The US Debit Card is a magnetic-stripe bankcard, used by federal agencies to make federal payments to individuals. Federal agencies may load the card with any amount of value, accounted for in a host system with a database of card serial numbers and associated card balances, and then issue the card to a federal payee. Once issued, the card may be used at automated teller machines (ATM) to make cash withdrawals, or at point-of-sale (POS) terminals to make retail purchases. The card may be a disposable payment mechanism, whereby a fixed amount of value is loaded onto the card, and, once this value is spent, the card is discarded. The card can also be a reloadable payment mechanism if the agency wishes to make multiple payments to the payee.
The US Debit Card may be issued "on-the-spot" to a payee in a federal agency's field office, or out of a central office and mailed to the payee or distributed some other way. All value loaded onto the cards is PIN protected and backed by a commercial bank.
What are the uses of the US Debit Card?
Temporary payrolls, personal services
Stipends
Imprest funds, third-party drafts replacement
Overseas access to foreign currency
Payments to foreign visitors
Who is using the card today?
Bonneville Power Administration, Department of Energy
Forest Service, International Program, Department of Agriculture
Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce
Peace Corps
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Military Operations
* Several additional agencies are piloting the US Debit Card and have asked not to be disclosed at this time.
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