It’s Not Junk Mail – Your Stimulus Check May Be Sent As A Debit Card

Pamela Kweller RSSA Staff

More than 140,000 million Americans have been sent Economic Impact Payments (Stimulus Checks). According to the IRS, “Nearly 4 million people are being sent their Economic Impact Payment by prepaid debit card, instead of paper check.”

The prepaid debit cards (The Economic Impact Payment Cards) are sponsored by the Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service. It is managed by the Money Network Financial, LLC and issued by Treasury’s financial agent, MetaBank®, N.A.

When finding the debit card in their mailbox, many people automatically assume it is junk mail. It’s not!

Be aware that if you receive a debit card from the IRS it will come in the mail in a plain envelope from “Money Network Cardholder Services.” The EIP Card will be a Visa card and on the back of the card you will find the name of the bank, MetaBank®.

Only some people will receive debit cards instead of a paper check or electronic delivery. Currently, there is no way to specifically request to receive a debit card.

This is what the card looks like. Source: EIPcard.com

Here is what you need to know if you receive a debit card:

• You can make purchases online or in-person as long as Visa is accepted
• You can withdraw cash from in-network ATMs without fees
• You can transfer money to your personal bank account
• You can create an online account here and check your balance and view past transactions
• You should be aware of associated fees such as out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees or card replacement fees
• You can learn more information regarding EIP cards at EIPcard.com

As a reminder, be on the lookout for scams. The IRS warns, “Be careful and cautious: The IRS will not send unsolicited electronic communications asking people to open attachments, visit a website or share personal or financial information. Remember, go directly and solely to IRS.gov for official information.” Read the full IRS Press Release here.