Congresswoman Beatty Urges the CFPB to Include EBT Accounts in Open Banking Rulemaking

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and 15 of her colleagues sent a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rohit Chopra urging the Bureau to include Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Accounts in its final rule implementing Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. 

More than 41 million people across the country, including nearly 1.5 million in Ohio receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. These EBT households often experience data unavailability, slow connectivity, and intentional restrictions when checking their account balances. Inclusion of these accounts in the Section 1033 final rule will empower financially vulnerable consumers to access and monitor their EBT accounts in a safe and secure manner, protect themselves from fraud and benefits theft, and plan for unexpected emergencies down the road.

“The CFPB must ensure that all American consumers, regardless of economic status or background, enjoy the same rights and protections over their financial data,” said Congresswoman Beatty. “Families that rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table shouldn’t have to struggle to check their account balance or protect themselves from financial crime. EBT accounts must be included within the scope of the final open banking rule to facilitate a safe and competitive marketplace.”

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