EBT cash withdrawal options besides Bank of America - no personal bank account
Just got my CalFresh benefits loaded onto my EBT card and need to pull out some cash for expenses that aren't covered by EBT. I don't have a personal bank account and usually use Bank of America ATMs for free withdrawals, but there aren't any close to my new apartment. Can I withdraw cash from other banks or stores without crazy fees? Which places work with California EBT cards? Really don't want to waste benefits on ATM charges.
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Joy Olmedo
You have a few options for withdrawing cash from your EBT card besides Bank of America. For FREE withdrawals you can use: 1. Any Golden1 Credit Union ATMs 2. MoneyPass Network ATMs (look for the logo) 3. Allpoint Network ATMs (often found in CVS, Walgreens, Target) 4. Many grocery stores also offer cash back with purchase - Walmart, Food 4 Less, etc. Just remember that this only works if you receive CalWORKs or other cash benefits on your EBT card. Regular CalFresh (food benefits) can't be withdrawn as cash.
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Kingston Bellamy
•Thank you! I get both CalFresh and General Assistance on my card. I didn't know about Golden1 or the MoneyPass options! Is there a way to find these ATMs near me? Also didn't realize I could do cash back at stores - do they charge fees for that usually?
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Isaiah Cross
U can go 2 any store like walmart or food maxx and buy something small like gum and ask for cashback when u pay, thats what i do. no fees that way. but has 2 be from the CASH part of ur ebt not the food part!!!!!
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Kingston Bellamy
•That's super helpful, thanks! So I just select cash back after swiping? And I need to make sure I'm using the cash account not food benefits, got it. Any limit on how much cash back I can get?
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Kiara Greene
Just to clarify some important details: 1. You can ONLY withdraw cash if you receive cash benefits (CalWORKs, Refugee Cash Assistance, General Assistance) on your EBT card. The CalFresh (food) portion cannot be withdrawn as cash. 2. The California EBT website (www.ebt.ca.gov) has an ATM locator tool where you can find surcharge-free ATMs near you. You can also download the "ConnectEBT" app which has this feature. 3. For cash withdrawals at non-Bank of America ATMs, you get 4 free withdrawals per month. After that, there's a $1 fee per withdrawal. 4. Cash back at stores is unlimited and always free as long as the store offers it. 5. When using your EBT card, always select "WITHDRAW FROM CASH" not "FOOD" when prompted.
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Kingston Bellamy
•This is super helpful, thank you. I didn't know about the website locator or the app - downloading that now! And good to know about the 4 free withdrawals at other ATMs. I'll try to stick with store cash back when possible to avoid any fees.
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Evelyn Kelly
I had this same issue when i moved! It turned out that U can also withdraw at any credit union that has the CO-OP network logo on it. I think theres also select 7-11 atms that dont charge but i tried one once and it still gave me a fee so i don't trust those anymore lol
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Paloma Clark
If you're having trouble finding ATMs, you should try Claimyr.com to get through to an EBT customer service rep right away. They can give you all the surcharge-free ATM locations in your area. I was on hold for hours trying to figure out where to withdraw without fees, but with Claimyr I got through in minutes. There's a video that shows how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. The rep gave me a list of all the free ATMs in my zip code!
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Isaiah Cross
•does that cost $? i'm already broke thats why im on ebt lol
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Paloma Clark
•It does cost something but saved me way more in ATM fees in the long run. You can also just go to the ebt.ca.gov website for free and use their ATM locator if you have internet access!
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Heather Tyson
I've been on CalFresh for 3 years and let me tell you the system is DESIGNED to make it hard to access your benefits!!! I've had my cash benefits eaten up by ATM fees before I realized what was happening. The "free withdrawal" thing is a JOKE - so many ATMs still charge their OWN fee even if the EBT system doesn't. And good luck finding anyone at the county to explain this clearly!!! 😡😡😡
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Joy Olmedo
•That's true about some ATMs charging their own fees even when using the surcharge-free networks. That's why the cash back at stores option is usually best - places like Walmart, Target, grocery stores never charge for cash back with purchase.
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Raul Neal
Hi there, this might be a silly question, but I'm new to the EBT system. How do you know if you have cash benefits vs food benefits? I just got approved for CalFresh but don't know if I have cash on my card too? When I called the number on the back it just gave me one balance. Sorry if this is a dumb question!
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Kiara Greene
•Not a silly question at all! CalFresh and cash benefits are separate programs. When you call the EBT hotline (1-877-328-9677), you need to listen to BOTH balances: 1. They'll first tell you your FOOD benefits balance 2. Then they'll tell you your CASH account balance If you only have CalFresh, your cash balance will be $0.00. To have cash benefits, you need to be enrolled in CalWORKs, General Assistance/Relief, or another cash aid program. These require separate applications from CalFresh.
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Kingston Bellamy
Thanks everyone for all the helpful answers! I found a MoneyPass ATM at the CVS near me using the app someone suggested. I was able to withdraw with no fees! And I tried the cash back at Walmart too - super easy and no charge. This has been really helpful since I'm new to the area and was worried about accessing my benefits.
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Evelyn Kelly
•Glad it worked out! Just remember to always check your balance after withdrawals to make sure no surprise fees pop up later. Happened to me once 😕
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