New DoD Travel Card debuts Nov. 30
Published: Thursday, July 31, 2008 8:32 AM CDT
E-mail this story | Print this page
Melissa Bower | Staff Writer
Fort Leavenworth government employees will begin using a new Department of Defense Travel Card Nov. 30.
The companies that contract for the cards are changing. Bank of America operates the current cards and Citibank will operate the new cards.
Fort Leavenworth's Travel Office began sending e-mails about the new cards months ago. Vickie Atkison-Clark, Defense Travel management officer, and Amy Blankenship, Travel Card coordinator, said the same rules would apply for the new cards.
"It's just educating travelers it's a new card," Atkison-Clark said.
She said those traveling during the changeover will use two cards - the Bank of America card can be used until 10:59 p.m. Central Time (midnight Eastern Standard Time) Nov. 30, 2008, and the Citibank card will be used afterward.
All travelers will begin receiving their new cards this August. Blankenship said cardholders should make sure their address is updated with Bank of America to make sure they receive the cards.
"If they move now, they should call (Bank of America) and update their address as they normally would," Blankenship said. The Bank of America customer service number is (800) 472-1424.
The Travel Office is planning to distribute some of the cards directly to Training and Doctrine Command directorates and the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks. Atkison-Clark said the Travel Office would schedule distribution times for those units. Employees and Soldiers for Installation Management Command will receive their new cards in the mail.
"What the traveler needs to concentrate on is if they're traveling before the 30th of November, they need to use the Bank of America; if they are traveling after, they need to use Citibank," Atkison-Clark said.
Advance literature in preparation for the card change is recommending travelers pay their remaining balance on the Bank of America card by Nov. 29. Blankenship said travelers with questions should call the Bank of America number on the back of their card. They should also call if there is a credit on their account to receive a refund check, she said.
All travelers with an open account should receive a new card, Blankenship said, including those who have deactivated accounts. Only travelers with a closed account, such as an account that is not in use, would not receive the new card.
The old cards were called GSA Smart Pay, while the new cards will be called GSA Smart Pay 2.
