I have been back in the States now for over a month and thought, with a bit of reflection, that it might be a good time for me to start blogging about some travel suggestions I have for people that are about to do some international traveling. My first tip in this area applies to everyone — backpackers, rich tourists on guided tours, and everyone in between.
Know your banker.
When I say, know your banker, I mean that you need to know an actual person at your bank that is going to help you if something goes wrong. You need to have met them before in person, and preferably bought them food and/or drinks. You need their personal email. The email account they will look at on the weekends or in non-business hours. Your banker might not be your friend now, but he or she should be soon. Then can save you from travel hell.
My bank friend is Donna with the Bank of Fayetteville. The Bank of Fayetteville (BoF) is a very small bank in my adopted hometown of Fayetteville, Arkansas. They have all of five branches, I believe. I doubt they are one of the 300 largest banks in the United States, but in these times, size actually does not matter in terms of banking. 
My ATM/credit card with the BoF operates on the Shazam, Pulse, Cirrus and VISA networks. I was able to use it successfully all around the world. There is no need to have your money at a big bank these days, in order to get money out while you travel.
The advantage to banking at a smaller bank is that I actually know the people I bank with, and more importantly, they know me and will help me immediately if I have a problem. On this trip, I either lost or had stolen my credit cards on three different occasions. Each time it happened, I emailed Donna, she had the card immediately canceled and then shipped a new card out to me (along with the paperwork to report any fraudulent charges incurred). Since I was moving around without reservations, having a card shipped to me wasn’t that easy, but she always immediately replied to my emails and sorted out the details of the when and wheres.
When I was having horrible problems finding US Dollars in Ethiopia, Donna was talking to Western Union contacts in the States about finding a way to get me US Dollars. She couldn’t, ergo my visits to the black market in that linked blog, but she was great for trying. When both my credit cards were stolen from a Bangkok hotel room when I wasn’t there and each had thousands of dollars of fraudulent charges incurred before I discovered their disappearance, Donna did up the paperwork for me back home and made sure none of charges passed through to me — my other credit card with the mega-bank Citibank said everything was fine, only to threaten to sue me for more than $8,000 once I got back — a situation that is still not resolved. I was never in a money situation where I needed any money wired to me, but Donna and I talked about that possibility before I left and she was ready to push that contingency through, if need be.
Seriously, I think it is vital to know your banker. Personally, I suggest banking in a small bank also, because meeting someone that is going to be your person at Citibank or Barcleys isn’t going to happen. You might not need this travel tip — I hope you never run into a money crisis on the road — but if you do get into any sticky situations, like many travelers I met have happen, knowing an actual person at your bank is a godsend.
p.s. I just went to her wedding yesterday. She is also a beautiful bride. Public thanks to one of my travel saviors!
Sounds like you had some terrible luck! Touch wood, I've yet to loose cards / cash or have them stolen. I can definitely appreciate your advice though. My mate banks with a small, locally owned bank in Iowa and has had great experiences with them traveling. First and foremost, they don't charge an international transaction fee. Go figure, Bank of America charges five but Iowa bank from town of 2,000 doesn't charge a thing. Also, he was able to directly phone his banker to get money transfered over to NZ to buy a van. I had to wait days with BOA.I'l agree it makes sense to know your banker, but unfortunately for most of us out there, I don't think it's an option. At least if you bank with a big back like BOA, HSBC, or what have you. I guess you just have to hope for prompt and reliable customer service from abroad. Something I'd hope for, yet luckily haven't had to test just yet.
Thanks for the tip! I wondered if you ever had credit cards taken on your trip. That would be a big fear of mine!
Ugh…I hate banks. There is always something when you travel. This is a great unique tip I haven't really heard someone mention, but I do think knowing someone personally in any service area that you use on your travels can do wonders.
*knock on wood* I personally have not had any issues with my bank but I can understand your concern. I’m not sure if I can have a drink with someone at Wells Fargo. They may give me a funny look. :X
I’m split on this one. I have accounts at both a small bank and a large bank. While a small bank is convenient because the banker knows me and my family personally, it can be tougher I think to get things done over the phone or instantly unless my mother personally makes a trip down there (which she has so graciously done). However, your point of having personal information would make all the difference!
Wow, you’ve had some bad luck. I hope everything works out with Citibank.
You know, that thought never crossed my mind, but, damn it makes sense. Next time I will do that before I leave American soil. Good idea!
I’ve had some bad luck with Citibank, though not a consequence of traveling, but I do agree that knowing a banker personally does help. In my case I was able to move money between accounts over the phone because I knew the branch manager- in theory this is not allowed.
Great advice… so often we don’t think about these things until we are forced into to it by circumstance. I can’t imagine anything being more important than having a Donna to call upon instead of getting passed around from person to person, put on hold… ugh while in a foreign country.
I bank at a community bank in California–everyone there knows me and my family, and thus has made it so much easier whenever I have issues abroad! Doesn’t hurt that my mom also banks there regularly, and can ask any questions in person for me when they arise. Great tip!