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6/11/2020

Treasury is Delivering Millions of Economic Impact Payments by Prepaid Debit Card | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Treasury is Delivering Millions of Economic Impact Payments by
Prepaid Debit Card
May 18, 2020

WASHINGTON— This week, Treasury and the IRS are starting to send nearly 4 million Economic
Impact Payments (EIPs) by prepaid debit card, instead of by paper check. EIP Card recipients
can make purchases, get cash from in-network ATMs, and transfer funds to their personal bank
account without incurring any fees. They can also check their card balance online, by mobile
app, or by phone without incurring fees. The EIP Card can be used online, at ATMs, or at any
retail location where Visa is accepted. This free, prepaid card also provides consumer
protections available to traditional bank account owners, including protections against fraud,
loss, and other errors.
Picture of prepaid debit card
“Treasury and the IRS have been working with unprecedented speed to issue Economic Impact
Payments to American families. Prepaid debit cards are secure, easy to use, and allow us to
deliver Americans their money quickly,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “Recipients can
immediately activate and use the cards safely.”
Treasury has already delivered more than 140 million Economic Impact Payments worth $239
billion to Americans by direct deposit to accounts at financial institutions, Direct Express card
accounts, and by check. The Treasury-sponsored EIP Card is another method to provide money
efficiently and securely to eligible recipients and their families. EIP Cards are being distributed
to qualified individuals without bank information on file with the IRS, and whose tax return was
processed by either the Andover or Austin IRS Service Center.
Treasury’s financial agent, MetaBank, will mail EIP Cards to eligible recipients beginning this
week. Each mailing will include instructions on how to activate and use the card.
The EIP Card is part of Treasury’s U.S. Debit Card program, which provides prepaid debit card
services to federal agencies for the electronic delivery of non-benefit payments. MetaBank was
selected as Treasury’s financial agent for the U.S. Debit Card program in 2016, following a
competitive selection process conducted by the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1012

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6/11/2020

Treasury is Delivering Millions of Economic Impact Payments by Prepaid Debit Card | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Read more about Economic Impact Payments.
Read more about the Economic Impact Payment Card.
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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1012

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