For many military and civilian employees, obtaining a Government Travel Card is a standard part of the onboarding process. This essential tool, often referred to as the GTCC (Government Travel Charge Card), streamlines official travel expenses. Your Agency Program Coordinator (APC) is your primary resource throughout this process, from application to ongoing account management. APCs are pivotal in the smooth operation of the Government Travel Charge Card program at the local level. They serve as a crucial link between cardholders and the card vendor, overseeing transaction monitoring, credit limit adjustments, and a range of other vital responsibilities.
If you’re unsure who your designated APC is, reaching out to your chain of command or your HR/management support team is a good first step. Alternatively, your local level travel help desk can also provide this information.
The following guide outlines the typical steps involved in acquiring a new government travel card. It’s important to remember that procedures can be tailored to meet specific local business rules, so always consult with your APC for the most accurate and up-to-date guidance.
Setting Up and Managing Your CitiManager Account
CitiManager plays a central role in government travel card account management. For cardholders who applied for their travel card after March 2020, Citibank automatically establishes a CitiManager account during the card issuance process. If your card was issued prior to this date, you will need to self-enroll [citi.com] to access your account online.
Once enrolled in CitiManager, you gain comprehensive control over your GTCC account through both the online portal and the mobile app, available on the App Store and Google Play. CitiManager empowers you to effortlessly manage your travel card by providing access to view statements, check account balances, make payments, update personal account settings, opt for paperless statements, and set up customized alerts to stay informed about your account activity. For a detailed walkthrough of all features, refer to the CitiManager Digital Reference Guide [citi.com, PDF, 1 page].
Understanding Split Disbursement for Efficient Payments
Split disbursement is a mandatory payment method for all Department of Defense (DoD) personnel and is a highly recommended efficient payment method for civilian employees as well. This system allows for direct payment of your government travel card bill from your travel reimbursement. When you are preparing your travel voucher, it is critical to carefully review the split disbursement amounts to ensure that sufficient funds are allocated to fully cover all charges accrued on your GTCC. If the automatically calculated amount is insufficient, particularly when using systems like DTS (Defense Travel System), you will need to manually adjust the disbursement amount to guarantee complete payment to the vendor and avoid potential late fees or account issues.
Mailing Payments: Key Information to Ensure Proper Processing
While electronic payment methods like split disbursement are encouraged, mail payments remain an option. If you choose to pay your government travel card bill via mail, it’s crucial to adhere to specific guidelines to prevent processing delays or misapplication of payments. All mailed payments must include the remittance slip, which is found on your paper statement. Furthermore, always write your government travel card account number clearly on your personal check. Submitting payments without this essential account information significantly increases the risk of delays, posting to incorrect accounts, return to sender, or the payment being rejected altogether.
| 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 |
Standard vs. Restricted Government Travel Cards: What’s the Difference?
Government travel cards are categorized into two types: Standard and Restricted, primarily based on the applicant’s creditworthiness. Standard travel cards are typically issued to individuals who have a FICO credit score of 660 or higher. These cards come with default spending limits of $7,500 for overall credit, a $250 limit for cash advances, and a $250 limit for retail purchases.
Restricted travel cards are issued to individuals with a FICO credit score below 660. These cards have lower default limits: $4,000 for credit, $250 for cash advances, and $100 for retail purchases. Visually, both Standard and Restricted cards appear identical. It’s important to note that spending limits on either type of card can be temporarily increased if necessary to accommodate mission-critical travel needs. These temporary increases require validation and approval from commanders or supervisors.
For individuals who prefer not to undergo a credit score check (soft pull) yet still require a government travel card, there is an alternative. By completing and affirmatively answering all questions on the Alternate Credit Worthiness Evaluation (DD Form 2883) [PDF, 2 pages], you can still be issued a restricted card. It’s important to understand that neither the cardholder nor their APC is provided with the specific FICO credit score during the application process.
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 electronic signature.
