Carrying debit and credit cards for the same accounts

Clarification: a total of four different cards - one card per account. Two ATM and two credit card accounts.

We fall into the same category. One card for each account and split amongst us and between the two main locked bags and on our person. So bad things must happen to both of us and our luggage. Odds?

A few trips back, for whatever reason, my husband's ATM didn't work for the entire 3-week trip :-( Luckily, mine did. They were on the same account. We also always have some money in another checking account (different bank) and we each bring our own cards for that account, too. Plus, we each bring at least one credit card, too - maybe an AMEX, plus maybe 2 different Visa cards...We each carry - in our moneybelts - copies of the other person's cards (and passports, too!), in case we need to cancel/replace them.

So you guys do bring 2 cards for the same account? The concern I have is that if one is stolen, the remaining one
is no longer good. If it happens at home, its not a big deal.

Allen, We have done both; brought 2 debit cards for our main account (one for each of us) and an additional card for a secondary account, plus a VISA card each (same account). Last fall I had to bring my AMEX because the railway site (for online bookings) didn't like my VISA, but accepted my AMEX, go figure! I didn't want to carry 4 cards, so just had the AMEX and a debit card for my secondary account. My husband had a debit card for our main account and the VISA card. We've never had a card not work, but always make sure we have at least one debit card from each account just in case.

I would have the same concern about carrying two cards for one account - if one gets lost or stolen, the other would be canceled, too. I'm not a couple, just a single person, but here's what I did on my trip three weeks ago to Spain. I carried and used the ATM/debit card from my main checking account, as well as an ATM/debit card from a checking account on Ally (an online bank). I also used this card once at an ATM. If I were to lose my main card, or it didn't work, I had money in the other account AND I could transfer money to the Ally account online from the main account if I needed to. I did encounter one ATM where neither card worked, but I just walked half a block to a different ATM and it was fine. I also carried one VISA CC from my local credit union, and one VISA CC from a bank which gives me points. I used the second one for my hotels (points!) but never used the first.

question: Do your two cards from the same account have the same number? Our cards have different numbers altho from the same account. When my MC was used in California while we were in Italy a couple of years ago, my card was cancelled but not my husband's card. Check with your financial institution.

Being an old engineer who likes back up and redundancy, this is our pattern: 1. Credit union debit card - two cards, each carry one 2. Special checking account debit card - one card carried by wife 3. Reg check account debit card - carried by self. Within two or three days after arrival - each of the debit cards is used once just be sure they are working. Cards 2 & 3 have standard 3% fee so only a small amount is withdrawn for testing. Credit cards - 4. Capital One credit card - each carry one
5. United credit card - each carry one We go almost exclusively cash so credit cards are rarely used. Most likely to be use during last couple of days when managing cash flow so that we return home with 100 to 200 Euro for the next trip. We have pin numbers for the credit cards so that they could be used for cash advance in case of a serious emergency. (to be continued)

(continuing on) Also we add temporarily our two sons to the the checking accounts as authorized to speak for us and to authorize transactions. The thought being that if we have a problem, it might be easier to call the sons and have one of them straighten it out rather than us doing it from Europe. Never have had to use them but the idea came from a problem that our son encountered when studying abroad one semester. He was using a credit union from his college campus when his debit card was frozen and he was not in a good location to spend time solving the problem. I tried speaking with the credit union but, of course, I was not on the account so they would not talk to me. Finally, after a lot of begging someone said, "This is breaking the rules, but...." and I was able to unfreeze his card. Now we make sure someone locally can discuss our problem if the need arises. Fortunately in all of our travels - nearly a year - we have never had to test our system. The primary debit card has always works and we have never had a card lost or stolen.

Ditto 100% JustTravel and Frank. Well, except for putting Frank's sons on our account...

Frank, I have not seen that suggestion before but what a good idea! A bank appropriate POA would work too.

I checked with my bank and credit card issuers and was told this: If you have multiple cards for one account, then it's safer to just bring one if you are traveling together. No single person should carry all cards. Split them up so each person has a different card.

The only problem with a POA is that it has to conform to state standards and has to be filed in advance. I have POA for an elderly aunt and while it has been filed frequently I will encounter new vendors who, of course, want to see the POA first before talking. So it is fax it and wait until they decide it is acceptable. Far easier to call the bank and say, "Please note that xyz is authorized on our account."

Like Frank, I have my Mom as a signer on our main checking account; and I on hers. We take care of each others check writing while traveling. I am usually traveling three months at a time. I handled my MC problems a couple of years ago over the phone while in Venice with no hassles. Of course, my MC was no good for the rest of the trip. We travel with several cards although we use cash 99.9% of the time. The no fee ATM cards get a lot of use over the three months. We have no issues with carrying a lot of cash.

I've also made a point in knowing the bank manager.