Foreign Travel with Your Credit & Debit Card
Have the right currency with you when you travel.
Will my credit and debit cards work in other countries?
Banner Bank credit cards listed below are ‘chip & signature’ cards. Banner Bank debit cards listed below are ‘chip & PIN’ cards. Both of these cards are accepted in over 130 countries around the world including Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom, where chip cards are standard. What’s more, they contain an embedded microchip which makes the card extremely difficult to counterfeit or copy. Learn more about the features and benefits of each card:
Do I need to let you know if I will be traveling outside of the U.S.?
Yes. If we detect suspicious activity on your card, like purchases made outside your normal area or from suspicious merchants, we may restrict usage on your card in order to protect you from fraudulent activity.
If you will be traveling outside the country and using your credit or debit card, please let us know at your earliest convenience. You can notify us of travel plans by:
- Visiting your local branch
- Submitting a Travel Plan for your debit card using Debit Card Controls within Banner Online Banking. Learn how to add travel plans with this demo.
- Calling us at 800-272-9933 (509-527-3636 outside the U.S.).
We will make note of your travels in our system, which may prevent unnecessary blocks from being placed on your card. For your protection, Banner Bank debit cards are normally blocked from foreign use to prevent fraudulent transactions.
If we suspect fraudulent card use, we may contact you to validate the legitimacy of your transaction.
More ways to protect yourself from fraudulent activity:
What’s the difference between chip & signature and chip & PIN? Does my card have a PIN?
Depending on the card and the transaction, cardholders may be asked to provide either their signature or enter their PIN to complete a transaction. They will need to use their PIN at ATMs and it might be required at some unattended card terminals such as fuel pumps and payment kiosks. Both chip & PIN and chip & signature offer enhanced security against counterfeiting compared to traditional magnetic stripe-only cards. Banner Bank offers chip & PIN technology on debit cards and chip & signature on credit cards. This means you are more likely to be asked for your PIN when using a chip enabled debit card and to provide your signature when using your credit card.
Can my chip card be used at an unattended terminal when traveling abroad?
Credit Cards: No, unattended terminals, such as ticket payment kiosks, generally require a PIN to complete the purchase. Unattended terminals also pose greater risk for cardholders due to skimming devices. Please allow extra time to visit attended terminals when traveling abroad because you will need to sign to complete your purchase.
Debit Cards: Yes, unattended terminals, such as ticket payment kiosks, generally require a PIN to complete the purchase so as long as your PIN is provided, this type of transaction is supported.
How do I order a PIN for my chip card?
Credit Cards: You may request an ATM PIN for cash transactions by calling the number on the back of your card. If you have an existing PIN number for your credit card it is for ATM cash transactions only. It will not work for purchases that require a PIN.
Debit Cards: A PIN was established during the activation of your debit card. If you do not know your PIN, or wish to change it, you can visit any local Banner Bank branch, Banner Bank ATM or call 800-272-9933 (509-527-3636 outside the U.S.) to update your PIN.
Is chip & signature/chip & PIN the same as contactless payment?
No. Instead of waving or tapping your card in front of a device as you do with contactless payments, a chip & signature card must be inserted face up into a chip-enabled merchant terminal.
Can I use a chip & signature/chip & PIN card in the U.S.?
Your chip card will work both in the U.S. and internationally. Your chip & signature credit card also has a magnetic stripe to use any time a chip-enabled terminal is not available.
