Stimulus Update: Economic Impact Payment Debit Cards Arriving by Mail

DCCA wants to remind Hawai‘i residents that their Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) may be arriving in the mail, and they’ll be in the form of a prepaid debit card instead of a paper check or direct deposit.

Earlier this month the US government began issuing approximately eight million EIPs by prepaid cards, and because it’s different this time around, they want to make sure people don’t accidentally throw it away.

It’s also important to note that in order to activate the card, you need to provide private information such as a partial Social Security number, which may make those unaware of the new system, skeptical.

Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection in the DCCA, Stephen Levins, said, “While consumers should always be vigilant before providing personal information to anyone offering or sending unexpected money in the mail or email, consumers can rest assured that these debit cards are not a scam.

In order to fully protect themselves, recipients should only call the number listed in the IRS instructions and refrain from divulging any information to anyone else.”

The card will have the words “VISA” and “DEBIT” on the front and the issuing bank, MetaBank, N.A., shown on the back (view example below). The envelope will also display the US Department of the Treasury seal.