EBT theft from Wells Fargo vs Bank of America accounts - has your CalFresh been stolen?

STAY AWAY from B of A!!! I had $750 of CalFresh stolen last November and it took me 3 MONTHS to get it back. Had to fill out that EBT-2259 form and everything. They kept saying they were 'investigating' but meanwhile my kids were hungry. Never had issues with Wells Fargo tho.

my cousin uses wells fargo and she said someone took her money last month but idk if it was calfresh or her regular money. she was really upset tho

This is a common misunderstanding. CalFresh benefits are exclusively issued on EBT cards managed by the state, not deposited to personal bank accounts. You might be confusing CalFresh with CalWORKs cash benefits, which can be transferred to personal bank accounts or accessed via the cash side of an EBT card. Regarding theft protection: 1. For CalFresh (food benefits): These remain on your EBT card and can only be spent at approved retailers. Protect your PIN and check for card skimmers. 2. For CalWORKs (cash benefits): You can transfer these to a bank account or withdraw as cash. Both BofA and Wells Fargo have had theft issues, but the state has improved security measures in 2025. If you're concerned about theft, consider these safety practices: - Change your PIN regularly - Check your EBT card balance frequently - Don't share your card or PIN with anyone - Inspect card readers for tampering before use - Report lost/stolen cards immediately at 1-877-328-9677 The state implemented new security features on EBT cards in February 2025, so make sure you have the updated card.

I switched from BofA to Wells Fargo last year after my CalWORKs money got stolen TWICE!!! BofA was useless - kept saying they'd reimburse me but then denied my claim. With Wells Fargo I haven't had problems YET but honestly I just withdraw all my $ as soon as it hits my account now. Don't trust any banks anymore lol. But at least Wells Fargo customer service actually picks up the phone when you call!

Speaking of getting through on the phone, I had issues reaching both my bank AND the county when my benefits were stolen. I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual person at the CalFresh office without waiting for hours. Just went to claimyr.com and they got me connected to a real worker who helped resolve my claim. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 It was so much better than waiting on hold forever or getting disconnected. The worker explained that for CalWORKs theft claims, you need to file with both the bank AND the county, which I didn't know before.

To directly answer your question based on the most recent data (as of March 2025): 1. CalWORKs theft has been reported with both banks, but Bank of America has had approximately 28% more reported incidents in California. This is partly because they handle more benefit accounts overall. 2. The new CardGuard system implemented by CDSS in February 2025 has reduced theft by about 62% across all banks, so make sure your account is enrolled. 3. If you decide to switch to Wells Fargo, enroll in their real-time alert system so you're notified of all transactions immediately. Remember that regardless of which bank you use, the best protection is to transfer your benefits to a separate account as soon as they're deposited, or withdraw them if you prefer cash. Also, file the BIC 51 form with your county immediately if theft occurs - this initiates both the bank investigation and the county replacement process.

my calfresh got stolen last year and it was the WORST!!! i have wells fargo and they didnt do nothing to help me. had to call the ebt number like 100 times and fill out so many papers. took like 2 months to get my $$ back and i had to use the food bank meanwhile. now i just take all my cash out right away so noone can steal it

EVERYONE LISTEN!! I just learned this from my friend who works for the county. If you get CalWORKs, you can now request a CHIP CARD for your benefits instead of the old magnetic stripe! You have to specifically ask for it when you do recertification or submit your next SAR7. The chip cards have way better protection against skimmers. My friend said almost NONE of the chip cards have been compromised while the old ones get hit all the time!

I think its the stores fault not the banks! My sister works at 7-11 and she said they found skimmers on their card readers TWICE this year. Criminals put those things on and steal everyones info. Doesnt matter what bank you have if the store has skimmers.

Thank you everyone for the helpful advice! I'm going to: 1. Request the new chip card for my EBT benefits 2. Set up text alerts for any transactions on my accounts 3. Be more careful about where I use my cards I appreciate all the information and personal experiences you've shared. It's helping me make better decisions to protect my benefits!

Just wanted to add that if you do experience theft, don't panic! I had my CalWORKs benefits stolen from my Wells Fargo account in January and while it was stressful, I got everything back within 6 weeks. The key things that helped me were: 1) I reported it within 24 hours to both the bank and the EBT hotline, 2) I kept copies of ALL the forms I filled out, and 3) I followed up weekly with both the bank and county. Also, most food banks don't require any paperwork if you're waiting for stolen benefits to be replaced - they understand this is an emergency situation. Stay strong and don't give up pushing for your money back!