Travel and Entertainment (T&E) Card
The Travel and Entertainment (T&E) Card is a Visa credit card issued by U.S. Bank and available to eligible UC Riverside employees. It is designed to pay for University-approved travel and business-related expenses and operates as a corporate liability card, meaning all charges are paid directly by the University. This reduces the need for employees to pay out-of-pocket. However, cardholders are responsible for reconciling their charges via an expense report in Concur within 30 days of completing a trip or event.
To be eligible for a T&E Card, you must be a UC Riverside career or contract employee and receive departmental approval. The card provides access to cash advances and credit for thousands of UC travelers and hosts. It should be used for all business-related travel and entertainment expenses where Visa is accepted, including airfare, lodging, car rental, ground transportation, and meals. Transactions automatically import into Concur, the University's travel and expense reporting system, streamlining the reimbursement and reconciliation process.
The T&E Card offers several benefits:
- The card balance is paid in full each billing cycle by the University
- It reduces the need for employee out-of-pocket spending
- Department approvers have access to transactional activity
- Card transactions integrate directly into Concur for easier reporting
- There are no late fees
How to Apply for a T&E Card
If you travel on behalf of the University, you may apply for a T&E Card. First, complete the required T&E Card Training in UC Learning. Once your department’s System Access Administrator (SAA) grants you access to Concur, submit a new Concur Card Request and attach proof of training completion. You must also certify the T&E Card Attestation, confirming that the card will be used exclusively for University business.
Your application will route to your supervisor (if applicable) and designated Financial Approver for review. Once approved, the card will be issued in approximately two weeks.
Have questions about what expenses are appropriate for a T&E Card versus a Procurement Card (PCard)?
The T&E Card is for the cardholder’s expenses only, unless the cardholder is approved as a Team Leader to cover travel expenses for others or is purchasing items for a UCR business meeting/entertainment event. See the Card Payment Matrix for more information
Emergency Cash Advances
While on official University travel status, emergency cash advances can be obtained using your T&E Card. Cardholders should retain the PIN received with the card. If the PIN is lost, contact U.S. Bank using the number printed on the back of the card. The cash advance limit is 20% of the card's available credit. In urgent cases, visiting a bank branch may allow for a higher withdrawal amount than using an ATM.