A major change is coming for millions of Social Security recipients who rely on a popular prepaid card to receive their benefits.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service has selected Fifth Third Bank as the new financial agent for the Direct Express program.
The bank will replace Comerica Bank, the Social Security Administration recently announced.
Who’s impacted
The change affects those who receive payments via the Direct Express prepaid Debit Mastercard — 3.6 million active cardholders, according to the Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service.
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Those who receive payments by direct deposit into a bank account are not affected.
New enrollments with Fifth Third Bank began in May 2026, and the transition for existing customers will start in summer 2026, according to the SSA.
Beneficiaries will receive advance notice and new debit cards before the switch takes effect.
Existing Comerica cardholders do not need to take any action — current cards will remain fully functional until a new Fifth Third-issued card arrives, per the Direct Express FAQ.
Will the change affect where payment is accepted?
The updated Direct Express mobile app works only with Fifth Third Bank cards issued after the transition.
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Comerica cardholders should continue using the existing app during the transition.
Both cards are accepted anywhere Debit Mastercard is honored.
The SSA is encouraging beneficiaries to keep their contact information up to date to ensure they receive all transition communications. More information is available at usdirectexpress.com.
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