Dr. Chatterjee Shares Smart Credit Card Strategies for International Travelers

In a WalletHub feature on choosing credit cards for international travel, Dr. Patrali Chatterjee (Chair and Professor in the Department of Marketing, outlined key considerations for travelers navigating global payments. She emphasized the importance of selecting credit cards with no foreign transaction fees and wide international acceptance, noting that U.S. banks often charge 2–4% per purchase abroad, costs that quickly add up. Dr. Chatterjee also cautioned against relying solely on American Express or Discover cards, which face limited acceptance outside major cities, and instead recommended Visa or Mastercard with EMV chip and contactless functionality. She identified common mistakes, such as failing to notify banks about travel plans or overlooking global fraud protection, and underscored the need for travelers to verify whether their cards will function in restricted countries like Cuba, Iran, or Russia.