Can I use Credit Karma (MVB Bank) for PA UC direct deposit? List of banned banks?

I can help with this. PA UC does have some restrictions on which accounts can receive direct deposits, but I don't believe Credit Karma/MVB is specifically banned. The main banks that have had issues are Chime, Green Dot, Cash App, and some prepaid cards. I didn't see a complete official list on the PA UC website, but they do recommend using traditional bank accounts when possible. If you want to be completely safe, you might want to use a traditional bank account. That said, I filed last year and used an online bank (Ally) with no problems.

I tried using Chime with my claim last year and it was a DISASTER!!! My payments were rejected and I had to call PA UC like 50 times to fix it, then wait for a paper check. They really need to publish a list of which banks work!!! It's so frustrating to have to guess.

not sure bout credit karma but i know netspend works fine i been using it for 3 years no problems ever

I worked for a company that partnered with PA UC, and the banking issue is complicated. There's no published list because it changes based on various technical requirements. MVB Bank (which backs Credit Karma) might work fine, but here's why some banks don't: 1. The account must accept ACH transfers 2. The account must be properly verified through the banking system 3. The name on the account must EXACTLY match your claim name 4. Some online-only banks don't meet PA Treasury security protocols My advice? Use a traditional bank for UC claims. If you don't have one, PNC and Citizens both offer free checking that works fine with UC.

If you're having trouble getting through to PA UC to ask about this (or to fix any direct deposit problems), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. It helped me get through to an actual agent when I had issues with my bank information. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 - basically it holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. Saved me hours of frustration when my direct deposit info needed to be updated.

I don't know about credit karma specifically but i used a credit union account for my UC with no problems. The UC system is actually pretty good with regular banks its just some of these new online banks that cause headaches from what I've heard. Worst case scenario they'll mail you a check if the direct deposit doesn't work but that takes way longer

Has anyone tried calling the Treasury department directly about this? I feel like they should have clear guidance rather than all of us guessing which banks work!

Update: I ended up just using my regular PNC account for direct deposit. Better safe than sorry! Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'll report back if I have any issues with my payments.

Just wanted to add my experience - I've been using Credit Karma (MVB Bank) for other direct deposits without issues, but when I applied for PA UC last month, I decided to play it safe and use my Wells Fargo account instead. The whole process went smoothly and I got my first payment within a week of being approved. From what I've learned lurking in these forums, it seems like the newer fintech banks (Credit Karma, Chime, etc.) can be hit or miss with government payments. The traditional banks like PNC, Wells Fargo, Bank of America seem to work consistently. It's frustrating that there's no official list, but I'd rather wait a few extra days to set up a traditional bank account than risk weeks of delays trying to fix payment issues.

I actually called PA UC directly about this last week and spoke to a representative who told me that while they don't have a published list of banned banks, Credit Karma/MVB Bank has been working fine for most people. However, she strongly recommended having a backup traditional bank account ready just in case there are any issues with the initial setup. The rep mentioned that the main problems they see are with prepaid cards and some newer fintech apps that don't properly handle government ACH transfers. She said MVB Bank (which backs Credit Karma) is a legitimate FDIC-insured bank and should work, but if there are any hiccups during the verification process, it could delay your payments. My suggestion would be to try Credit Karma if that's your preferred account, but have your PNC account info ready as a backup. You can always change your direct deposit information later if needed, though it might cause a slight delay in payments during the switch.

I've been using Credit Karma for about 2 years now for various direct deposits (work, tax refunds, etc.) and it's been solid. That said, after reading through all these responses, I'm definitely leaning toward using my traditional bank account for UC instead. It sounds like while Credit Karma/MVB Bank might technically work, the risk of delays just isn't worth it when you're depending on those unemployment payments. I had a friend who used Varo (another online bank) for her UC claim and ended up having to switch to paper checks after the direct deposit failed twice - took her almost a month longer to get her money. The advice about having a backup account ready is spot on. Even if you want to try Credit Karma first, definitely have those traditional bank account details handy in case you need to make a quick switch. Better to be overprepared than dealing with payment delays when you really need the funds!

I actually had a similar dilemma when I was setting up my unemployment benefits earlier this year. I ended up going with my regular Chase account instead of my Credit Karma account, and I'm so glad I did after reading about everyone's experiences here. What really helped me make the decision was thinking about it this way: unemployment benefits are literally a lifeline when you need them most. The last thing you want is ANY chance of delays or complications with getting those payments. Sure, Credit Karma might work fine, but even if there's just a 10% chance of issues, that's not a risk worth taking when you're depending on that money for rent and groceries. I'd definitely echo what others have said - use a traditional bank account if you have one available. The peace of mind alone is worth it. And if you don't have a traditional bank account, it might be worth opening a basic checking account just for this purpose. Most major banks have free options that would work perfectly for UC direct deposit.