Washington, DC – Dr. Natwar M. Gandhi, Chief Financial Officer for the District of Columbia, announced today that young people in the summer jobs program will now receive their wages on payroll debit cards. This will give them immediate access to their money and they will not be forced to pay bank account and other fees.

Gandhi said, "More than 19,000 youth are enrolled in the 2008 Passport-to-Work Summer Youth Program. The debit cards will let them keep more money in their pocket; this enhancement eliminates expensive ATM or check-cashing fees."

In previous years the payments were made with electronic benefit transfer cards and paper checks. The District also benefits from the change; payroll debit cards are much cheaper to issue and administer.

The District joins many localities and businesses, such as Wal-Mart and the City of Houston in making this switch.

"We hope that the real-life experience gained by using payroll debit cards to budget and purchase items will be a practical tool when these students become responsible for their own finances,” said Gandhi.

 "Safeguards are in place for the students in case a card is lost, damaged or stolen," said Lasana K. Mack, treasurer and deputy chief financial officer of the District of Columbia government. "We have a toll-free number so a lost card can be immediately invalidated and a replacement card can be delivered within a day."

 Money earned is loaded directly onto the payroll debit card. A checking account is not necessary and the card can be used anywhere that Visa® is accepted. Each student will be able access her or his money by using a personal identification number (PIN) to access cash.