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Planning a Trip Overseas? We serve members overseas better than anyone else! We've got everything you need to ensure the financial side of your trip goes off without a hitch.Click on one of the links below for more information: Foreign Currency Exchange International Service Assessment (ISA) Fee Checking Your Account and Paying Your Bills While Overseas Need Cash? Using Your ATM/Visa Check Card Overseas Create or Update Your Power of Attorney Put Your Valuables in a Safe Deposit Box Foreign Gold and Classic MasterCard Transaction Information Foreign Visa Platinum Transaction Information Travellers Cheques Wire Transfers Credit Card and Check Card Restrictions Tips Before You Go Foreign Currency Exchange
State Department Federal Credit Union takes pride in offering you the most convenient, safest and secure method of purchasing foreign currency for 100+ countries and American Express Travelers Cheques in 17 countries without paying exorbitant fees found in airports, hotels and currency exchange outlets found throughout the world. Here's What You Get:
International Service Assessment (ISA) Fee Currently, a line entitled, "ATM FEE" or "FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE" appears when foreign currency transactions are made. This is an International Service Assessment (ISA) Fee. In simple terms, an ISA fee is a currency conversion fee that is passed through to you. This fee is NOT a new fee, but changes with card company regulations now require it to be disclosed separately on your statement. For many years this fee was included in the exchange rate by Visa and MasterCard as part of the total transaction amount. Since all transactions on U.S. issued credit and check cards are posted in U.S. dollars, Visa and MasterCard convert any foreign purchase amount into U.S. dollars and charge a currency conversion fee for doing so. In our case, Visa and MasterCard charge a 1% fee for foreign transactions made with your SDFCU Credit and Check/ATM cards for currency conversion, while other card issuers charge as much as 3%. Using your SDFCU Credit and Check/ATM card for overseas transactions offers you the best value for your money! How SDFCU compares against the competition.*
Click here for a list of frequently asked questions about the ISA Fee. Checking Your Account and Paying Your Bills While Overseas Wherever you are, you have access to your accounts and a range of services using any PC or with a simple toll call. SDFCU Online Banking gives you the convenience of banking from anywhere, 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year. As long as you have access to a PC with Internet access and a browser that supports 128-bit encryption you can complete a range of banking transactions anytime, day or night. The first step is to register online before you leave. With Account24, our 24-Hour telephone account access service, you just need to call us at 703-706-5000 from any touchtone phone and meet the cost of the international call. If you are calling for the first time, you will need to know your account number and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Need Cash? Using Your ATM/VISA Check Card Overseas ATM cash advances are limited to a daily maximum of $400. There is no limit on the number of transactions you may make. You may normally access your account 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, including holidays. To find an ATM anywhere in the world, click here. Create or Update Your Power of Attorney - An Important Document A power of attorney is a document that authorizes an individual to act on your behalf on matters of legal or personal importance. It is recommended when going overseas so someone you trust can take care of your business and/or personal matters while you are gone. It is often used by those assigned on unaccompanied overseas tours so spouses/family members can carry on financially in your absence. A power of attorney can be specific or broad with regard to the authority you want to grant. For financial and medical authority you want to be very specific. For example you should include the type of financial transactions you authorize such as borrowing, investing or opening your safe deposit box. Since a power of attorney can cover a wide spectrum of responsibilities, the person you choose - called an attorney in fact - needs to be responsible and reliable. For your convenience, we offer three Limited Power of Attorney templates that you can use: For a General Limited Power of Attorney form, click here. For a Provisional Limited Power of Attorney form, click here. For a Limited Power of Attorney Form for Vehicles, click here. Leave Your Valuables in a Safe Deposit Box Safe deposit boxes provide you with a safe way to store valuables and important documents. We offer safe deposit boxes at our State Department and Alexandria Branches. There are three sizes to choose from, so you can choose the box that suits your needs. Boxes are available in 3x5, 5x5, and 10x5 sizes. All of the safe deposit boxes are located in a secured vault so your valuables and important documents are protected. Important papers to consider putting into your box: originals of your insurance policies; family records such as birth, marriage and death certificates; original deeds, titles, mortgages, leases and other contracts; stocks, bonds and certificates of deposit. Other valuables worthy of a spot in your safe deposit box include special jewels, medals, rare stamps and other collectibles, negatives for irreplaceable photos, and videos or pictures of your home's contents for Insurance purposes (in case of theft or damage). Foreign Gold and Classic MasterCard Transaction Information
Foreign Visa Platinum Transaction Information
Travellers Cheques Travellers Cheques are a safe, easy way to protect your travel money. Whether you're journeying around the world or across the country, Travellers Cheques provide convenience and peace of mind when you're on the road. They are still one of the most universally recognized forms of international currency. You may carry enough to cover minor expenses like taxis/transport, tips, snacks, etc. We offer Travellers Cheques in all of our branches. Wire Transfers Need to get money out fast? SDFCU can move money across the country or around the world quickly, reliably, and securely through wire transfers. We offer wire transfers in foreign currency to help our members traveling or living overseas. You can complete a wire transfer by phone, fax, or email. Our fax number is 703-706-5121. The fee for wire transfers is $20. For more information on wire transfers, please click here. Credit Card and Check Card Restrictions Did you know when you travel outside the United States there could be restrictions when using your VISA Check Card or SDFCU Credit Card? Restrictions vary based on transactions outside your normal purchasing pattern. Accounts are monitored 24 hours-a-day for your protection.
Tips Before You Leave
For additional information, please contact us at sdfcu@sdfcu.org. For phone service, call us at 703-706-5000 or 800-296-8882.  |
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