October 2, 1997
Debbie Poffenroth
STCU
P.O. Box 5264
Spokane, Washington 99205
Dear Ms. Poffenroth:
You have asked for information regarding the Debt Collection and
Improvement Act of 1996, (DCIA), part of the Omnibus Consolidated
Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-134, 31
U.S.C. 3332. Specifically, you have asked how individuals will
be able to access their funds or benefits using magnetic strip
cards or smart cards.
The electronic funds transfer (EFT) provisions of the DCIA mandate
that by January 2, 1999, all federal payments, except tax refunds,
must be made electronically, unless a waiver is available. Accordingly,
recipients of federal payments must designate a financial institution
or an authorized agent to receive payments and provide the appropriate
agency with the information needed to make payments by EFT. The
Financial Management Service of the Department of Treasury (Department)
is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the EFT provisions
of the DCIA.
The Department proposes that individuals who have not opened an
account at a financial institution and have not submitted a waiver
request by January 1, 1999, will receive payments electronically
through an Electronic Transfer Account (ETA). The Department
will establish an ETA in the name of the individual at a federally
insured financial institution selected by the Department so that
the individual without an account can receive payment. The individual
will be provided a plastic card which can be used to withdraw
his or her funds at an automatic teller machine (ATM) or point-of-sale
terminals (POS) from the ETA.
ETAs will be provided at a reasonable cost and have the same consumer
protections as other accounts at a financial institution. The
exact structure of ETAs has not yet been determined. On September
17, 1997, the Department of Treasury issued a notice of proposed
rulemaking soliciting comments on its proposed rule implementing
the requirements of the DCIA, 62 Fed. Reg. 48713. A copy of this
proposed rule and additional information on the EFT provisions
of the DCIA may be obtained on the Financial Management Service's
web site at www.fms.treas.gov., or by calling 202-874-6590.
In addition, enclosed is some reference information on EFTs that
is available on the Department's Financial Management Service's
web site. I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Sheila A. Albin
Associate General Counsel
GC/NSW:bhs
SSIC 3251
97-0824
Enclosure