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Do I have a GTC or a CSA?

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Carbajal
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Do I have a government travel card? What is a controlled spending account? What is the difference between a GTC and a CSA? What do I need to do before I go TDY?

If you find yourself asking these questions, you are not alone, said Capt. Steve Tatro, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing financial manager.

In the spring of 2011, Air Force GTC cardholders began receiving their new controlled spending account travel cards to cover the costs of temporary-duty assignments, permanent change of station or deployments.

According to Mike Bilbrey, the Air Force banking officer, the CSA card differs from the traditional travel card in that approved travel authorizations and amendments automatically adjust the CSA's spend limits to reflect the estimated cost of the mission.

Cost estimates for the temporary duty or PSC will be allocated to the CSA prior to the user's departure.

"What this means is the CSA card is no different than your old grey government travel card," Staff Sgt. Marc Rodrigues, 451 AEW financial service technician. " ... the only real difference is the way you receive your credit limit for your upcoming trip."

Since the mission can vary greatly for Airmen, Citibank allows cardholders to call for temporary spend limit adjustments, based on last-minute travel changes.

Since the CSA's inception, there have been many misconceptions with the travel card, said Rodrigues, who is deployed from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

"Despite popular belief, the CSA is not a 'debit card'," said Rodrigues, a Crystal River, Fla., native. "I've heard people say that the money is just front loaded so that you won't have to worry about paying it back while on long TDYs. This is not true."

If a CSA bill is not paid by the 30th day, cardholders run the risk of the card being delinquent. At 60 days delinquent, Citibank will suspend your card and at 90 days they will close the travel card.

"If you reach 120 days, Citibank will cancel your card and you will start to see the balance of the card come out of your paycheck," said Rodrigues.

For more information, visit www.airforcetravelcard.transactionservices.citi.com.