I currently bank with Wells Fargo, and with all the Super news about them lately (sarcasm!!!), I’ve been thinking about banking, which (as anything does) lead me to think of being abroad.

• Exchange American dollars for Euros before you go. You get a better fixed rate (that’s what the research I’ve done says, at least, I did not do this and sort of regret it), and have money going in. I wouldn’t withdraw a HUGE amount, but at least a get-started amount. Enough to go three days on, maybe.
• Don’t forget to turn on the travel notification for your debit/credit card. This may mean calling your card provider, or clicking a button on a website, or maybe actually in-real-life talking to a banker. It needs to be done so your account isn’t frozen for suspicious activity.

My study abroad program suggested keeping emergency funds, which would have been really smart for me to do, considering I lost my debit card… like three times.

What is really funny is that before, during, and right after my time in Spain I thought this was a stupid recommendation. Then, thinking about this blog post, I realized how much it would have helped if I had back-up cash tucked away EACH TIME I lost my debit card.

I thankfully had friends who were willing to pay for stuff when we went out, and I could pay them back when my next debit card got in.
Seriously, thank God for that. It would have been TERRIBLE without that.
So if you have the kind of financial availability to make emergency money a reality, do so. Keep it at home so it doesn’t get nicked, and be wise with your spending.

Now, I think I want to bank with an international bank, so I can go into a branch abroad to replace a lost card. As frustrating as it was, having to wait for the card to be shipped across and ocean to me when I lost it (and then wait for the very dubious Spanish mail to get it to me) Bank of America never charged me ATM fees the whole time I was abroad, which was freaking stellar. I pay more for ATM fees in my hometown than I did in a foreign country. Wild.
But very nice.

I plan to get a BBVA account eventually.
They have branches all over the world, and they are abundant in Spain.
I’m sure they, being an international and savvy bank, have easier channels for money-access around the world, along with there being easier access to a banker who could help me with money issues in person while abroad.

Coordinating time zones to talk to a BOA support team member because I was a dunce who had lost their card again was not ideal.
I’d much rather admit my drunken stupidity in person to a grown up with a real, stable job. Who wouldn’t?!?