Executives of the Electronic Funds Transfer Association and NACHA — The Electronic Payments Association, based in the U.S., have created a new council to represent organisations involved in the development and operation of electronic benefits transfer, or EBT, systems.
EBT replaces government-issued checks and vouchers with an electronic payment card. The new council, to be managed by Electronic Funds Transfer Association (EFTA), will be called the eGovernment Payments Council.
It was formed through the merger of EFTA’s EBT Council and NACHA’s Electronic Benefits and Services Council. Its members include financial institutions, state payment and social services agencies, transaction processors, technology companies and manufacturers.
EFTA said that the mission of the council will be to act as the single U.S. organisation representing the EBT community, to provide a platform for promulgating EBT rules and regulations and to develop a cohesive strategy for fostering business and policy decisions that aid in the proliferation of EBT systems and technology.
In support of the new council, NACHA, with input from the council members, will continue to administer the Quest Operating Rules which foster nation-wide benefit portability and system interoperability for government benefits.
Kurt Helwig, president and CEO of EFTA, said: This merger and the resulting new council will provide a single, unified voice that will educate and advocate the increased use of electronic payment technologies for government benefits on behalf of its members and will continue to provide a forum where states can address issues surrounding the operation of EBT systems.
