Cash Passport FAQs

• How does the Cash Passport Debit Card work?
• What currencies is the card available in?
• Will I find an ATM where I am going?
• Which card should I take?
• What are the benefits of the foreign currency cards?
• What are the benefits of Cash Passport compared to travellers cheques?
• What are the benefits of Cash Passport compared to bank issued debit and credit cards?
• Are there any age restrictions?
• Where can I use the card?
• How do I activate my card to access funds?
• How do I register my card online?
• What information is available online?
• How can I check my balance or view my transaction history?
• How do I reload my Cash Passport?
• Do I receive paper statements?
• Can I change my PIN?
• How do I use my Cash Passport at ATMs and at EFTPOS terminals?
• What if the ATM only accepts a six digit PIN?
• How secure is Cash Passport?
• What if my card does not work at the ATM?
• What if my Cash Passport is lost or stolen?
• How do I close my account?
• What is available via Cash Passport Global Emergency Assistance?

How does the Cash Passport Debit Card work?

Cash Passport is used to access cash from ATMs and to make purchases from retailers using EFTPOS while travelling.

It is a prepaid Visa card that can be used to withdraw cash from over 1 million Visa ATMs worldwide, and also includes signature access to make purchases and pay for goods/services at over 24 million Visa merchants worldwide.

Because you preload funds onto the Cash Passport, your spending is limited to the amount of money available on your card.

What currencies is the card available in?

AUD, EUR, GBP, NZD, USD.

Will I find an ATM where I am going?

There are over 1 million Visa ATMs worldwide that you can withdraw local currency from. To check on their location visit the Visa ATM locator.

Which card should I take?

Where possible you should take a Cash Passport card in the currency of your destination. This will lock in the exchange rate of the day when the card is purchased or reloaded. For example, take the EUR card to European countries, the GBP card to Great Britain and the USD card to the United States of America.

When travelling to countries other than those covered by the range of currencies available, it is recommended that you either take the AUD card or a widely accepted currency such as USD. If you are travelling to a variety of different countries, you can either take a currency of the country you will spend the most time in, or it is possible to take multiple cards in different currencies.

What are the benefits of the foreign currency cards?

You can lock in the exchange rate and card value at the time of purchase (or reload) so you won’t be subjected to exchange rate fluctuations while overseas. Locking in your exchange rate means:

• No foreign exchange margin applies when using the card to withdraw cash* (when the local currency is the same as the card currency, e.g. using the USD card in the United States)
• You are not subjected to foreign exchange margins when you make purchases in the currency of the card
• Certainty and control around what fees are being incurred
• Not having to work out exchange rates to know the card balance

What are the benefits of Cash Passport compared to travellers cheques?

A Cash Passport card is similar to a traveller’s cheque because you can lock in your value in a foreign currency when you purchase the card. Unlike traveller’s cheques, Cash Passports are secured by a PIN and can be used at ATMs and Visa retailers worldwide.

The Cash Passport provides additional certainty around exchange rate conversion and what fees you will pay to access cash, unlike traveller’s cheques which will be subject to fees and conversion rates set by individual money changers.

A spare card is provided for free when you purchase your Cash Passport so you are not inconvenienced if your card is lost or stolen. There are no personal details on the card, so if you lose it your identity remains protected.

What are the benefits of Cash Passport compared to bank issued debit and credit cards?

• Unlike a bank issued card, if your Cash Passport is lost or stolen, your bank account details are not linked to the card. Fraudsters therefore can not steal all the funds in the account or utilise your available line of credit.
• Cash Passport is instantly issued. There is no need to apply for a card or wait to receive it.
• Cash Passport is not personalised with the cardholder’s name, further protecting your identity if it is lost or stolen.
• All Cash Passport prepaid card transactions must be conducted electronically and authorised within the Visa system. This is not necessarily the same with bank issued debit and credit cards.
• Bank issued debit cards, and many credit cards, don’t come with free global emergency assistance that can arrange emergency funds (up to the value loaded onto your card) or provide advice regarding lost passports and more.
• Cash Passport ATM fees are generally less expensive than bank issued debit and credit cards.
• Some banks charge for replacement cards and may take several days to arrive. A spare card is provided free of charge when you purchase your Cash Passport.

Are there any age restrictions?

There are no specific age restrictions. However, the cardholder will be required to sign the reverse side of the card and have the ability to duplicate their signature for transactions conducted at Visa merchants.
 

This makes the Cash Passport an ideal travel payment option for students travelling abroad as bank issued debit and credit cards generally require the cardholder to be at least 18 years of age to hold the card in their own name, and 16 years for supplementary cards issued on someone else’s account.

Using Cash Passport

Where can I use the card?

You can use your card at any Visa ATM in the world. No matter which currency you purchase the card in, it can still be used worldwide. For example, if you purchased a EUR Cash Passport you can still use it at Visa ATMs in the US. However, there would be a currency conversion from EUR to USD.

Cash Passport Debit Cards can be used to purchase goods and services at electronically enabled Visa merchants (EFTPOS). There are more than 24 million participating Visa merchants worldwide. Cash Passport Debit Cards can also be used to make purchases and pay for goods or services from Visa merchants over the internet or telephone.

How do I activate my card to access funds?

Your card is automatically activated within approximately four hours of purchase.

How do I register my card online?

Go to www.cashpassport.com.au, click on the ‘View My Account’ banner, click on the ‘Sign Up’ button and then enter the primary card number. To tell which card is the primary card, look at the last digit and whichever is the lower number is the primary card.

What information is available online?

By going to the Cash Passport website and clicking on ‘View My Account’ you can:

• View card transaction history and balances
• Change your PIN
• Locate the nearest Visa ATM
• Change your contact details

How can I check my balance or view my transaction history?

You can check your balance and get a full list of transactions you have made at www.cashpassport.com.au (click on ‘View My Account’). You can also call the number on the back of your card to receive card balances. Some ATMs will also be able to tell you your balance at the time of withdrawing cash in the currency that the ATM dispenses.

How do I reload my Cash Passport?

You can reload your card by:

• Visiting any CUA branch
• Accessing BPAY through your financial institution’s internet or telephone banking facility. The Biller Code is 50179 and is located on the reverse of your card, as well as in your terms and conditions booklets. The Customer Reference Number is your 16 digit card number. Please note, BPAY reloads will take approximately two business banking days. A 1.1% commission applies to reloads as well as a currency conversion for foreign cards.

Do I receive paper statements?

No. Online statements are available on the Cash Passport website.

Can I change my PIN?

You can change your PIN on the Cash Passport website by clicking on ‘View My Account’.

How do I use my Cash Passport at ATMs and at EFTPOS terminals?

Whenever you use your Cash Passport at ATMs you must choose the Credit (CR) key. By pressing Credit (CR), your card is processed through the Visa system.

When you use your Cash Passport card at a Visa merchant, please ensure you choose Credit (CR). You will be required to sign for the transaction. PINs cannot be used for EFTPOS transactions.

What if the ATM only accepts a six digit PIN?

Your Cash Passport card is issued with a four digit PIN. In some locations in Europe and Asia, ATMs may require a six digit PIN. If this is the case, please ensure you have pressed Credit (CR) and then if the ATM still requires six digits, simply add two zeros to the front of your PIN.

Please note if you make three invalid PIN attempts in a row your card will be blocked. It will be automatically unblocked within 24 hours. Alternatively, you can call Cash Passport via the global assistance number.

How secure is Cash Passport?

Cash Passport is PIN protected for ATM transactions and signature protected for purchase transactions, so no-one can access your funds without your PIN or signature.

What if my card does not work at the ATM?

First, check that the ATM accepts Visa cards (it will have the Visa logo on it).

Second, check that you have pressed Credit (CR) to process the transaction.

Third, if the ATM does accept Visa and the card also does not seem to be working at other Visa ATMs, call Cash Passport via the global assistance number.

What if my Cash Passport is lost or stolen?

Cash Passport is PIN-protected, so no-one can access your funds from an ATM without your PIN. It is important that you have signed the back of the card and that you report the loss immediately to Cash Passport.

If you do notice any transactions on your account that are incorrect or that you don’t recognise, of if you believe that your PIN or any other security information may have been compromised, please call our 24 hour helpline immediately.

You are issued with two cards. If you lose one of these cards you can still access your funds using the additional card, without having to wait for a replacement card.
If both cards are lost or stolen, Cash Passport can arrange for replacement cards to be made available, and if necessary initiate the procedure for disputing unauthorised transactions.

Cash Passport can also arrange for emergency funds to be made available, up to the balance of your card, to be sent to you via our global money transfer network free of charge (generally within 20 minutes but up to 24 hours in more remote locations).

How do I close my account?

If you would prefer not to keep your card for another trip, you can withdraw your remaining balance from a Visa ATM. Alternatively, you can download a cash out form and request the balance to be deposited to your bank account. An administrative fee applies. The cash out form can be found on the Cash Passport website.

What is available via Cash Passport Global Emergency Assistance?

The 24-hour multi-lingual team is only a toll-free call away to help with:

• Emergency cash – if you lose both cards, Cash Passport will cancel the cards and arrange for emergency funds to be sent to the nearest Western Union agent, generally within 20 minutes (up to 24 hours in remote locations). There’s no charge for this (however, we will only send the amount that was left on the card).
• Lost/stolen passport assistance – we can provide advice on the nearest embassy/opening hours and advice on the process for a replacement passport. Cash Passport can also contact friends/relatives on your behalf to help provide any documentation required.
• Emergency medical and legal assistance – we can advise on the location, contact numbers and opening hours of hospitals/doctors/dentists/pharmacies and lawyers.
• Emergency messaging assistance – Cash Passport can arrange for a message to be sent to a friend/relative/organisation by phone/fax/email.

If calling from Australia, the emergency telephone number is 1800 889 040. 

If you are calling from outside Australia, refer to the back of your card, Cash Passport Product Disclosure Statement, or the Cash Passport Global Emergency Assistance page for a list of emergency telephone numbers for the country you are phoning from.