Treasury EFT Market Research Study Public Comments

Regs.gov: Fiscal Service

Published November 25th, 2025

Detected March 15th, 2026

Summary

The Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service is seeking public comments on the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Market Research Study. This is an extension of an existing information collection, and comments are due by January 27, 2026.

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What changed

The Department of the Treasury, through the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, has issued a notice and request for comments regarding the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Market Research Study. This action is an extension of a currently approved information collection (OMB Number: 1530-0022) aimed at understanding customer satisfaction with EFT for federal benefit and vendor payments, stemming from a 1996 Congressional directive. The study involves customer satisfaction surveys, focus groups, and interviews, with an estimated 19,500 respondents and a total annual burden of 5,200 hours.

Interested parties, including individuals and the Federal Government, are invited to submit written comments by January 27, 2026. The comments should address the necessity and utility of the collection, the accuracy of burden estimates, ways to enhance clarity and minimize respondent burden, and associated costs. The Treasury is particularly interested in feedback on how to increase direct deposit usage among all groups, as mandated by Congress.

What to do next

Review the EFT Market Research Study notice and abstract.
Submit comments regarding the study's necessity, utility, and burden by January 27, 2026.

Source document (simplified)

Content

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections,
as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Currently the Bureau of the Fiscal Service within the Department of the
Treasury is soliciting comments concerning the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Market Research Study.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before January 27, 2026 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments and requests for additional information to Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Bruce A. Sharp, Room
#4006-A, P.O. Box 1328, Parkersburg, WV 26106-1328, or bruce.sharp@fiscal.treasury.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Market Research Study.

OMB Number: 1530-0022.

Form Number: None.

Abstract: This is a generic clearance to conduct customer satisfaction surveys, focus groups, and interviews among recipients of federal
benefit and vendor payments through EFT. The need for this market research continues to arise from a Congressional directive
that accompanied legislation enacted in 1996, as part of the Debt Collection Improvement Act (Pub. L. 104-134), expanding
the scope of check recipients required to use direct deposit to receive Federal benefit payments (see 31 U.S.C. 3332). Congress
directed Treasury to “study the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of those who currently do not have Direct Deposit
and determine how best to increase usage among all groups.” 142 Cong. Rec. H4090 (daily ed. April 25, 1996).

Current Actions: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Type of Review: Regular.

Affected Public: Individuals or households, Federal Government.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 19,500.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 16 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,200.

Request for Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval. All comments
will become a matter of public record. Comments are invited on: 1. Whether the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; 2.
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information; 3. ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be collected; 4. ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents,
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and 5. estimates of
capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

Dated: November 25, 2025. Bruce A. Sharp, Bureau PRA Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2025-21520 Filed 11-26-25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4810-AS-P