JPMorgan Chase & Co. yesterday announced the Western States Electronic Benefit Transfer Alliance chose to extend its partnership with the bank to distribute benefit payments through EBT, direct deposit and prepaid debit cards. The renewal extends the contract for five years plus two one-year extensions for nine states and Guam. "While all parties are part of the [alliance], the 10 EBT programs are separate and are managed by the individual states, thus the need for separate contracts," according to a Chase spokesperson. The states include Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, Washington and Wyoming. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Special Supplementation Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and child support payments are all programs the alliance administers.
