Officials unveil new government travel cards

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Officials unveil new government travel cards

Posted 12/1/2010

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by Tech. Sgt. Amaani Lyle
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

12/1/2010 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force is primed for servicewide distribution of new Citibank controlled spend account government travel cards now through spring 2011, officials said here Dec. 1.

Issuance of the CSA card for use in conjunction with temporary-duty assignments, permanent change of station or deployment orders follows an extensive multi-installation pilot phase and involves the eventual replacement of more than 480,000 traditional set-limit cards currently in use.

According to Mike Bilbrey, the Air Force banking officer, the CSA card differs from the traditional travel card in that approved travel authorizations and amendments automatically adjust the CSA's spend limits to reflect the estimated cost of the mission.

"The CSA is the most innovative solution to the government travel card program since its inception, and it allows the Air Force to better manage cash flows," Mr. Bilbrey said. "Since the card won't have any value until a travel order is approved, Airmen can count on higher levels of security, lower delinquency rates, and best of all, instant approval, since there is no credit check required to have a CSA."

Mr. Bilbrey explained that once the mission is complete, users submit their vouchers for processing, at which time Citibank officials reconcile the account and identify the residual funds available to the cardholder for personal use or to transfer to another personal account.

While enjoying possible residual funds for personal use is a perk for Airmen, the fully automated CSA also has virtue from a commander's perspective by eliminating arduous, time-consuming GTC oversight responsibilities, Mr. Bilbrey said.

"We can reduce many hours per week on tasks agency program coordinators and managers once spent on program delinquency management, to the tune of about 382,000 man-hours per year," Mr. Bilbrey said. "With Citibank receiving 100 percent of the travel voucher payment, the number of delinquencies will be minimal, ensuring Airmen and APCs can focus on the mission at hand."

Since the mission at hand can vary greatly for Airmen, Citibank allows cardholders to call for temporary spend limit adjustments, based on last-minute travel requirements.

This provides cardholders the spending limit they need until they can get the amendment into the system, Mr. Bilbrey said.

Current GTC cardholders will be automatically enrolled into the CSA program and will receive e-mail notifications when their card is on the way. Infrequent travelers will be among the first to have their current government travel cards deactivated and receive the new CSA cards, Mr. Bilbrey said, adding that Airmen should update their e-mail addresses with Citibank and their new card numbers with merchants.

Citibank representatives said training sessions are essential to Airmen understanding how the CSA program works, and session schedules will be publicized in the near future.

"The Air Force has partnered with Citibank to not only provide training, but offer cardholders premiere, 24-hour customer service to travelers anywhere in the world," said Stacy Eslich, a Citibank relationship manager. "In addition, the card's coverage for insurance, travel, medical and emergency assistance delivers the most comprehensive coverage in the card industry."

For more information, visit www.airforcetravelcard.transactionservices.citi.com.

Comments

9/22/2011 7:11:18 PM ET
I used to be proud of the USAF....that is until my son was sent to Japan. After 4 months the Air Force STILL has not paid the card and now it is suspended. What the heck Citi bank should contact the AF for a payment instead of sending him threating letters

Lori, USA

6/15/2011 10:26:35 AM ET
Can't get an answer: is CSA credit card or debit card? Debit cards are dangerous, not protected by Fair Credit laws. I don't carry a personal one and won't carry CSA if it's debit card. GTC program's never been subjected to DoD GC review of Constitutionality with respect to reimbursement law. Yes, never. Law pushed by banking industry. Right in the law language. SecDef had chance to opt out, but didn't. Sec of State, who was not authorized to opt out by the law, opted out most of DOS.

Frequent Traveler, Florida

5/10/2011 1:36:26 AM ET
This is government micromanagement at its worst. The govt is trying to get people to spend more on the card so they can receive a kickback from CitiBank and monitor service member's activities while traveling. I suggest contradicting the CitiBank program by using your own funds to pay for travel expenses then calling CitiBank to have them mail a check for the remaining residual balance due the traveler. This will increase CitiBank's costs and reduce their income making this crazy program unprofitable.

Frequent Traveler, Scott AFB

4/13/2011 2:26:12 PM ET
Why is the GTC terminated before the cardholder receives the CSA? I'm supposed to go TDY this weekend and have a CSA somewhere between Ramstein and South Dakota. My APC is on leave so I don't have anyone to call CitiBank to request my GTC be reactivated. Now I have to spend the next day and a half jumping through hoops to do something that would have taken ten minutes with my GTC. Yeah, great program.

MSgt Barry Littlefield, Ramstein

3/31/2011 3:04:17 PM ET
On 12610 Michael states that if you spend more than your entitled to the traveler incurs a personal debt with Citi. Suppose the account becomes 120 delinguent Who does Citi go to in order to get the bill paid? Will there be a pay checkage by the Air Force or will Citi have to go through the court system to get their money?

Tom, Cherry Point N.C.

3/30/2011 3:11:17 PM ET
What happens when I'm TDY and on Thrusday I get word that I have to extend two weeks. I get word on Thursday, maybe someone puts in for an ammendment on Friday, nothing gets done Sat or Sun, and on Monday my orders are still pending approval. There's five days gone and my temporary limit disappears. Am I supposed to pay for things with my personal credit card until some goon makes my orders? This is going to make me entirely dependent on people who can barely get me orders on time as it is.

Joe, CA

12/21/2010 9:50:52 AM ET
Karl, while we have opened upon the merchant categories where the CSA card can be used it will still be prohibited for use in casinos, massage, parlors, etc. If funds are needed for such establishments then the cardholder can use an ATM to withdrawal funds.

Michael, Wright-Patterson

12/15/2010 1:05:30 PM ET
So, Michael, when there is left over money on the card what restrictions are there for using it? Will it be accepted and will someone have a fit if I was to use it at a 'Gentleman's Club'? And, by the way, I do not consider per diem or reimbursed expenses a 'perk'.

Karl, WPAFB

12/6/2010 1:54:21 PM ET
More readily-accessible information on the Controlled Spend Account can be found at the Cardholder Training Modules for the CSA under virtual Finance on the Air Force Portal.

Michael, Wright-Patterson

12/6/2010 8:17:38 AM ET
The excess funds from a TDY are available to you at no charge if you use the card like a debit card. Youll only incur a fee if you use an ATM to withdrawal cash the same as if you had used a personal credit card. As to when these excess funds will be available they are available as soon as they were loaded on the front end of the travel. The voucher transaction posted by the bank will only adjust the amount of available funds based upon your true travel entitlements. If too much loaded then the voucher adjusts available funds downward and the opposite if not enough was loaded. A cardholder who charges more than they final entitlements will incur a personal debt with Citi. The Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 and the DoD Financial Management Regulation require use of the travel card for all travel expenses not just the big three airfare lodging and rental car. Use of the CSA will greatly increase rebates from Citi which are distributed to the bases.

Michael, Wright-Patterson

12/6/2010 7:59:07 AM ET
Cardholder and traveler information concerning the CSA can be found at the Controlled Spend Account Community of Practice.

Michael, Wright-Patterson

12/3/2010 4:55:22 PM ET
Excess funds left on the card after all charges have been paid can be transferred to a personal account by calling Citibank using the 1-800 number on the back of the card. There is no fee for this transfer. In the near future you can make such a transfer thru the on-line access to your account. The transfers to another account normally occur within 24-48 hrs. You can still have a credit balance send to you by check if you prefer snail mail.

Michael, Wright-Patterson

12/3/2010 4:51:14 PM ET
In the event of a short-notice TDYdeployment-within 5 days of departure the cardholder can call Citi to request a temporary spend limit which is basically a place-holder until an approved order hits the system. A TSL will expire after 5 days so its imperative for the order be processed.

Michael, Wright Patterson

12/3/2010 11:04:21 AM ET
The idea of the card sounds great but will Citibank now start wiring the leftover money to my accounts or will I have to still wait 10-20 days to get their check in the mail. They will take your money from your account as a payment through funds transfers but they make you wait for them to return it snailmail.

Brandon, FL

12/2/2010 9:22:27 PM ET
I wonder how quickly a card can be activated with funds available in the event of a short-notice deployment...

MO, Japan

12/2/2010 4:07:38 PM ET
I agree with you Dan. Now my full voucher payment will have to go through the wickets at Citibank before I see any of the leftover. Wonder how much more of a delay in payment that will add. As if vouchers didn't take long enough to be paid already.

Brian, WA

12/2/2010 4:01:57 PM ET
I agree Dan. It's a good concept, but why can't we just be afforded an option to EFT to our already existing debit card accounts if we have one, which most people do these days. It would work the same way except members wouldn't have to worry about reconciling another bank account that they don't want and reduces the cost of the government contract with Citi for having to manage the accounts.

SW, OK

12/2/2010 12:57:20 PM ET
What a racket Now Citibank gets your full disbursment and makes excess funds available for personal use. So how much interest is Citibank going to make off this in addition to the other fees they already make? Are they going to waive the ATM fees in lieu of interest? I should be making by having the excess deposited directly in my savings. I do agree with reducing the administrative nightmare of tracking delinquent accounts, but my per diem should not have to be laundered through Citibank before I get to use it

Dan Fisher, IL

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