Is this PA Banking Direct card my official PA UC debit card or something else?
Hey everyone, just got a card in the mail that says 'Banking Direct with PA' on it, but I'm really confused. Is this the official unemployment debit card now? I thought PA used Money Network or something else for benefit payments. The card looks legit but I wasn't expecting it and don't want to activate some random card if it's not the right one. Has PA UC changed their card provider recently? Anyone else received this type of card for their unemployment benefits?
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Melody Miles
Yes, that's the correct card! PA switched from Money Network to Banking Direct in early 2025 for all unemployment payments. I got mine about 2 months ago. The transition wasn't announced very well. You need to activate it ASAP because they'll be putting your benefits on that card unless you've set up direct deposit to your bank account. The old Money Network cards aren't working anymore.
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Jace Caspullo
•Oh thank you!!! I was so confused cuz the letter with it was kinda vague. Do I need to update anything in my PA UC portal or just activate the card? Also how long does activation take? I've got rent due next week 😰
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
i got one too but mine said PA Treasury on it not banking direct??? now im worried i got the wrong one lol
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Melody Miles
•The cards should say both "Banking Direct" and "Commonwealth of PA Treasury" on them somewhere. Check both sides. The new cards have a blue and gold/yellow design.
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Eva St. Cyr
BE CAREFUL!!! There's a lot of scams going around. I got a fake card in the mail last month that looked real but when I called the number on it, they asked for my SSN and online account password. REAL PA cards will NEVER require your password to activate. Only use the official number on the PA UC website to verify your card is legitimate before activating!!! The scammers are getting really good at making fake cards.
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Jace Caspullo
•Omg now I'm worried again 😱 Is there a way to check if mine is real? It came in an envelope with the PA keystone logo but idk if that means anything
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Kristian Bishop
The official PA UC Banking Direct card should have come with information about how to activate it through the secure portal. You can verify it's legitimate by calling the PA UC customer service directly (not the number on the card) at 1-888-313-7284. Just be prepared to wait on hold for 2+ hours because their phone lines are constantly jammed. If you need to get through faster, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you skip the phone queue. I was skeptical but it worked for me when I needed to verify my card was legit. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Saved me hours of hold time.
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Kaitlyn Otto
•thx for sharing! does claimyr work for regular benefit questions too or just card stuff?
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Kristian Bishop
It works for any reason you need to call PA UC. I've used it for weekly claim issues too.
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Axel Far
The Banking Direct card IS the new official PA UC payment method. I went through this EXACT same confusion in January. They phased out Money Network completely as of March 15, 2025. Here's what you need to know: 1. The card is legitimate if it came in a PA Treasury envelope 2. You MUST activate it by calling the number on the sticker OR going to pabanking.direct.gov 3. Your funds from any previous Money Network card DO NOT automatically transfer 4. You need to set up your account preferences again (text alerts, etc) 5. The new cards have better ATM access but slightly higher fees for certain transactions If you don't want to use the card at all, log into your UC portal and set up direct deposit to your personal bank account before your next payment processes. This option works much better for most people!
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Jace Caspullo
•Thank you for the detailed info! I just activated my card and it worked fine. I'm going to set up direct deposit too because I hate keeping track of different cards.
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Jasmine Hernandez
I got my banking direct card last month and activated it, but my payment still went to my old money network card somehow???? The system is so messed up right now. Has anyone else had this happen??? I've been trying to call UC for 3 days with no luck.
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Axel Far
•This happened because there's a processing period of 7-10 business days after activation before payments switch to the new card. It's buried in the fine print of the letter. Your NEXT payment should go to the new card. You can still use both cards until the Money Network one is empty.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
guys i think the banking direct cards are only for regular UC not for the workmans comp payments my brother gets different card for his claim so maybe depends what benefit u get??
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Melody Miles
•You're right about that. Banking Direct cards are ONLY for Unemployment Compensation (UC). Workers' comp and disability use different payment systems entirely, usually through private insurers, not the state system.
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Alexander Zeus
I just want to add that if you're still unsure about whether your card is legitimate, you can also log into your PA UC dashboard online and check the "Payment Method" section. It should show Banking Direct as your current payment method if the card is real and properly activated. This is actually faster than calling and waiting on hold for hours. Also, make sure to check your email for any official notifications from PA UC about the card switch - they did send some emails but a lot went to spam folders unfortunately.
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