September 27 marked the formal launch of Go Direct, a national campaign by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the Federal Reserve System to encourage Americans to sign up for direct deposit of federal benefits payments. The campaign will use a variety of media to spread the word that direct deposit of Social Security, Supplementary Security Income and other federal payments can save taxpayers millions of dollars a year and is safer, faster and more efficient than mailing checks.
Treasury officials kicked off the campaign with a press conference in Washington, D.C.; simultaneous launch events in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago and Cleveland; and a media tour of more than 20 morning television shows and 15 drive-time radio programs nationwide. A Go Direct television commercial began airing in some markets in October. The ad, which will run every month before Social Security payment days, encourages benefit recipients to sign up for direct deposit by visiting the Go Direct Web site at www.godirect.org or contacting the Go Direct Call Center, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, at (800) 333-1795.
Supporting partners in the Go Direct campaign include AARP, Citibank, Chase/Bank One, U.S. Bank, United Way, American Bankers Association, National Association of Federal Credit Unions, Credit Union National Association and National Community Reinvestment Coalition.
