Eagle Cash has landed in AOR

Courtesy Photo | Senior Airman Mark Morris, 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, inserts his Eagle Cash card into the self-service kiosk to transfer money from his checking account to the card. A base in Southwest Asia began is the first Air Force site to stand up the Eagle Cash system. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel King Jr.  

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05.13.2007

Courtesy Story

United States Air Forces Central           

By Master Sgt. Debra Clayton
U.S. Central Command Air Forces

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Now deployed service members can access their funds 24-hours a day, seven days a week with the new Eagle Cash Program. A forward operating base in Southwest Asia is the first Air Force site to stand up Eagle Cash.

Co-sponsored by the U.S. Army and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Eagle Cash is a financial management tool to support U.S. military personnel deployed in combat zones and on peace keeping missions.

The program uses a type of payment card referred to as a Stored Value Card along with automated kiosk devices which are conveniently located around the base. Cardholders who are enrolled in the program can access their personal checking or savings accounts by swiping the card in the kiosk machine.

"It's somewhat like going to an automatic teller machine, but instead of withdrawing cash money, you transfer money from your bank account to your SVC card and then use it like a pre-paid gift card to make purchases," said Master Sgt. Angela Smith, deputy disbursing officer for U.S. Central Command Air Forces

Smith is a permanent party member and has been instrumental in getting the Air Force to implement the Eagle Cash program. Additionally, she coordinated the Treasury Department teams' visit to set up the program on the base and train base agencies on its use.

Once money is loaded or transferred on to the SVC card, participants pay for their transaction by swiping their card in a point of sale machine. The amount of the sale is electronically subtracted from the amount of money the individual has loaded on the card.

When the card's balance is low, the individual can go back to the self-serve kiosk 24/7 and recharge the card with more cash, taking this money from his or her bank or credit union.

"Not only is the Eagle Cash card a new way to handle financial needs, but it will keep people from having to stand in long check cashing lines at the finance office. Also, with the Eagle Cash card, there is no need to carry around cash to pay for products and services at the Base Exchange, post office, and for other products and services at a military base or post." Morale, Welfare and Recreation services and products can be purchased with the card and Army personnel can use the card here too, added Maj. David Stephens, director of financial management and comptroller for U.S. Central Command Air Forces.

Eagle Cash has been in existence since 1999 and came about as a way to reduce currency demands and limit the amount of U.S. currency going to Army posts overseas. Now the program is being used in the Southwest and Middle East Theater and can be found at over 45 military installations in ten countries around the world.

"Every time a service member spends U.S. dollars in the Middle East Theater it's potentially helping fund terrorism because the U.S. dollar has stronger market value in this region," said Juan DeJesus, Department of the Army Eagle Cash Manager.

DeJesus added that the Eagle Cash card is also helping military save money because it is expensive to transport U.S. currency overseas and costs money to provide security for the currency while in flight.

To date, over 100,000 cards have been issued and used to process over $4.1 million transactions valued at over $350 million.

Eagle Cash cards are available at finance offices to service members and contractors whose companies have check-cashing agreements with the U.S. military.

• Date Taken: 05.13.2007
• Date Posted: 05.14.2007 13:43
• Story ID: 10350
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)