Tips to keep your money safe while travelling

Planning your next overseas adventure?

Before you go, get to know the simple ways that you can better protect your money abroad – so that you can enjoy your holiday with peace of mind.

Choosing your travel money

Cash

It may come in handy to have some local currency on you for smaller transactions like tipping or shopping at local markets. Plus, having some cash on hand is a good backup option if your credit or debit cards get lost or stolen - just remember to keep your cash in a secure place.

If you need to withdraw cash abroad, withdrawing larger amounts less often can help reduce your overall ATM fees.

Bank cards

Paying your way overseas with a credit, debit, or travel card can be a quick and easy way to transact, as well as a great way to stay on top of your spending through your financial institution's App.

You can also travel with peace of mind knowing that if you contact your bank about a lost or stolen card, they’ll be quick to help block your cards and, in some cases, cancel unauthorized transactions or recover lost funds. Just make sure to familiarise yourself with your bank’s emergency contact numbers before you go.

When looking for the right bank card to travel with, look for free fraud protection services and worldwide acceptance. Also, keep in mind that each bank will have different foreign transaction fees and withdrawal limits.

For example, at People First Bank, you can pay and withdraw up to $2,000 AUD per day (per card) by selecting 'Credit' with your Visa Debit or Credit Card when you see the ‘Visa’ logo.

It’s also important to check that your cards' credit limits and expiry dates suit your travelling budget, and to renew your card before you go if needed.

Tips to keep your money safe

Keep track of your accounts

Make sure that you’re familiar with your financial institution’s App or online banking so that you can monitor your accounts on the go.

Keep your valuables in a safe place

When you arrive at your destination, try to locate the safest place to keep your valuables.

You might also want to consider not stashing all of your money in one place. That way, if some of your cash is stolen or lost, you still have a backup stash to keep you going. The same goes for multiple cards—just take one with you for the day and keep the rest in a secure place.

Secure your devices

Secure your personal information by password-protecting all your devices and setting them to auto-lock after a few minutes of inactivity. That way, even if your phone or tablet goes missing, it's harder for someone to access your data.

Better safe than sorry

Make copies of important documents like your passport, travel itinerary, and travel insurance policy. Give these copies to a trustworthy friend or family member back home, so you can easily access them in case of emergencies.

Keep your bank in the loop

Give your bank the heads-up that you’ll be travelling overseas. This way, they can keep an eye out for any suspicious activity on your account.

Letting us know that you’re going away is as easy as:

• Sending us a Secure Mail via Online Banking,
• Calling us on 13 11 82, or
• Visiting a branch.

If you're a People First Bank customer and you need to contact us while you're overseas, you can call us on +61 8 7078 4200 during our Customer Hub opening hours.

If you suspect suspicious activity on your card while you're travelling, you can contact our 24/7 Visa International Hotline team at + 61 2 8299 9101, who can cancel your cards as soon as possible.