My daughter is studying abroad in Valencia, Spain. Her debit and credit cards were stolen. We have done the necessary cancelling of accounts but are now figuring out how to get her cash and how to safely send her new cards. Her debit was through Wells Fargo which, as far as we can tell, does not have an affiliate in Spain. We are wondering if we should open a new account with a bank that does have an affiliate or if that's too complicated for just a 6 month stay. So any thoughts on safest way to send her new cards and/or if we should choose a new bank, and best way to get her cash quickly and inexpensively
would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16392 posts
When my husband's card was compromised in London last May, the company sent him a new card at our address there by FedEx. It arrived two days later. See if Wells Fargo can do that.
Posted by
4554 posts
Bank Affiliates is a red herring concern-- this is never the smart way to go.
Open a new account with CapitalOne 360 or similar with no fees at any bank in Europe. Always a better solution. This will take a couple weeks, however, including receiving the card in Spain.
Posted by
Portland, Maine
2916 posts
I would think the quickest way would be for the bank(s) that issued the cards to issue new cards and Fedex them to her. Presumably they would give the cards new numbers.
Posted by
Charleston, SC, USA
922 posts
You can use Western Union or similar service to send money almost instantly. You can do the transaction online and your daughter can pick up the cash at their office within minutes. I would just have Wells Fargo send her a new card to save the hassle of setting up a new account.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10237 posts
Some debit cards need to be activated at a machine run by the same bank. That was the case with one of our CU accounts while we were overseas for a period of time. Our son activated it locally for us and then sent it on. You might want to verify the procedure with the bank before having the debit sent directly.
Also, it's a good idea to have accounts at more than one bank--and to keep cards for one of the accounts at home. The on-line bank suggested above would be a good back up.
Posted by
California 🦋
5232 posts
So sorry this happened to your daughter...
You've received great advice by the others.
I'm surprised that your bank didn't give you the information you're seeking regarding the replacement of cards, and safest/fastest way to send her money.
Western Union has been doing this for quite some time.
My daughter studied abroad recently & I know she would have been very upset if this had happened to her.
If your daughter plans to travel, make sure she gets a sturdy lock for the lockers available at most hostels.
I hope your daughter enjoys her study abroad experience, despite this most unfortunate incident.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5562 posts
Will her credit card company offer emergency service? When my card was stolen, I was offered emergency cash. I did not take the company up on it so don't know exactly how it would have worked but I assume that they would have arranged a cash advance. The credit card company sent the new card overnight to me ... I had a new card two days after the theft.
I don't know if this makes sense for a six month stay, but Citibank has some convenient services for international customers; for example, I am able to transfer money between my U.S. account and U.K. account from an ATM with no fees. Citibank has a Spain entity and they show two branches in Valencia.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15602 posts
My credit card, (Mastercard with Capitol One), stopped working in Italy the day I was flying to Sevilla. A couple of collect phone calls and I got a new card delivered to my Sevilla hotel, within 3 days. Last year I stupidly lost my ATM card in Barcelona and was told by Capitol One that they would only send a new card to my home address - with no one to forward it to me. Fortunately I had lots of cash with me.
I'm not even sure you could open a bank account without your daughter's being physically present.
When you send her the new cards, send her a money belt too.
Posted by
Spain
162 posts
I don't think any of the US banks have "affiliate" banks in Spain. Send her money via Western Union for the time being, have wells fargo issue new cards and send the new cards to her via DHL. ONLY DHL! She will get it soon enough and for six months it will be fine.
The reason I say DHL is that is one of the few companies you can send cash or credit cards through. DHL was originally a german owned company and has offices throughout Spain. Have the card expedited to you and you send them, unless WF will send the cards to her in Spain.
Be assured there are Western Union offices everywhere in Spain!
Posted by
2 posts
Great advice from others.
I have used Western Union before to transfer money from the US to my host brother in Spain. So, you could wire her money.
Other than that, depending on the friends she has there, if she need cash faster than that and she has a friend with her (if she is in a university group) that lives in the same town as you/has the same bank, you could always put funds into a friends account and she could have her friend pull out money for her (similar to wiring but a little faster). I would only do this if she needs money instantly and cannot wait for a card. I have had to do this before and I have had students who have had to do this (I used to be a study abroad advisor).
Some banks will not send a card overseas, so you will have to have it mailed to your house and then send it to her.