Setting up a travel alert with Citi is not mandatory, but it is recommended, especially for international travel.
It helps to reduce the likelihood of your credit card being flagged for suspicious activity while traveling, as your financial institution will be aware of your plans to make transactions in new locations.
To set up a Citi Travel Alert, follow these simple steps:
- Log into your account at citi.com.
- Hover over “Services” at the top, then click “Travel Services.”
- Click on “Add a Travel Notice.”
- Select the applicable cardholders, enter your dates, then click “Next.”
It is also recommended to keep your contact information up to date and download the Citi Mobile® App, which allows you to monitor your transactions while traveling.
This app will help you to stay updated with your account activities and manage your travel notices even while you are on the go.
What is a Travel Alert?
A travel alert is a notification that a credit card holder sends to their card issuer to inform them about their upcoming travel plans. This alert serves to inform the company that they might see transactions from different states or countries in the coming days or weeks.
Travel alerts can be beneficial for both the cardholder and the credit card issuer. For the cardholder, setting up a travel alert can prevent any unexpected blocks on their card due to unusual activity. When a credit card issuer detects unfamiliar transactions that deviate from the customer’s typical spending patterns, they may flag it as potential fraud and temporarily freeze the card.
By notifying the financial institution ahead of time, cardholders ensure that their credit card will remain active despite any unusual spending patterns they may exhibit during their travels. This can help minimize any potential inconvenience caused by a locked card and allow the cardholder to focus on their trip without monetary disruptions.
Some credit card issuers no longer require travel alerts on their cards, as their fraud detection algorithms have become more advanced and can differentiate between legitimate and suspicious transactions.
