University at Buffalo (UB) 
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Prepaid Debit Cards for Students and Third-Parties
This program allows departments to pay for qualifying student and other third-party (non-employee) travel, gifts, prizes and awards using a prepaid Visa card.
On this page:
Program Description
This program may be used for various purposes for students and other non-employees, anyone with a current paid appointment is not eligible:
Travel
Meal Allowances (per diems) for students, guests and candidates.
Gifts, Prizes and Awards
- Gifts as incentive to individuals (not human subjects) for their participation in surveys, volunteering or other university programs. Participation that have a clear business purpose and support the mission of the university.
- Consideration to students for services provided to the university for volunteer work or requested university programing. The student's contribution must directly support the mission of the university and be tied to a university initiative.
- Awards as part of a competition. The competition must directly support the mission of the university and be tied to a university initiative.
Student Travel
A new way to help our students when traveling.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
Anonymous: | Name not printed on card, but personal information is collected to register |
Type of Card: | Physical, plastic card |
Reloadable with Additional Funds: | Yes |
Replaceable if Lost: | Yes |
Technology Required to Activate: | Email address, access to the Internet, or phone |
Information Required to Register: | First name, last name, physical mailing address (can be campus address) |
SSN Required*: | No |
| Taxable Income Reporting Form Required*: | No |
Release of Funds: | Instant |
Cash Access: | Yes (ATM fees apply) |
Where to Use: | ATM, anywhere Visa Credit or Debit cards are accepted (in-person and online) |
Initial Cost per Card: | No cost |
Cost of Replacement Card: | No cost |
| Inactivity Fee: | $2.00 per month after 365 days of no activity |
| Monthly Maintenace Fee: | Does not apply |
*In general, the SSN isn’t required, however, if there are prize payments of $600 or more in a calendar year then the SSN will be required at that point via completion of the W-9 or W-8 tax form.
Who is Eligible
State and Research Funding (Sponsored (with approval) and Non-Sponsored) can be used for this program.
How to Apply to the Program
Have the Following Documents Ready When Applying
- US Bank Advance Request Form (if Sponsored Project is used)
- Completed Prepaid Debit Card Template
The following information must be provided through the application process:
- Department Contact Information (Name, Email, Phone Number)
- Type of expense needed (Student Meal Allowance, Recruitment, Prize)
- Expenditure Details (Account number to charge, Itinerary )
- Payment Information (Total dollar amount of request and number of cards)
Apply For Gifts, Prizes and Awards
To apply provide the below requested information to the card programs team.
- Details as to what these payments are for (i.e. Survey participant, Volunteering) and how it corresponds to the allowable use of funds and the Gifts, Prizes and awards policy
- IFR (State) or Research Foundation Account Number (Sponsored or Non-Sponsored)
- Total amount of Funding requested
- Names of individuals who need cards issued to them
- Address to be assigned to the cards – This may be the individual’s home address or a main departmental address
- A list of the funding to be applied to each of the cards ( this step can be repeated each month once the users have cards registered to them)
Taxable
Please note that any payments totaling over $600 in a calender year for U.S Citizens and any payments to Non-Resident Aliens (NRA) are taxable. Please upload the nessary tax forms (W-9 or W-8) into the UB Secure Tax Forms Box.
Meal Allowances
To Determine Per Diem Amount
- Dates of Travel (itinerary)
- City stayed in (Logged in)
- Will any group meals be provided? (i.e. a copy of the agenda can be provided for this)
complete the transfer and load the card
- UB Account to pull the funding from (State IFR or Research Account can be used)
- Student Full name
- Address – This can be the students local address or the departments address
Provide information after the trip (in lieu of individual receipts)
- Copy of paid lodging receipt
- Copy of Agenda
Next Steps
After submitting the form, the information will be reviewed by Financial Management staff and the following steps will take place:
- Financial Management will work to process the funds transfer from your account to US Bank.
- Financial Management Staff will register and load the cards for you.
- Financial Management staff will contact you once your card is loaded to schedule a time to come and pick up cards (photo ID required).
Reconciliation Process
There are mutiple reports avaliable to assist with the reconcilation process within the application:
- Account Reconciliation Report : Provides a high level summary of the debits and credits within the account.
- Card Account Detailed Report: This report provides detailed information related to the cards associated with the account. It shows registered card total and detailed information on registered cards such as Card account number, card id number (actual card number), name, address, registration date, employee id number (PTA account number).
- Card Load Report: This report provides detailed information on card loads; total number of loads, total value of loads, name, employee id, load date, etc.
Research Funds
For sponsored awards: PIs are required to provide monthly reconciliation documents to the Sponsored Project Services (SPS) Award Analyst.
For non-sponsored awards: PIs are required to provide monthly reconciliation documents to the Non-Sponsored Group.
These reconciliations are completed centrally on a monthly basis and provided to departments as requested.
State Funds
Will be completed centrally and provided to departments as requested.
Any funds unspent can be returned to the account which funded the card upon request.
Activating Your U.S. Bank Expense Card
For information on activating your card, tracking your balance, and reloading your card, visit: www.usbankfocus.com, call 888-863-0681 (U.S. Bank accepts relay calls), or use the mobile app.
Using Your U.S. Bank Expense Card
You can use this card anywhere Visa® Debit Cards are accepted for purchases, to pay bills directly through your biller, or to get cash either from a bank, ATM, or cash back on purchases.
Replacing Your U.S. Bank Expense Card
If you receive a new replacement card, you must re-enroll the new card on the cardholder website or mobile app in order to gain access to your account.
Moving? Update Your Address with U.S. Bank
Replacement cards and important notifications are mailed to thee address U.S. Bank has on file. View your account profile at www.usbankfocus.com. Please note that updating your address with the University at Buffalo will not update your U.S. Bank Card profile information.
For more information, visit the vendor’s website: https://www.prepaidmaterials.com/usbankfocus.html
- U.S. Bank preserves the confidentiality of cardholders financial information in accordance with applicable law. U.S. Bank is compliant with Consumer Privacy Pledge and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and other legal requirements relating to privacy, protection, and disclosure of consumer customer information.
- U.S. Bank does not share customer information or lists with third parties.
- Under specific circumstances, U.S. Bank will need to be able to disclose information. These circumstances include (but may not be limited to):
- If requested to produce the information pursuant to any independent or regulatory audit in which information disclosed remains non-public.
- In response to a validly served subpoena.
- To U.S. Bank subcontractors, in order to facilitate the execution of their responsibilities.
- On a post-termination basis in order to satisfy the requirements of the program.
Contact an Expert
Valerie Dennis
Asset Management, Card Programs and eProcurement
Financial Management
Phone: 716-645-2604
Email: vlb5@buffalo.edu
Kevin Ragland
Procurement Card Administration, Financial Management
Phone: 716-645-1346