Many bank cards are set, by default, to block payments made abroad. The bank does this on purpose — it is a way of protecting your money by automatically stopping unusual transactions from other countries. But if you are planning a trip, this means your card might simply not work in a shop or hotel abroad. That is why it is worth turning on payments abroad ahead of time, while you are still at home and have time to sort it out calmly.
Do not worry: you cannot 'break' your card or accidentally harm your account by tapping the wrong button. Every action in this part of the app can be undone or changed at any time.
How to turn on payments abroad
- Find your bank's app icon on your phone screen — usually a colourful square icon with the bank's logo — and tap it once with your finger to open the app.
- Log in the way you normally do: enter your access code (PIN — a short number known only to you), or use your fingerprint or face recognition.
- On the main screen, find the section called 'Cards' — usually the word 'Cards' or an icon that looks like a small bank card, near the top or bottom of the screen.
- Tap the 'Cards' section once to open the list of all your cards.
- From the list, choose the specific card you plan to take on your trip — tap its picture or name.
- On that card's screen, find the gear-shaped icon (this is the settings icon) or the words 'Card settings', and tap it.
- In the list of settings, look for an option called something like 'Payments abroad', 'International payments', or 'Foreign transactions'. The exact wording depends on your bank, but the meaning is always the same.
- Tap the switch next to that option once, so it changes colour — usually from grey to green. This means the feature is now turned on.
- If the app asks you to confirm the action, enter the one-time code from a text message (a short number your bank sends to your phone just for this one action), or confirm with your fingerprint or face.
- Check that the text next to the switch now says 'On' or shows green — this confirms it worked.
Do this a day or two before you leave, not at the airport at the last minute — that way you have time to check that everything works correctly.
If the card you are taking on your trip is linked to your current account, and you would like to understand more about the types of accounts and cards your bank offers, you can read more here: /rakhunky-osobysti.
How to turn it off after you come home
For safety, it is worth turning payments abroad back off as soon as you return from your trip. This adds an extra layer of protection: if your card is ever lost or its details are stolen, it cannot be used abroad.
- Open your bank's app and log in as usual.
- Go to the 'Cards' section and choose the same card.
- Open that card's settings and find the same 'Payments abroad' option.
- Tap the switch again so it turns grey — this turns the feature off.
What to do if something goes wrong
Do not worry — none of the situations below are dangerous if you stay calm.
- There is no such option in the app. Not every bank names this feature the same way, and some banks do not offer it in the app at all. In that case, call the official support number printed on the back of your card and ask them to turn on payments abroad for you.
- The card still did not work abroad. First check that there is money on the card and that you entered your PIN correctly on the payment terminal. If everything looks fine, call your bank using the number on the back of your card — they will help you figure out what happened.
- The bank blocked the payment as suspicious. This is normal — it is the bank's protection system reacting to unusual activity. Call your bank using the number on your card, and the person who answers will help unblock the transaction.
An important warning about scammers. Trips and foreign payments are a favourite excuse for scammers. You might get a call saying: 'Hello, this is your bank's security department. We see a suspicious payment attempt abroad on your card. Please read us the code from your text message so we can cancel it.' This is always a scam. A real bank never asks you to say a one-time text-message code out loud over the phone — that code is meant for you alone. The rule that always protects you: hang up, and call your bank back yourself using the number printed on your card.