Direct Deposit is a great way for the State of Alaska to deliver cash payments, and a smart choice for Alaska payees receiving ATAP or APA benefits. Simply stated, Direct Deposit is less expensive to use than a Quest card, and more secure and efficient than checks. Please try to advise your current and future APA and ATAP clients of the availability of direct deposit to their personal bank account.
We will send a special Direct Deposit promotional mailing targeting those ATAP and APA recipients not already enrolled in Direct Deposit. Each targeted recipient will receive an attractive combination brochure/enrollment form, and postage paid return-mail envelope. The promotional mailing will also include a list of bank services provided by several Alaska banks and credit unions.
The Advantages of Using Direct Deposit Instead of Warrants or the Quest Card:
- APA recipients of a Direct Deposit payment never have to report a lost, stolen, or damaged check. In fact, those paid by check are much more likely to experience problems.
- There are no check cashing fees for the recipient, and in most cases, no ATM fees charged at the recipient's member bank ATM machines.
- The recipient no longer has to deliver their own check to the bank.
- The recipient's money is available sooner, typically one to four days earlier than a check.
- Recipients who choose Direct Deposit over the Quest card avoid the 85 cent ATM fee associated with all Quest card ATM transactions, and will avoid ATM surcharges if using their own member bank ATM. Thus, they can avoid costly surcharges while accessing sufficient cash to make rent payments, etc.
- Most Alaska banks and credit unions offer their members a debit card, which provides the same convenience as the Quest card, and have on-line banking which allows the user to check their balance on line.
The Direct Deposit brochure/enrollment form and bank services information are available 1) on the DPAweb; 2) on the DPA public website; and 3) on the DPAweb Publications page. At each location the documents are compiled into one PDF document for easy access.
Please note that we will no longer supply quantities of Direct Deposit forms and return mail envelopes to DPA offices. We invite staff to download and copy the brochure/enrollment form as needed to maintain their office supply.
Most completed enrollment forms will be returned by recipients directly to the EBT Unit in Juneau. Some completed forms may be turned into local offices. These can be routed immediately to the Food Stamps Unit, or faxed to 907-465-3651 in Juneau.
To find the Direct Deposit brochure/enrollment form and banking services information, please follow the links:
http://dpaweb.hss.state.ak.us/
-Employee Resources
-Publications
-Brochures and Reports
-Direct Deposit Brochure and Banking Information (PDF)