New program, same card: CSA transitions to GTC

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Natasha Stannard
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  The transition from the Controlled Spend Account Travel Card Program to the Government Travel Card Program occurs June 18 and runs through Sept. 1.

This transition makes travel easier for cardholders.

The CSA program brought unique challenges to some frequent travelers. The new GTC can meet mission requirements and will be easier for travelers with even the most unique mission sets to use, according to a statement issued by the Secretary of the Air Force Financial Management Program.

The new card's credit limit becomes fixed -- like a personal card.

"There will always be a credit limit on the card," said Anna Lutsch, 52nd Fighter Wing Agency Program Coordinator. "You don't have to load orders to get funds onto your card. It's like the old GTC, so your credit limit is always available. With the new card, we can choose the disbursement amount that goes to personal and Citi credit accounts."

Cardholders will receive notifications from their unit APC via email once their card has transitioned, but until then, holders should use their cards as normal.

Members won't have to get new cards as the cards currently issued will convert over automatically. Holders who still have a GTC will only have to renew their cards once they expire.

If members dispose of their cards before the card expires, they will have to apply and wait for new ones.

"It's important to keep your blue or grey cards," Lutsch said of the travel cards that will automatically convert and carry over account balances. "Whichever one you have, keep it."

CSA cardholders who have never used their card and those with delinquent balances will have to fill out a new GTC program application through their unit APC.

GTC cardholders are also required to take the "Travel Card 101" within the last three years. Training is located on the Defense Travel Management Office Travel Explorer website at http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/passport.

Lutsch said members should also make sure all their personal information is correct in the Citi Bank system. People won't get pertinent account information about the transition or account balance information if this information is wrong.

Cardholders should also continue to check their balances when they get back from official military travel like permanent changes of station and temporary duty travel.

"They should check two weeks after to make sure the money from their travel vouchers went to their card," Lutsch explained of the cardholder's responsibility to pay by the due dates on the card statement upon return from official military travel.

Cardholders can expect to see information on the Air Force Portal and receive information from local APCs as more details on the transition come out.

For instructions on how to register and take the required training course, visit http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/Docs/Training/Accessing_Travel_Card_Program_Training.pdf.