12% have bank card lost, stolen or frozen while on holiday

New research carried out by An Post Money has revealed that one in ten (12%) people in Ireland have had their bank card lost, stolen or frozen while travelling abroad; an experience 14% of men and 9% of women have encountered.

Nine out of every ten people surveyed said that being able to access cash in an emergency situation while abroad is appreciated with the same number wanting to be able to access 24/7 customer support if their card is lost, stolen or frozen while abroad.

A recent survey of over 1,000 Irish people by Red C Research was carried out, on behalf of An Post Money, to uncover insights into the travel plans and habits of people in Ireland in 2022.

After a long 24 months of enduring pandemic restrictions, An Post Money’s research evaluates consumer sentiment as many prepare to travel abroad for the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic began and since the cessation of travel restrictions earlier this year.

The research shows that:

* seven in every ten people are planning trips outside of Ireland, with over one in four planning to travel to the United Kingdom this yea.r

* More than half of people plan to travel within Europe (54% for Continental Europe, excluding the UK) this year with one in every two planning to travel outside of the Eurozone.

* One in six are planning a long-haul trip to destinations including USA (8%), Canada (2%), Asia (4%), Australia and New Zealand (2%).

* One in two (54%) people buy local currency ahead of a trip, with over 65’s (68%) more likely than their younger counterparts to purchase local currency in advance.

* Nine in ten consider 0% commission and exchange rate important while 3 in 4 consider a convenient location to be important

* In the event of a lost or stolen bank card, more than nine n ten value access to emergency cash and similarly, over nine in ten value being able to access 24/7 customer support in this situation

Debbie Byrne, Managing Director of An Post Retail, said: “Travel is back on the agenda in a big way for us in 2022 and with our travel money offerings, we take the stress out of foreign travel. We’re delighted to have great travel solutions for our customers, with more exciting plans to be announced soon. With 5 cash currencies and 16 currencies on the An Post Money Currency Card, we are the only financial provider offering foreign currency in both cash and on a Currency Card, with 0% commission, a 24/7 helpline and emergency cash if you lose your card. Customers have the peace of mind that they have access to a human at the end of the phone if their card is lost, stolen or damaged with 24/7 customer support. Similarly, being able to access emergency cash up to the available balance on your card is reassuring for people should something happen to their card while they’re away. At An Post Money we take immense pride in providing financial services which help people to live well today and in the future”

The An Post Money Currency Card is a prepaid Mastercard® which allows customers to top up and purchase in 16 currencies on a single card. Key product features include:

* An Post Money has your travel money sorted with cash and a handy currency card all in one place.

* 0% commission for foreign currency transactions when spending in a currency pre-loaded on to the card

* Manage your card and view spending online via the An Post Money app

* No point of sale fees when you spend abroad

* 24-hour local assistance, including emergency cash up to the available balance on your card if your card is lost/stolen

Customers can sign up for the An Post Money Currency Card at their local post office.