The Department of Defense’s current government travel charge card contract with Bank of America is ending this year. All government travel cardholders will receive new cards beginning in August, as the Travel Card Program transitions to the new SmartPay® 2 contract.
The new GTCCs will be ready for use Nov. 30 after the current cards issued by Bank of America expire at 11:59 p.m. EST Nov. 29. Your new GTCC will be mailed to your mailing address on file with Bank of America, so ensure it is current.
If you do not receive your new travel card by Oct. 31, notify your Agency Program Coordinator.If you are scheduled for a PCS move, make sure that your address is updated in the database. Your new travel card will be sent to the address on file. Any mail that is sent to an incorrect address will be returned to the sender. APCs will not have the option to forward the mail to your new address.
Traveling during the cutover
If you will be traveling during the cutover (Nov. 29 to 30), you should charge all official travel expenses through Nov. 29 on your current Bank of America GTCC. Travel expenses incurred from 12 a.m. EST on Nov. 30 should be charged to your new GTCC issued by Citi®.Remember to verify receipt of your new travel card to ensure that you will be able to use it Nov. 30.
You can verify receipt of your card by phone or online anytime after Aug. 15. The contact information will be on a sticker that is affixed to your card. As part of the receipt verification process, you will be asked to accept the Cardholder Agreement Terms and Conditions. You must agree to these terms in order to use your new travel card.
Transition checklist for cardholders
Cardholders will need to pay all outstanding, undisputed charges on their Bank of America GTCC before Nov. 29. No credit balances can remain on the current Bank of America GTCC after Nov. 29.
If your Bank of America GTCC has a credit balance, call the phone number on the back of the card to request that it be sent to you. After the cutover, Bank of America will continue to accept and receive payments for charges previously made on its cards.
What to expect
Since the new card will also be VISA branded, you’ll have the same worldwide charging privileges that you currently have. Charge limits will remain the same and agency program coordinators will have the authority to raise limits to meet mission requirements.
Links for more information
Your primary contact for transition information is your APC. Cardholders can also visit www.defensetravel.dod.mil or www.gsa.gov/smartpay or send questions to dtmotc@dtmo.pentagon.mil for more information.
(Courtesy of Defense Travel Management Office)