Reply #68: old news - and it's actually a good thing.

[SmileyRose]

They still have the option of direct deposit. For those who do not have a bank account having the money loaded onto a debit card is MUCH cheaper than the check cashing places plus the cost of paying for bill payments or cashier's checks to pay bills. The purpose of the debit card is to give those workers who do not have bank accounts MORE money in their pockets. No one is forced into it, it's an option.

Around my neck of the woods the Walmart workers who use this option love it. One of the cashiers told me it's cut her expenses down by 10 bucks a week. And you know what? $40 a month is a hell of lot of money when one lives paycheck to paycheck.

Edit to add most of the "big box" stores around here do the same thing.