Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is growing at a tremendous rate.

Government programs such as state issued food stamps, Women/Infants/Children (WIC) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), issue benefits on an electronic card known as an EBT card. The card issued is similar to a debit card, as the cardholder has a specific personal identification number (PIN) that must be used when accessing their funds. To process an EBT card, the card is run through an electronic payment system that authorizes the transfer of the card holder's government benefits to the retailer for payment of products received.

In many states, EBT cards are the primary source for government issued benefits, such as food stamps. In fact, more than 80 percent of food stamp benefits that are issued today are issued on EBT cards. Many experts predict that other benefits such as social security will also be issued on EBT cards in the future, which will require more merchants to accept the government issued card.

As EBT becomes a more frequent form of payment, your business should be prepared. Enroll in Strategic Merchant Solutions EBT program and increase your customer base by accepting government issued benefit cards.