States across the nation are making plans to distribute unemployment benefits through debit cards.

Ohio is working with U.S. Bank for the program.

In West Virginia, a program is in the works with JP Morgan Chase, and the state plans to have the debit cards in place by March.

States and the banks they use to distribute unemployment benefits through debit cards:
Alabama (Regions Bank)
Arizona (JP Morgan Chase)
Arkansas (U.S. Bank)
Colorado (JP Morgan Chase)
Illinois (Illinois National Bank)
Indiana (National City Bank)
Iowa (Wells Fargo Bank)
Kansas (Citigroup)
Louisiana (JP Morgan Chase)
Maryland (Citigroup)
Michigan (JP Morgan Chase)
Minnesota (U.S. Bank)
Mississippi (Comerica Bank)
Missouri (Central Bank)
Nebraska (U.S. Bank)
Nevada (Wells Fargo)
New Mexico (Bank of America)
New york (JP Morgan Chase)
North Carolina (Wachovia)
North Dakota (U.S. Bank)
Ohio (U.S. Bank)
Oklahoma (Oklahoma)
Oregon (U.S. Bank)
Pennsylvania (Comerica Bank)
Rhode Island (JP Morgan Chase)
South Dakota (U.S. Bank)
Texas (JP Morgan Chase)
Utah (Comerica Bank)
Virginia (Wachovia)
Wyoming (U.S. Bank)

States where such programs are planned or under consideration:
-- Alaska plans to issue debit cards through JP Morgan Chase, possibly during the states 2010 fiscal year.
-- California has been researching debit cards since 2007 and hopes to have a system in place by 2010.
-- Connecticut is reviewing bank proposals to issue unemployment debit cards for the state.
-- Florida plans to solicit bids from banks that would issue unemployment debit cards.
-- Idaho plans to solicit bids from banks that would issue unemployment debit cards.
-- Maine is planning to issue unemployment insurance through debit cards.
-- Massachusetts officials hope to replace unemployment checks with debit cards by July.
-- South Carolina is in discussions with Bank of America and hopes to issue unemployment debit cards this year.
-- Vermont has not entered any official discussions with banks, but is reviewing unemployment debit card programs.
-- West Virginia has signed a contract with JP Morgan Chase to issue unemployment debit cards, and hopes to have the program in place by March.

(Copyright 2009 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)