The Citibank Government Travel Card changeover: This will affect you!

Published Oct. 14, 2008
By 2nd Lt. Jeremy Putz
21st Comptroller Squadron

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- It's 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 30, 2008, and your Bank of America Government Travel Card is useless.
Will you be resting confidently knowing you've got the brand new Citibank GTC? Or will you be climbing out the window of an Air Force Inn because you can't pay your bill?
Here are five quick tips to ensure you don't find yourself out in the cold for the rapidly approaching GTC transition:

- If you don't have a Citibank GTC right now, call the number on the back of your Bank of America card or get with your unit Agency Program Coordinator to confirm your mailing address is correct. If it isn't, get it corrected, and tell your APC you need the card re-sent.

- Don't wait until late November to realize you urgently need a Citibank GTC. Citibank's call centers and your APCs do not have the capacity to handle all the TDY-ers who will do this.

- If you do have your Citibank GTC, call the number on the card and activate it as soon as possible. This is the only way your APC knows you received the card, and it's the only way it will work on Nov. 30.

- TDYs occurring over Nov. 30 require both your old Bank of America and your new Citibank cards. Use the Bank of America card for charges before midnight on Nov. 30 and the Citibank card for charges after. For most TDYs, reimbursements will be made appropriately to each card.

- Take ownership of both your old and new GTC accounts. Call the number on the back of your Bank of America card or talk to your APC to be certain your account is paid off before you discard it after Nov. 30. Your credit is on the line.

Please contact your unit APC if you have any doubts about your readiness for this transition.