New DoD travel cards issued but not yet authorized for use Published Sept. 11, 2008 By Debbie Aragon 55th Wing Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Military and civilian employees within the Department of Defense have begun receiving new Citibank government travel cards but aren't authorized to use them until later this fall. The new official travel cards can't be used until accounts transfer Nov. 30 from the current travel card company, Bank of America, to Citibank. Although the new Citibank cards can't be used until Nov. 30, members are asked to verify receipt of their new travel card to ensure they will be able to use them when the change over occurs. The Bank of America contract ends at midnight Nov. 29. Current card holders who don't receive their new cards by Oct. 31 are asked to notify their agency program coordinator. People who will be in a travel status during the cutover at the end of November should charge all official travel expenses up to and including Nov. 29 on their Bank of America governmental travel card. Travel expenses incurred from 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Nov. 30 should be charged on their new Citibank card. Customers shouldn't notice any changes as the program switches from one company to the other, according to officials. Officials with the Defense Travel Management Office said they plan to work closely with the current vendor, Bank of America, and Citibank to minimize any unforeseen interruption in travel card services leading up to the new card activation. Prior to the cut over, card holders will receive frequent communications about what to expect and individual requirements. At the beginning of the year, Department of Defense officials announced the selection of Citibank to provide travel charge card services for its members under the General Services Administration's umbrella SmartPay® 2 master contract. The mandatory travel charge card provides travelers with many benefits such as no interest charges, delayed late fees and insurance benefits. DOD currently has 1.2 million card holders who accounted for 61 percent of total government-wide travel spending in 2006. The estimated value of the DOD travel card task order over a 10-year period is $40 billion, based on projected travel card spending. People with questions on the changeover can call Master Sgt. Leslie Curtis, the Offutt AFB point of contact for the government travel card program, at 294-3084.