Your luggage is packed, your plane ticket is booked, and your itinerary is set for your summer travel adventure. You’ve got everything on your checklist, right? Handling personal finances is an important step that many people forget about before they take off on their vacations. So, before you relax and dip your toes in the sand, we have a few tips below you may want to take with you to ensure happy and safe travels for you and your personal finances.

Alert Your Financial Institution

This may seem unnecessary when in fact, it could be the difference in accidental disruptions or denials of card services.  Card activity is monitored by fraud prevention services for suspicious activity. If you normally use your card here in Yolo County and then all suddenly get charged in Europe, it’s going to be a red flag. Cards may then be restricted if these monitoring services cannot get in contact with you to confirm if the purchases in question were yours or not. An easy way to prevent this from happening is to let us know where you’re traveling to and for how long. Whether you’re traveling just to Los Angeles or out of the country, your safest bet is to give us a call or stop by a branch to let us know you’ll be gone.

Use a Credit Card

All our cards are issued by Visa®, a globally recognized brand, which means you can use our Credit and Debit Cards anywhere around the world. However, our Visa Gold and Visa Platinum Credit Cards have additional benefits for traveling, such as no international transaction fee and travel insurance benefits to protect you on your adventure. Before you head out, speak with one of our representatives about how our Credit Cards can keep you protected for your summer travels.

Purchase Foreign Currency

If you are traveling abroad and prefer cash or just want some as a backup, you may want to consider purchasing foreign currency. Yolo Federal can order and sell foreign currency, but make sure you order it at least two weeks before your trip. It can take about 3-7 business days for your currency to be delivered, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time for it to arrive and for you to pick it up from one of the branches before you set out on your trip.

Utilize Mobile Banking

The Mobile App gives you the freedom to monitor your account from anywhere. When traveling, it is always wise to take advantage of the app’s added security features, such as transaction alerts. These alerts can notify you of activity on your account. Also, you can turn your cards on and off directly within the app. Keeping your cards off until you need them will help prevent fraudulent transactions from posting should your card be compromised while you’re gone. Additionally, the app allows you to securely contact a representative about your account even when you are away on your summer travels.

Whether you’re near or far, Yolo County’s #1 Best Credit Union will put your mind at ease and allow you to enjoy the vacation you deserve. Consider these tips as you plan your upcoming vacation and speak with a Yolo Federal representative about how we can help you financially plan for your summer adventure by calling (530) 668-2700 or by scheduling an appointment. From our family to yours, happy travels!