How To Simplify Your International Travel

With summer right around the corner, are you planning a vacation outside the United States? Have you already booked that European cruise you've had your eye on?

With a fully-loaded checklist that includes everything from scheduling time off from work, to making travel preparations, to tackling a mountain-high pile of laundry and packing, the last thing you want to worry about is how much cash you'll need to have with you on your trip.

While it's always a good idea to take along a certain amount of cash while traveling, it's far safer and more convenient to travel with your bank debit card.

A First Reliance Bank debit card helps you simplify your international travel. Here's how:

1) It's accepted anywhere outside of the U.S. that accepts VISA cards. Rather than entering your PIN, you'll simply be asked to sign a sales slip.

2) It can be used at network ATMs (that have the Cirrus network logo on them) to obtain cash. To view a list of ATMs that accept your card worldwide (or to download the mobile application), visit Mastercard's ATM locater website.

3) The daily purchase limit for transactions is $1, 500, and the daily ATM withdrawal limit is $500 (you can ask for that limit to be increased by calling the Customer Care Center at (888) 543-5510).

4) Many foreign ATMs do not allow a PIN to begin with zero. If yours currently does, you're able to change it before leaving for vacation.

With your debit card, you'll always have access to your funds, even in foreign locations. If you have any difficulty using a foreign ATM, you can even use your debit card to get a cash disbursement at a local financial institution that provides foreign money exchange.

So when you're heading out of the country, be sure to call (888) 543-5510 before you leave and tell us your travel dates and location(s). Then, give us a phone number where you can be reached so we can provide you with international access to your accounts or contact you if there is any suspicious activity on your account.

And that's how to simplify your next overseas trip. Have a great vacation!