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The Go Direct ® campaign and the Direct Express®

Debit MasterCard® card

December 3, 2009

The Go Direct® campaign is sponsored by the U.S. Department and Federal Reserve Banks. The Go Direct® and Direct Express® logos, Go Direct® and Direct Express® are service marks of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service (used with permission). The Direct Express® Debit MasterCard® card is issued by Comerica Bank, pursuant to a license by MasterCard International Incorporated. MasterCard® and the MasterCard® Brand Mark are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated.

Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service

PartnerOutreach_PPT_v1_8.24.09

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Summary• About 10 million Americans still receive Social

Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments by paper check

• The New York area ranks third in the nation in terms of check recipients

– 475,000 Social Security checks/month– 210,000 SSI checks/month

• Taxpayers would save about $7.6 million annually if all New York check recipients switched to electronic payments

• Costs associated with issuing federal benefit checks are ballooning as boomers retire

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The Go Direct ® campaign and the Direct Express® card

• The U.S. Department of the Treasury encourages federal benefit check recipients to switch to a safer, more convenient electronic payment option:– Direct deposit. The Go Direct campaign helps

people with bank accounts make the switch– Direct Express® card. People without bank

accounts have a safe, user-friendly option: the Direct Express® prepaid debit card

• Treasury is committed to promoting both options as safe alternatives to paper checks

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Benefits of Electronic Payments• Safer

– In 2008, more than 485,000 Social Security and SSI paper checks were reported lost or stolen

– In 2008, the delivery of more than 72,000 Social Security and SSI paper checks was delayed

• Easier– Payments go straight into a bank account with

direct deposit, or are posted to the Direct Express card account – so people can access their money faster

• More control– Payment arrives on time, every time

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Go Direct Campaign• The Go Direct campaign motivates people to choose

direct deposit for federal benefit payments

• More than 1,400 partners – financial institutions, community-based organizations, aging agencies, faith-based organizations, police departments and elected officials – spread the word about the advantages of direct deposit and the Go Direct campaign

• The Go Direct campaign continues to be a top priority for Treasury since the majority of check recipients have bank accounts

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Direct Express® card• Nationwide, nearly 4 million Social Security and SSI

recipients do not have bank or credit union accounts

• The Direct Express® Debit MasterCard® card is a prepaid debit card issued by Comerica Bank, Treasury’s financial agent, for Social Security and SSI benefit payments

• The Direct Express card was developed to meet the needs of the unbanked Social Security and SSI population

• Cardholders may use the card to get cash, pay bills, and make purchases

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Benefits of the Direct Express Card

• Safety – No need to carry large amounts of cash, no risk of lost or stolen check

• Convenience – Make purchases anywhere Debit MasterCard® is accepted. Get cash at retail locations, banks and credit unions, and ATMs throughout the world

• Control – Money is automatically posted to card accounts on payment day each month – so there’s no need to wait for a paper check

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How much does it cost to use the Direct Express card?

• Most services are free. There is no cost to sign up for the card and no monthly fee

• Some fees for optional services may apply. Details about fees and features can be found at www.USDirectExpress.com

• A sample of services provided free of charge include: – Purchases at retail locations and cash back with

purchases– Cash withdrawals through tellers at MasterCard®

member banks and credit unions– Balance inquiries at ATMs, by phone or online– Optional deposit notification by phone, email or text

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How well has the Direct Express card been received?• As of August 2009, more than 600,000 Americans

have signed up for the Direct Express card, exceeding initial expectations

• 95 percent are satisfied with the card• 86 percent would recommend it to family members

or friends who receive a federal benefit payment• Among cardholders who say they are satisfied with

the card, eight in 10 say they are satisfied because of convenience, safety or immediate access to money card

These results are of a Direct Express-sponsored telephone survey of a random sample of 614 Direct Express cardholders.  The margin of error at the 95% confidence level is +/-4.0%. 9

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New York Campaign Elements• Grassroots partnerships• Marketing Communications

• Media relations, check inserts, web relations• Turn-key programs and themes • Easy enrollment options

• Direct deposit – (800) 333-1795 or online at www.GoDirect.org

• Direct Express card – (877) 212-9991 or online at www.USDirectExpress.com

• Toll-free Go Direct campaign helpline for financial institutions, (888) 382-3725

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Partnership Opportunities• It’s easy to introduce these payment options to the

people you serve– Put materials in check recipients’ hands– Include an article in your newsletter or on your

Web site– Include information about the Go Direct

campaign and the Direct Express card in your workshops, trainings or other public speaking engagements

– Host events/seminars featuring Go Direct campaign and Direct Express card messages

– Help check recipients sign-up for direct deposit or for the Direct Express card

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New York Highlights

• From July 2008 to June 2009, SSA/SSI check volume in the New York metro area was reduced by 3.54 percent

• Partner highlights– New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) 2009

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) mailing included information on the Go Direct campaign and the Direct Express card

– New York City Police Department Crime Prevention Officers are distributing Go Direct materials at senior safety seminars and community council meetings

– New York Public Library distributed Go Direct materials at each of their 90 branches across Manhattan and the Bronx

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Free Materials• Materials are customizable, co-brandable and free

– Fliers – For lobbies and events– Posters – Display them in your facilities– Newsletter copy – Information suitable for articles

highlighting reasons to switch from paper checks to a safer payment option

– Talking points and PowerPoint slides – For presentations, workshops and meetings

– Web sites – www.GoDirect.org and www.USDirectExpress.com – with more information and resources for partners

– Customer service training guides

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The Go Direct campaign and the Direct Express® card2009 - 2010 Programming Calendar

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We invite your partnership…

• Treasury’s campaign to promote the use of electronic payments for federal benefit payments relies on partners like you to help senior citizens, people with disabilities and others make the switch to a safer, easier payment option

Thank you!