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HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Treasury announced it has completed mailing the new U.S. Bank prepaid debit cards to Unemployment Compensation and Workers’ Compensation benefit recipients who have previously been using cards issued by JP Morgan Chase. Cardholders should have received their new cards and must activate them and set new PIN numbers to access benefits when the cards are funded on Oct. 1, 2015.

In addition, claimants will not be able to transfer balances from their previously issued Chase cards to the U.S. Bank ReliaCard Visa and should continue to use their Chase cards until they have spent their balances down to zero (or have withdrawn any remaining funds). Any current Chase cardholders who anticipate receiving payments from Treasury on a prepaid debit card on or after Oct. 1 and have not yet received their new card should contact Treasury at 877-869-1956.

“The transition to the new U.S. Bank prepaid card is going smoothly, and all recipients should have received their new cards,” said Pennsylvania Treasurer Tim Reese. “I urge all cardholders to activate their new cards as soon as possible so they can begin to receive their benefits and take advantage of the enhanced features and lower costs of the new program.”

Treasury’s prepaid debit program allows claimants to receive their payments faster and more conveniently than with checks while reducing check-issuance costs by nearly $1 million annually. Treasury estimates the new U.S. Bank program will collectively save claimants over $2.3 million in annual fees that can be charged by other prepaid card programs.

With the new prepaid debit cards, users will be able to make an unlimited number of free withdrawals at approximately 3,200 ATMs in Pennsylvania (and 68,000 nationally). In addition, users can make fee-free purchases at retail establishments and will have online bill payment capabilities. Cardholders will also now have access to a comprehensive mobile application that allows them to manage their account and locate free ATMs in order to avoid out-ofnetwork ATM fees. In the unlikely event that a fee-free ATM is not nearby, cardholders will be able to make up to four withdrawals per month from any ATM without a fee from U.S. Bank.

For more information, visit www.debitcard.patreasury.gov.

Unemployment Compensation and Workers’ Compensation benefit recipients will receive a new card from U.S. Bank to replace their current Chase Debit Card.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_USABANKCARD.jpg.optimal.jpgUnemployment Compensation and Workers’ Compensation benefit recipients will receive a new card from U.S. Bank to replace their current Chase Debit Card. Pennsylvania Treasury

By the Rocket-Courier