Al Ahli Offers Travel Tips to Customers
As part of the “Let’s Be Aware” campaign, the National Bank of Kuwait continues its awareness initiatives in collaboration with the Central Bank of Kuwait and the Kuwait Banks Association, in line with its ongoing commitment to strengthening financial literacy and protecting customer rights.
On this occasion, the bank provided a set of essential guidelines and recommendations for its customers traveling during the holiday season, aiming to equip them with the necessary knowledge to manage their accounts and bank cards securely, and to avoid cyber risks or fraud that they might encounter abroad.
Customers are advised to ensure that SMS or app notification services are activated to monitor transactions in real time, and to refrain from sharing their card PIN or One-Time Password (OTP) with any third party.
When making payments abroad using a card, customers should opt to pay in the local currency of the country they are visiting, rather than in Kuwaiti Dinar, to avoid potentially high exchange rates imposed by foreign point-of-sale terminals.
Additionally, customers should avoid using public Wi-Fi networks for any banking transactions, and refrain from using ATMs located in dark streets or small shops. Instead, they should rely on machines belonging to well-known banks, preferably located inside bank branches, and inspect them to ensure no skimming devices have been attached.
The bank emphasized that customer awareness is the first line of defense against fraud, and that it is committed to providing customers with the necessary tools to protect their funds worldwide. In case a card is lost or unauthorized transactions are suspected, the card should be blocked immediately via the bank’s mobile app or by contacting the “Ahlan Ahly” customer service center at 1899899, which operates around the clock.
Customers are also urged not to interact with untrusted links and to visit only official websites and applications to carry out payment transactions. The bank encouraged everyone to visit its branches or mobile app before traveling to verify daily withdrawal and spending limits for their cards, to prevent them from being blocked while abroad.
The bank also advised that when downloading local applications specific to the country of visit—such as train inspection apps, food delivery services, or taxi booking platforms—customers should pay as guests and delete their card details immediately after completing the transaction, avoiding the activation of auto-save options on untrusted sites.
The “Let’s Be Aware” campaign is a comprehensive awareness initiative aimed at highlighting customer rights and responsibilities, introducing banking services, and reinforcing financial security principles, in order to achieve financial inclusion and enhance the capacity of all segments of Kuwaiti society to successfully manage their banking and financial affairs.
