Executive Summary:
The Social Security Administration has announced an administrative transition that will shift its prepaid debit card operations to a new financial manager:
- The Primary Change: The agency is switching the financial agent managing its Direct Express program from Comerica Bank to Fifth Third Bank following a merger between the two institutions.
- Impacted Beneficiaries: This transition impacts roughly 3.6 million people who receive benefits via the prepaid Direct Express Debit Mastercard. Those utilizing direct deposit are unaffected.
- Rollout Timeline: New enrollees are automatically assigned Fifth Third Bank cards, while existing cardholders will receive replacements over the coming months.
- Action Required: Recipients must continue using their current Comerica cards until notified. They will activate the new cards through an updated mobile app.
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Millions of Social Security recipients will soon see a significant change in their payments.
In a notice, the Social Security Administration recently indicated it was making a switch in the financial agent that administers the agency’s Direct Express cards.
Previously, The Motley Fool reported, Comerica Bank administered the program. Now, it will be handled by Fifth Third Bank, which merged with Comerica earlier this year.
The change won’t affect beneficiaries who have their payments deposited directly into their bank accounts. It will impact those who use the prepaid Direct Express Debit Mastercard—some 3.6 million people.
The changeover started the month.
New Direct Express card enrollees will automatically receive the First Third Bank cards. Existing account holders will receive their new cards later this year or early next year.
Beneficiaries should continue to use their existing Comerica cards until they receive the new ones. Recipients will be notified before the cards are sent.
Comerica cardholders will use the pre-existing app, Social Security said. Fifth Third Bank cardholders will also have access to the new Direct Express mobile app. The app will be used to activate the new card.
The cards can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted.
You can see more information here.
Photo credit: MargJohnsonVA/iStock
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Nelwyn McDaniel June 28 2026 at 9:27 am
I have been 100%disabled since 2007. My first question is: how do I get increased benefits as my health has seriously deteriorated since. My second question is: at what age do I begin receiving the spending allowance?