The tree is up, the lights are hung, and the wish list is set. Now all that is left to do is enjoy the holidays with family and loved ones. If you are like many of us you will probably be “on the road” this holiday season. Along with the many things on your pre-travel checklist, be sure and add “call Astra Bank” as one of the line items. Why? Because taking this step will decrease the likelihood of transactions being flagged.

You might be asking, “Why would my transactions be flagged when I travel?” That’s a great question! There are certain security measures built-in to your debit card such as flagging international transactions. We take fraud very seriously and want to do everything we can to protect you and your money. By letting us know when and where you will be traveling we can place a note on your account. Further, using your pin number to complete transactions will authenticate you as a user which will help combat fraud. And don't forget about CardValet, an additional tool to help safeguard your debit card.

We want you to be safe this holiday season when traveling to spend time with loved ones. The holidays can be stressful enough, so before you leave the house be sure and call your nearest Astra Bank location to let us know of your travel plans. Thank you to our valued customers for a great 2017. From our family to yours, happy holidays from all of us at Astra Bank!