News Releases

TORONTO, March 10, 2010 - Canadians travelling to the United States or elsewhere for March Break can enjoy the security and convenience of carrying less cash by using the BMO Debit Card for debit point-of-sale purchases.

"March Break is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and tens of thousands of young Canadians - many of whom don't have credit cards - are going down south on holiday," said Nancy Marescotti, Director, Card Marketing, BMO Bank of Montreal. "The BMO Debit Card gives parents the peace of mind of knowing their kids are choosing a safer and more secure purchasing option than carrying large sums of cash.

"Canadians already know they can get cash from ABMs around the world, but only through BMO can they can choose a safe and easy payment option at the point of sale when they spend time outside Canada," said Ms. Marescotti. "With the BMO Debit Card on the Maestro network, Canadians can access funds from their bank account here at home and make debit purchases at shops and restaurants in over 100 countries around the world."

When travelling out of the country, it's always helpful to keep in mind the following tips:

• Check the latest travel advice for your destination and subscribe to receive free e-mail notification each time the travel advice for your destination is updated.
• Take out appropriate travel insurance to cover hospital treatment, medical evacuation and any activities, including adventure sports, in which you plan to participate.
• Make copies of your passport details, insurance policy, and bank account numbers. Carry a copy in a separate place to the originals and leave a copy with someone at home.
• Ensure your passport has adequate validity from your planned date of return. Some countries will refuse entry on arrival and some airlines will not allow passengers to board flights if their passport does not meet this requirement. Before travelling, you should contact the Embassy or High Commission of each country you intend to visit to confirm the entry requirements.
• Leave a copy of your travel itinerary with someone at home and keep in regular contact with friends and relatives while overseas.