Applying for a government travel card is a standard procedure when onboarding for both military and civilian personnel within government agencies. Your Agency Program Coordinator (APC) is central to this process, initiating your application and serving as your main point of contact for all inquiries and issues related to your travel card. APCs are crucial as they manage the Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) program at the local level, acting as a vital link between cardholders and the card vendor. Their responsibilities include monitoring transactions, adjusting credit limits as needed, and providing essential support.
If you are unsure about who your APC is within your organization, it’s recommended to first consult your chain of command or your HR/management support group. Alternatively, your local level travel help desk can also provide this information.
The following outlines the general steps to acquire a new travel card. Keep in mind that specific steps may differ based on local business rules, so always verify with your APC for detailed guidance tailored to your situation.
Accessing and Managing Your Travel Card Account
Accounts are efficiently managed through CitiManager. For cardholders who applied after March 2020, Citibank automatically establishes a CitiManager account as part of the card issuance process, simplifying account setup. If your travel card was issued before this date, you should self-enroll on the CitiManager website to gain online access and control over your account.
Once enrolled, CitiManager allows you to manage your GTCC account both online and via their mobile app, available for download from the App Store and Google Play. Through these platforms, cardholders can easily view statements, check account balances, make payments, update account settings, opt for paperless statements, set up important alerts, and much more. For a comprehensive understanding of all features, refer to the CitiManager Digital Reference Guide available on the Citi website as a PDF document.
Understanding Split Disbursement for Gov Travel Card Payments
Split disbursement is a mandatory payment method for all Department of Defense (DoD) personnel, designed to streamline the payment of your government travel card bill directly from your travel reimbursement. When preparing your voucher, it’s critical to carefully review the split disbursement amounts to ensure they adequately cover all GTCC charges. If the disbursed amount is insufficient, especially when using systems like DTS, you will need to manually adjust the vendor payment amount to fully cover your outstanding balance.
Utilizing Mail Payments for Gov Travel Card
If you prefer to mail your payments, ensure to include the remittance slip from your paper statement along with your account number clearly written on your personal check. Payments submitted without this essential account information may face significant delays, risk being posted to incorrect accounts, be returned to sender, or even become unprocessable, highlighting the importance of including these details.
| Standard Payment Address | Overnight Payment Address |
|---|---|
| Citibank Government Card Services PO Box 78025 Phoenix, AZ 85062-8025 | Citibank Government Card Services Attn: Payment Processing Center 78025 1820 E. Sky Harbor Circle South STE 150 Phoenix, AZ 85034 |
Types of Gov Travel Cards: Standard vs. Restricted
There are two primary types of Individual Billed Accounts (IBAs): Standard and Restricted Gov Travel Cards. Standard cards are typically issued to individuals who have a FICO credit score above 659. These cards come with default limits of $7,500 for credit, $250 for cash access, and $250 for retail purchases, providing substantial purchasing power. Restricted cards are issued to individuals with a FICO credit score below 660. These cards have more constrained default limits, set at $4,000 for credit, $250 for cash, and $100 for retail purchases. Visually, both restricted and standard travel cards appear identical. It’s important to note that limits on either card type can be temporarily increased to accommodate mission-critical needs, subject to validation by commanders and supervisors.
For individuals who opt out of a credit score check (soft pull) but still require a travel card, they must affirmatively complete all sections of the Alternate Credit Worthiness Evaluation, DD Form 2883. Upon completion and submission of this form, they will be issued a restricted card. It’s worth noting that the FICO credit score itself is not disclosed to either the cardholder or their APC during the application process, ensuring privacy.
To complete the DD Form 2883, you will need to download and save the form to your device and then open it using Adobe Reader to add your signature, as it is essential to properly complete and submit this form for those requiring a restricted card without a credit check.
