EBT Council Membership

Enhance Government. Electronically.

The Electronic Benefits and Services (EBS) Council is a group of stakeholders that develops consensual, commercially based operating rules to facilitate interoperable electronic government payments and services.

THE EBS COUNCIL

Developed the Quest® Operating Rules - the foundation for a nationwide EBT system
Encourages interoperability through the use of operating rules
Is an example of a successful public/private partnership and is recognized by John Hopkins University as a "successful Stakeholder Council Model"
Provides a forum for the exchange of information on emerging technologies and topics affecting future electronic government payments and services
Holds semi-annual meetings featuring highly acclaimed professionals focusing on nationwide government payments issues
Produces a quarterly newsletter focusing on current projects, policies, and legislative issues
Promotes uniformity among states by participating in problem-solving work groups

The EBS Council operates under the auspices of NACHA - The Electronic Payments Association, which is the leading organization in developing electronic solutions to improve the payments system. NACHA represents more than 12,000 financial institutions through direct memberships and a network of regional payments associations, and 650 organizations through its industry councils. NACHA develops operating rules and business practices for the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network and for electronic payments in the areas of Internet commerce, electronic bill and invoice presentment and payment (EBPP, EIPP), rechecks, financial electronic data interchange (EDI), international payments, and electronic benefits transfer (EBT).

During the first quarter in 2005, an astonishing 2.5 billion payments, valued at $5.73 trillion, were processed via the ACH. ACH payments include Direct Deposit of payroll, Social Security benefits and tax refunds, Direct Payment of consumer bills, rechecks, business-to-business payments, and Federal tax withholdings.