Pre-Travel Money “Musts”

Summer is in full swing and with it comes summer travel plans! If you are planning a trip, don’t forget to include a plan for your finances, too. Our tips will make it easy for you to finalize planning, keep your money safe, and minimize spending.

When you travel out of the area, let us know so that we don’t report unusual activity on your account. Without notification, we might block your card until we can confirm that it’s you. If you're heading out of town, simply email us, call us at (800) 649-0193, or start a conversation in online or mobile banking by selecting Messages and let us know which 1st United cards you will be bringing with you, how long you will be traveling, and where we can expect purchases or withdrawals to occur so we can keep an eye on things for you.

Easily monitor your accounts while traveling with account and fraud alerts. We’ll proactively let you know if something suspicious happens with your account. This is especially important if you are travelling abroad, however, it is beneficial to have safety steps like this in place all the time. Text alerts help to protect you, your money, and even your identity in your everyday life. Call us or login to your account and start a conversation to enroll in fraud text alerts.

It’s fun to decide where you are going and what you will be seeing when on vacation, but don’t forget to have a plan for spending as well. Budgeting is key to planning the perfect vacation. Organize your funds by outlining how much you will be spending (especially for accommodation and food costs). Set daily limits for yourself for withdrawals. Include an ICE (in case of emergency) fund and be sure to add 1st United Credit Union’s phone number just in case! Then you can save any leftover money for that souvenir you had your eye on.

Thinking about your water or electric bills should be the last thing on your mind when you’re traveling. Leave without worrying by setting up automatic bill pay. To set up one-time or recurring bill payments, simply log in to your online banking account and select “Bill Payment Center” in the left hand column. The service is free and it allows you to receive, view, and pay your bills all in one convenient location. You can also set up email alerts for new bills, bill due dates, and upcoming payments.

With our financial to-do list, you can’t go wrong. Your vacation will be safer, well organized, and stress-free. As always, feel free to call us at (800) 649-0193 if you have any questions or concerns. Safe travels!