have different control than do credit cards, so make sure to contact both.
Some banks, not Bank of America, have the capability for those notifications online.