How to transfer money from unemployment card to bank account - NYS Department of Labor
I've been getting my unemployment benefits on the KeyBank debit card for about 6 weeks now but I really need to get this money into my actual checking account. The fees are killing me - $1.50 every time I use an ATM that's not KeyBank and there's no KeyBank near me. I tried looking on the my.ny.gov site but couldn't find clear instructions. Has anyone figured out how to transfer the money from the unemployment card to their regular bank account? I know there has to be a way to do this without losing money to fees.
13 comments
Join the conversation
Justin Trejo
You have a few options for getting your money off the KeyBank card. The easiest way is to use the KeyBank mobile app or website to do an ACH transfer directly to your bank account. You'll need to add your bank account as a payee first, which takes 1-2 business days to verify. After that, transfers are usually free and take 1-3 business days. You can also go to any KeyBank branch and do a withdrawal or transfer in person at no charge.
0 coins
Marina Hendrix
•Thank you! I didn't know about the mobile app option. Do I need to set up a KeyBank online account first or can I just download the app?
0 coins
Alana Willis
i just take out cash at keybank atms and deposit it at my bank. no fees that way but its annoying to have to make two trips
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•That works but you're limited to daily withdrawal limits. If you have a large benefit amount, the ACH transfer option is much better for moving everything at once.
0 coins
Sara Unger
I had the same problem when I first started getting benefits last year. The NYS Department of Labor really should explain this better when they send you the card. What worked for me was calling KeyBank customer service and having them walk me through setting up the online account. Once you're set up, you can transfer money anytime. The number should be on the back of your card. Fair warning though - their hold times can be pretty long, especially around the time people usually get their weekly payments.
0 coins
Marina Hendrix
•Good to know about the hold times. I'll try calling early in the morning to avoid the rush.
0 coins
Butch Sledgehammer
Ugh the whole debit card system is such a hassle! I've been dealing with this for months and honestly the fees add up so fast. If you're having trouble getting through to KeyBank (which happens A LOT), I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual NYS Department of Labor person to ask about changing my payment method. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth looking into if you want to switch to direct deposit instead of dealing with the card at all.
0 coins
Freya Ross
•Wait, you can switch from the card to direct deposit after you're already getting benefits? I thought once you were set up with the card that was it.
0 coins
Butch Sledgehammer
•Yeah you can change it! You just have to talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor to update your payment preferences. That's where Claimyr helped me since I couldn't get through on my own.
0 coins
Leslie Parker
Another option is to use the card for purchases instead of cash withdrawals. Most places take debit cards now and you won't pay ATM fees. Just budget your spending to use up the unemployment money for groceries, bills, etc.
0 coins
Mateusius Townsend
I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The KeyBank mobile app route is definitely the way to go. You'll need to register for online banking first using your card number and some personal info. Once you're set up, adding your bank account for transfers is pretty straightforward - just have your routing and account numbers ready. The verification process takes about 2 days like Justin mentioned, but after that transfers are free and usually show up in 1-2 business days. Way better than paying those ATM fees! Pro tip: you can also check your benefit payment dates in the app so you know exactly when new money hits the card.
0 coins
Evelyn Rivera
•This is super helpful! I'm definitely going to try the mobile app approach. Quick question - when you say "check your benefit payment dates in the app," does it show you the schedule for upcoming payments too or just when the last one was deposited? I'm still figuring out the timing of when my weekly benefits actually hit the card.
0 coins
Andre Laurent
I had this same frustration when I first started getting benefits! The KeyBank mobile app is definitely your best bet. You'll need to register online first - go to key.com and click "Enroll" then use your unemployment debit card number to set up your account. Once you're in, you can add your bank account info and set up ACH transfers. It usually takes 2-3 business days for the first transfer to go through while they verify your account, but after that it's smooth sailing. I've been doing weekly transfers for about 4 months now with no issues. Just make sure you don't try to transfer more than what's available on the card or you'll get hit with an overdraft fee. The app also shows your transaction history which is helpful for tracking your benefit payments.
0 coins