Summer travel brings a different kind of routine. One week may include a beach vacation. The next a long weekend getaway, a family visit, a local event, or a busy stretch of day trips. Wherever summer takes you, your banking should be ready to securely move with you.
With Cornerstone Bank, you can safely manage everyday money needs from almost anywhere thanks to our robust personal banking services. Our Mobile Banking App, Digital Wallet, Debit MasterCard®, and Online Banking and Bill Pay help manage your money and make purchases with confidence while you’re away from home. Cornerstone’s Mobile Banking App includes mobile check deposit, balance viewing, bill pay, transfers, money management tools, nearby ATM search, and more.
Below we share some travel banking tips to help make summer money management a breeze—no matter where you roam.
Start with our Mobile Banking App
Travel can be exciting, but it can also make staying on top of your finances easier to overlook. A bill comes due while you’re away. A check arrives right before you leave. A last-minute stop requires cash. It can be easy to let things slip through the cracks. Don’t have the app downloaded? Download now from the App Store** or Google Play***.
Before your trip begins, make sure you can log in to the Cornerstone Bank Mobile Banking App and that your contact information is current. Once you’re on the go, the app can help you stay connected to your accounts without adding another stop to your day.
Use Mobile Banking to:
- Submit a travel notice informing us that you’ll be travelling
- Check balances before a purchase
- Review recent transactions
- Deposit checks
- Pay bills
- Transfer money
- Find nearby ATMs
These tools can be especially helpful when plans change. A delayed return, extra night away, or unexpected expense is easier to manage when account information is close at hand.
Keep Bills Moving with Online Banking and Bill Pay
Summer can get busy quickly. Online Banking and Bill Pay can help you keep everyday payments on track, even when your calendar is full.
With Cornerstone Bank Online Banking and Bill Pay, you can check balances, transfer funds, review recent transactions, pay bills, enroll in credit score monitoring, and use money management tools.
Before leaving for a trip, review upcoming due dates and schedule payments where appropriate. This can help you focus on your time away instead of remembering whether a bill is still waiting at home.
Add Debit MasterCard® to Your Digital Wallet
Your Debit MasterCard® can help you manage everyday travel spending, from meals and gas to souvenirs and local attractions. Cornerstone’s Debit MasterCard® and ATM Card has no annual fee, includes tap-to-pay contactless technology, and is Digital Wallet ready. Plus, experienced fraud analysts monitor suspicious card activity around the clock and contact you if potential fraud is detected.
A few simple steps can help protect your card while you travel:
- Keep your card in a secure place
- Review transactions and statements regularly
- Use well-lit ATMs in public areas
- Avoid sharing your personal identification number
- Don’t use ATMs or gas pumps that appear to have tampered card readers or keypads
- Contact Cornerstone right away if your card is lost or stolen
A Digital Wallet can make travel purchases easier because your eligible card is stored on your mobile device. Cornerstone customers can add a Cornerstone Bank Debit MasterCard® to Apple Pay® or Google Pay™ and use it for in-store, in-app, and online purchases where accepted.
This can be helpful at gas stations, restaurants, stores, attractions, and travel stops where contactless payments are available. It also gives you another way to pay if your physical card is tucked away safely.
For extra preparation, add your card to Digital Wallet before you leave and call 800-939-9103 to verify your card as a fraud prevention measure and let us know you’ll be travelling. You can also submit a travel notification using online or mobile banking.
Plan Ahead for Cash Access
Even in a digital-first world, cash can still be useful when you travel. Some small businesses, local events, parking areas, and attractions may prefer it.
Our Premier Checking and Classic Checking includes free ATMs nationwide*, Online and Mobile Banking, Bill Pay, Digital Wallet, and Debit Mastercard® with Tap to Pay.
Watch for Travel Scams When You Book
A little preparation before you go can help you keep your plans moving, and summer travel planning often starts online. That makes it important to slow down before entering payment details.
The Better Business Bureau warns that travelers have reported lookalike hotel websites and misleading booking sites. The BBB recommends confirming that you’re on the official hotel website, checking for secure payment pages, contacting the hotel directly if you’re unsure, and watching for unusual payment requests.
The same careful approach applies to vacation rentals, tour packages, attraction tickets, and last-minute deals. Before you pay, confirm who you’re paying, read the cancellation policy, and save receipts or confirmation details.
The Federal Trade Commission cautions that scammers set up travel websites advertising free or cheap travel deals and may use emails or texts that appear to come from known airlines or hotels. The FTC recommends researching unfamiliar travel sites, typing trusted web addresses directly, and avoiding payment methods such as wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency when a travel site demands them.
A Simple Summer Travel Banking Checklist
Before your next trip, take a few minutes to get your accounts ready:
- Download or update the Cornerstone Bank Mobile Banking App
- Put in a travel notice through online or mobile banking or by calling our Customer Information Center at 800-939-9103
- Confirm you can log in before you leave
- Review upcoming bills and schedule payments
- Add your Cornerstone Bank Debit MasterCard® to Digital Wallet
- Check your available balance
- Locate ATM options for your destination.
- Save our Customer Information Center number on your phone: 800-939-9103
- Review recent transactions during your trip
Ready to Make Summer Banking Easier?
With the right account and digital tools, you can spend less time thinking about banking and more time enjoying the season. Open a Cornerstone checking account to manage your money seamlessly wherever you travel.
FAQs
How Do I Submit a Travel Notice?
To submit a travel notice through our Mobile App or Online Banking, log in and hit the person button in the top right corner. Then, under Banking Services, select Travel Notifications. Enter your debit card number, travel dates and location, then click submit. A member of our Digital Banking Team will send you a secure message to inform you that your notice has been accepted.
Can I Use Mobile Banking While Traveling?
Yes. With the Cornerstone Bank Mobile Banking App, you can manage banking needs from your device, including depositing checks, viewing balances, paying bills, transferring money, and finding nearby ATMs.
Should I Set Up My Digital Wallet Before I Leave?
Yes. Adding your Cornerstone Bank Debit MasterCard® to Digital Wallet before your trip can make in-store, in-app, and online purchases easier where Apple Pay® or Google Pay™ is accepted. Watch our how-to video for simple step-by-step instructions and be sure to verify your card is set up properly by calling us at 800-939-9103.
Can I Pay Bills While I’m Away?
Yes. Cornerstone Bank Online Banking and Bill Pay lets you pay bills, transfer funds, review transactions, and check account balances from almost anywhere. Watch our how-to videos to learn how to schedule a bill payment or add a biller in bill pay.
Which Cornerstone Checking Accounts Offer Free ATMs Nationwide?
Premier Checking and Classic Checking include free ATMs nationwide* through full ATM surcharge reimbursements.
What Should I Do if My Debit Card Is Lost or Stolen During a Trip?
Contact Cornerstone right away. The listed number for lost or stolen ATM/debit cards during business hours is 800-939-9103, and the after-hours number is 833-225-5218.
Apple and Apple Pay are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google Pay and the Google Logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
*Through full ATM surcharge reimbursements
**Apple, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.
***Android is a trademark of Google Inc.
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