CSA returning to GTC by October

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman William A. O'Brien
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The transition from the Controlled Spending Account program to the Government Travel Card program is slated to begin this summer and be completed by October.

"The main driver is customer feedback," said Tech. Sgt. Gregory Hasecuster, 39th Comptroller Squadron NCO in charge of customer service. "Members prefer the flexibility the GTC offers. Converting to the GTC will also allow for quicker reimbursement (of funds) to members since they can elect how much is sent to the GTC.

"This will eliminate the need to request a transfer from Citibank, which is the current policy with CSAs, if the settlement is worth more than the balance on the card," he said.

For those who currently have a CSA card, no action is required. Once the transition is complete, the card currently held will then function as a GTC. All account balances will carry over and payments will remain the same.

"Most members with a CSA will have their accounts automatically transitioned to GTC accounts," said Hasecuster. "This will benefit members by making reimbursement easier when they file their travel voucher. The Air Force Financial Services Center will no longer have to pay the entire settlement amount directly to the CSA card. Members will have the option of selecting how much they want sent straight to their GTC account, and the remainder will be paid to their personal account."

For those who previously held a GTC, the old cards will remain inactive, and they should continue using their current card through the change.

"Some will need to apply for the GTC, and they should have already been notified to do so by their unit agency program coordinators," added Hasecuster. "This should have (a) minimal effect on usage. Members will still be required to use the GTC for official travel expenses, and they will still be expected to pay their bills on time."

All service members are reminded to ensure their mailing and email addresses remain up to date in the Citibank card system to ensure they receive all correspondence from Citibank throughout this transition.

Though the 39th CPTS is not responsible for making the switch, they, along with each unit's APC and Citibank, are available to help anybody who has questions. Citibank can be reached at (866) 670-6462.