The state of Arizona will use a new provider of electronic payment cards (EPCs) for unemployment insurance and child support payments, according to a press release.

The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) has announced that it will switch EPC payments from Bank of America services to a Way2Go card starting September 23, 2021.

The new card would be sent to existing unemployment insurance recipients and child benefit customers.

After that, payments are automatically credited to the new Way2Go card.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) applicants who do not have an EPC but need one after September 26, 2021 will receive a card. However, the press release states that those with funds remaining on their Bank of America Visa card will have full access to those funds until December 31, 2021.

Americans have always had problems with financial services, with more than six percent of American households having no bank account and nearly 19 percent having no bank account, with lower-income households particularly unlikely to have access to a bank account.

One solution is debit solutions such as prepaid cards, which are used by financial institutions to target those who have less banking business. These include lower fee cards that have been used to avoid issues that have usually made it more difficult to attract lower income customers, including excessive fees and overdraft fees.

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PYMNTS, in July Next generation Debit Tracker®, found that 69 percent of users say convenience is the number one issue they consider when using debit cards.

Download the report: July PYMNTS Nex-Gen Debit Tracker®

There are some companies like Remitly, the remittance provider, who are using debit as a solution to add more immigrant functionality through low-cost debit options. And users can access virtual debit cards while waiting for physical ones in the mail.

With this offering, users can purchase goods and are less reliant on payday loans or other such services.

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