How to transfer money from unemployment card to bank account - Washington ESD

You can do online transfers through the card's website portal. Log in with your card number and PIN, then look for 'Transfer to Bank' option. Takes 1-2 business days usually. There might be a small fee but way less than those ATM charges.

Ugh those debit card fees are such a scam! I switched to direct deposit to my bank account after the first month. You can change it in your Washington ESD online account under payment preferences. Way better than dealing with that prepaid card nonsense.

For immediate transfers from your current card balance, try using the mobile app if they have one. Sometimes the app has better transfer options than the website. Also check if your bank allows mobile check deposits - you might be able to write yourself a check at certain ATMs.

Had the same problem last year. If you're really struggling to get through to customer service, I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual ESD agent to change my payment method. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Pro tip: if you're doing online transfers, do them early in the week. I did one on Friday once and it didn't process until the following Wednesday because of weekends and a holiday.

Can I ask which bank you're trying to transfer to? Some banks have partnerships with these prepaid card companies that make transfers easier or cheaper.

Just a heads up - make sure you keep records of all your transfers for tax purposes. The IRS wants to see all unemployment income even if you're moving it between accounts.

Another option if the online transfer doesn't work - you can usually get cash back at grocery stores without fees, then deposit that cash at your bank. Not ideal but works in a pinch.

Whatever you do, don't use those check cashing places. They'll take like 10% of your money just to cash the unemployment card. Learned that the hard way.

Update us on what method works best for you! I'm sure other people have the same question and could benefit from your experience.

Honestly the best long-term solution is just switching to direct deposit through your ESD account. One and done, no more card fees ever.

If you end up needing to call ESD to change payment methods and can't get through, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. Sometimes the easiest path is just getting an actual person on the phone.

Make sure whatever method you use, you're not violating any terms of service on the card. Some prepaid cards have restrictions on certain types of transfers.

Just remembered - some cards let you set up automatic transfers so you don't have to remember to do it manually each time. Might be worth checking if that's an option.

Been there! The card fees are so annoying. I ended up just using it for all my purchases instead of transferring, then putting my regular income into savings. Worked out okay.

Final advice - whatever you do, don't wait too long to use the money on the card. Some prepaid cards start charging inactivity fees if you don't use them regularly.

Thanks everyone! I'm going to try the online transfer tonight and then work on switching to direct deposit for future payments. Really appreciate all the helpful suggestions!

This thread is so helpful, I had the same exact question. Bookmarking for when I need to do this myself.

PSA: Make sure you have your routing and account numbers handy before starting any transfer process. Seems obvious but I got halfway through and realized I didn't know my routing number off the top of my head.

One more plug for getting through to ESD directly if you need to make account changes - Claimyr really is the way to go when the phone lines are jammed. Worth every penny to avoid the phone tree nightmare.