SSA Shifts 3.4 Million Direct Express Accounts to Fifth Third From Comerica
Updated
Updated · FinanceBuzz · May 27
SSA Shifts 3.4 Million Direct Express Accounts to Fifth Third From Comerica
2 articles · Updated · FinanceBuzz · May 27
May 2026 marks the start of Fifth Third Bank taking new Direct Express enrollments, with existing Comerica-issued accounts set to move over through 2026 and 2027.
About 3.4 million beneficiaries use the prepaid debit-card program instead of bank accounts, including roughly 49% SSI recipients, 48% Social Security recipients and 2% veterans beneficiaries.
Current cardholders should keep using their Comerica cards until a new Fifth Third card arrives and is activated, while checking My Social Security to ensure mailing details are up to date.
The transition affects only Direct Express users; beneficiaries already on direct deposit should see no change, and SSA says cardholders can switch to direct deposit if they have a bank account.
As Fifth Third Bank takes over Direct Express, will hidden fees chip away at benefits for 3.4 million Americans?
What unstated reasons prompted the switch to a new bank for millions of Social Security benefit cards?
Is the government's prepaid benefit card a lifeline or a trap for millions of unbanked Americans?