What bank is associated with Direct Express? Is Direct Express considered a bank account? Does Direct Express have a routing and account number? Can you put money on a Direct Express card? These are some of the Direct Express Bank Questions we receive from our readers. In response, we have created this Direct Express Bank FAQs page as a resource to answer reader questions on this topic.
Learn about what bank is associated with Direct Express, the issue with Direct Express routing numbers, whether you can get a cash advance on your card.
In addition, we will discuss Direct Express emergency cash and how you can get money from your card without your debit card present.
Finally, we will address the issue of adding money to a Direct Express debit card, and many other popular questions.
Direct Express Bank FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about Direct Express Bank:
What bank is associated with Direct Express?
Direct Express is a debit card company with headquarters in San Antonio.
Comerica Bank issues the Direct Express debit cards – under a license from Mastercard International.
The Direct Express debit card offers a safe way to receive federal benefits electronically, including:
- Social Security Retirement
- Supplemental Security Income
- Veterans Compensation and Pension
Is Direct Express considered a bank account?
Yes, the Direct Express card account is considered a bank account.
It is a prepaid card account that is recommended by the Treasury department as an option to receive federal benefits electronically.
Each Direct Express card account comes with an account number and there is a routing number.
However, because only federal benefit are allowed to be deposited into the Direct Express card, Direct Express does not display the account number and routing number.
That is because there is no reason for Direct Express cardholders to need their account number and routing number since they cannot use it to add money to their account.
Does Direct Express Bank have a routing and account number?
Each Direct Express card account comes with an account number and there is a routing number.
However, because only federal benefit are allowed to be deposited into the Direct Express card, Direct Express does not display the account number and routing number.
That is because there is no reason for Direct Express cardholders to need their account number and routing number since they cannot use it to add money to their account.
Can you put money on a Direct Express card?
No. You cannot deposit personal funds onto the Direct Express debit card. The card will only accept funds paid to you by the federal government, including:
- Social Security Retirement Benefits
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- Veterans Compensation and Pension
How do I get emergency cash from Direct Express?
Direct Express Emergency Cash allows you to obtain up to $1,000 of the funds available on your Direct Express card account without your card in hand.
It is also sometimes referred to as the Direct Express Cardless Benefit Access.
The program allows cardholders to access funds from their account in situations where they don’t have their card with them.
The service is especially useful for cardholders if they have lost their card, even when they are currently not in their home states.
Can Direct Express Bank freeze my account?
Generally, no – Direct Express will cannot freeze your account, but there are exception. Here’s what you need to know:
Social Security benefit payments are generally protected from attachment or garnishment under federal law.
This means that your creditors do not have the right to take money out of your Direct Express account.
However, there are exceptions.
Direct Express will ONLY allow a freeze or garnishment of your debit card account if any of these exceptions are met.
For example, your account can be garnished to repay child support or alimony.
Furthermore, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are not subject to garnishment of any kind.
Can I get a payday loan with SSI?
Yes. If you collect benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and can verify your payments, you’re typically eligible for a payday loan.
However, you should be aware of the potential dangers that come with payday loans.
Payday lenders welcome Social Security beneficiaries because, unlike part-time workers, their payments are stable and reliable.
Additionally, Social Security beneficiaries find payday loans to be fast and easy to get.
Borrowers write a check for the amount of the loan, plus fees, to the lender dated for their next payday.
The lender cashes the check on the borrower’s payday and collects their principal and fees.
However, as stated above, payday loans can be expensive:
Let’s say you borrow $300, you’d owe between $30 and $90 in fees.
If in two weeks you can’t afford to repay that $300 payday loan that came with $45 in fees, here’s what could happen:
The lender might suggest that you just pay the fees, rather than the principal of the loan.
But by the next payday, you’d owe another $45 in fees plus the principal, meaning you’d now have paid $90 in just one month to borrow $300.
Can I get an advance on my SSI check?
According to Social Security Administration (SSA), emergency advance payments could be available for new SSI claimants if eligibility looks likely.
These advance payments pay up to a month of SSI benefits (federal payment plus state supplement).
However, the SSA will recover this advance payment from future SSI benefits.
Here’s what the Social Security website says:
“We may pay a one-time emergency advance payment to an individual initially applying for benefits who is presumptively eligible for SSI benefits and who has a financial emergency.
The amount of this payment cannot exceed the Federal benefit rate plus the federally administered State supplementary payment, if any.”
How do I get a live person at Direct Express?
Here’s how to speak to a human at Direct Express customer service.
Step 1
Call Direct Express Customer Service toll-free at 1-888-741-1115 (available 24/7)
Step 2
For English, (press 1), for Spanish (Press 2), for all other languages (press 3)
Step 3
If you have your Direct Express card with you, then enter your 16-digit debit card number.
Step 4
After entering your card number, a Direct Express customer service agent will answer your call shortly.
You may be put on a brief hold if all agents are currently assisting other customers when you call.
If you do not have your Direct Express card with you, then (Press 2) to access your account using your Social Security number.
If you do not have your Direct Express card number or Social Security number, here is what you need to do to talk to a live person:
Wait while the auto-attendant goes through the messages below a few times, then you will be transferred automatically to a customer service representative:
- We are sorry, we did not receive your selection – Please try again, your 16 digit card number is in front of your card, To re-enter your card number, press 1
- To access your card account information using your Social Security number, press 2
- To find out the status of your previously ordered card. press 3
- If your card has been lost, stolen or damaged, press 4
After the system goes through the above message three or four times, you will be transferred automatically to a customer service representative.
Other callers have reported longer hold times. If you do not have time to wait on hold, you may have to try calling at different times of the day to see if you are able to talk to a representative sooner.
Direct Express Bank FAQs Summary
We hope this post on Direct Express Bank FAQs was helpful.
If you have further questions about Direct Express Card, Social Security or Disability benefits, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles on Social Security and Direct Express, including:
Direct Express Fraud Investigations
Why your Direct Express Deposit is Pending
Second Stimulus Check for $600 Update
5 Reasons You Haven’t Received 2nd Stimulus Check
Direct Express Stimulus Check
Replacement Social Security card online
