This may be old news to old hands here, but I just asked my bank (Bank of America) what recourse I'd have if I lost a debit card overseas. Perhaps, I thought, I could get a replacement card at a local bank with which they were affiliated
Well, it's "No" on the card replacement. But, they did add this:
"Please note that as a Visa member and valued Bank of America Check Card
holder, you are able to receive emergency cash disbursements. This
service entitles Visa customers worldwide to emergency cash services 24
hours a day, 365 days a year. If properly authorized, customers can
receive up to $1,500 in emergency cash."
To be "properly authorized", you need to report a lost, stolen or damaged card and order a replacement card; you need to be away from home or traveling within 72 hours; you must present a need for the cash; and the amount availabe is $150 -$1500.
They provide a phone number to call collect from outside the U.S. You can be sure I'll take it with me.
They do not explain what "Visa member" means. I don't know if that means someone who has a BofA Visa credit card (I do) or simply has a BofA check card with the Visa logo (I do).
Nor do they explain the mechanism for delivering the cash, or if the cash is debited from your account, etc.
In any case, it's good to know if worse comes to worse. BofA can't be the only bank doing this, so ask yours.