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U.S. Treasury Introducing Direct Express(R) Debit Card to Social Security Recipients in Western States

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ --

     WHAT:               Nearly two million Social Security recipients in a
                         dozen Western states -- mostly senior citizens and
                         people with disabilities -- will receive information
                         about a new prepaid debit card option for federal
                         benefits with their monthly checks in September.

                         The Direct Express(R) Debit MasterCard(R) card --
                         designed as a safe, convenient alternative to paper
                         checks -- will be introduced by the U.S. Department
                         of the Treasury's Financial Management Service (FMS)
                         to Social Security recipients in Alaska, Arizona,
                         California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New
                         Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

                         The Direct Express card is a new option for federal
                         beneficiaries who do not have a bank account, but are
                         looking for a no-cost or low-cost alternative to
                         using check cashing facilities and carrying large
                         amounts of cash. There is no sign-up fee and no bank
                         account or credit check is required to enroll.
                         Cardholders can make purchases, pay bills and get
                         cash at thousands of ATM and retail locations
                         nationwide.

                         Treasury has engaged a financial agent --
                         Dallas-based Comerica Bank -- to issue this
                         nationally available card exclusively for payment of
                         federal benefits.

     SIGN UP
     Information:        Senior citizens, people with disabilities and
                         other Social Security and Supplemental Security
                         Income (SSI) recipients may sign up for the optional
                         card by calling toll-free 1-877-212-9991 or visiting
                         http://www.USDirectExpress.com.

     KEY Numbers:        *    Nearly two million Social Security and
                              Supplemental Security (SSI) recipients in a
                              dozen Western states, mostly senior citizens and
                              people with disabilities, will receive
                              information about the new Direct Express card
                              with their monthly checks in September.
                         *    About 4 million Social Security and SSI
                              recipients nationally (approximately 600,000 in
                              the Western states) do not have bank accounts
                              and, until now, have had to rely on paper check
                              payments.
                         *    About 10.3 million senior citizens, people with
                              disabilities and others still rely on paper
                              checks for their Social Security and SSI
                              payments.
                         *    Last year, 700,000 Social Security and SSI paper
                              checks were reported lost or stolen and the
                              payments had to be reissued.

     Direct Express
     Card Facts:         *    Safe: The Direct Express card eliminates the
                              risk of lost or stolen checks, giving people
                              access to their money without the need to carry
                              large amounts of cash. The cards are
                              PIN-protected and funds are FDIC-insured.
                         *    No- or low-cost: Features built into the Direct
                              Express card are aimed at reducing or
                              eliminating the cost of using the card. There is
                              no cost to sign up for the card and no monthly
                              fee.
                         *    Convenient: Cardholders can make purchases and
                              get cash back at no cost wherever Debit
                              MasterCard(R) is accepted. The Direct Express
                              card can also be used to pay bills over the
                              phone and internet and to get cash at ATMs.

     Radio
     Actualities:        Downloadable radio actualities are available on the
                         Media section of USDirectExpress.com (WAV & MP3
                         Formats).