Wells Fargo Chase Criticized Over Timing Of Stimulus Check Delivery
NEW YORK – Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase told customers they may not receive the third round of stimulus checks until at least Wednesday, drawing ire from some Americans who were hoping to see the money arrive sooner.
Millions of Americans are poised to receive direct cash payments worth up to $1,400 after President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan last week, injecting another $1.9 trillion into the nation’s pandemic-battered economy. Although the Internal Revenue Service has said the official payment date for the money is March 17, it has already started distributing the money.
Wells Fargo said it would provide all of the direct deposits “according to the effective date provided by the U.S. Treasury,” and said it’s not holding onto the money. In a statement to FOX Business, Wells Fargo spokesperson Jim Seitz said the government will release the money in multiple phases, meaning not everyone will receive their check at the same time.
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“We know the importance of the stimulus funds to our customers, and we are providing the payments to our customers as soon as possible on the date the funds are available, based on IRS direction,” Seitz said. “Wells Fargo is not holding the funds.”
JPMorgan, meanwhile, encouraged account holders to set up alerts so they know when the money arrives. A spokesperson for JPMorgan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
What If I Am Not Required To File A Tax Return Can I Still Track My Stimulus Check
To use the Get My Payment tool to check the payment status of your stimulus check, the IRS needs enough information to verify your identity. The IRS may be unable to verify your identity if:
- You didnt file an income tax return
- You didnt use the IRSs Non-Filers tool by November 21, 2020 to register for a payment or
- You receive federal benefits and the IRS doesnt have enough information.
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You Havent Filed Your 2019 Or 2020 Tax Returns
Many people probably havent filed their 2020 tax returns yet, given that the deadline for getting in your tax forms is April 15. In that case, theres no reason to worry the IRS will use your 2019 tax return to determine how much you should receive.
But this becomes trickier for people who arent required to file tax returns, such as those with no or very little earnings, which can be the case for some people on Social Security.
That became an issue with the first round of stimulus checks, especially since many of these people were in deepest need of the first rounds $1,200 payments and it wasnt an insignificant number. The IRS said it distributed more than 22 million stimulus payments last year that werent based on filed tax returns.
Because of that issue, the IRS last year created a website specifically for non-filers, where they could provide their bank account information or addresses to the agency, as well as provide their number of dependents, who were each eligible for $500 in stimulus aid at the time.
But the non-filers website has been closed since late last year, and IRS and Treasury officials said on a March 12 conference call with reporters that they are urging non-filers to file a 2020 tax return to ensure they get all the payments and tax credits they are owed.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Stimulus Payments
What is a government stimulus payment?
As part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the federal government is providing stimulus payments to eligible recipients.
How will I know if I qualify?
Please note: Eligibility criteria outlined in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 differs from prior rounds of stimulus payments. Wells Fargo does not have the ability to determine whether you qualify. Your eligibility is determined by the government. To learn more about eligibility and payment amounts, visit IRS.gov/coronavirus.
How will I receive my payment?
If youâre eligible to receive a payment, you will receive the funds in one of these ways:
- By prepaid card. Instead of receiving a paper check, some customers will receive a prepaid card in the mail. Customers are able to use this card like a debit card or transfer funds from their Economic Impact Payment card to their bank account from the Eipcard.com website, from the Money Network Mobile App, or by calling 1-800-240-8100.
Once the IRS begins to distribute payments, the IRS’s Get MY Payment tool will be updated to reflect direct deposit or mailed payment date. The IRS is expected to update the payment status regularly.
When will I receive my payment?
The U.S. Treasury has indicated that payments will be distributed in multiple phases and could take several weeks to distribute, so not everyone will receive payments at the same time.
You can check on the status of your stimulus payment using the IRSâs Get My Payment tool.
You Lost Income In 2020 But Not Yet Filed A Return

Some people could also receive less than they are entitled to if their income dropped in 2020 but they havent yet filed their 2020 tax returns. This could happen for a single person who earned $90,000 in 2019, which is above the cutoff of $80,000 to receive a payment, but lost their job in 2020 and only earned $45,000 last year as a result.
If that person hasnt filed their 2020 return yet, they wont receive a stimulus payment because the IRS will base its calculation on their 2019 return, which showed they arent eligible. But as soon as they file their 2020 tax return with the lower income, the IRS will issue stimulus payment to them, IRS and Treasury officials said.
With reporting by Sarah Ewall-Wice.
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$1400 Stimulus Checks: Eligibility
- Individuals with an adjusted gross income under $75,000
- Heads of household with an AGI up to $112,500
- Qualifying taxpayers will also receive $1,400 for each eligible dependent
- Smaller payments will be made to individuals with an AGI under $80,000, heads of household with an AGI under $120,000, and married couples earning under $160,000
Anyone above these limits will receive nothing and the payments are based on either 2019 or 2020 income, depending on when a taxpayer files their 2020 tax return.
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Wells Fargo And Chase Customers Furious Over Stimulus Check Delays As Banks Refuse To Process $1400 Until March 17
- 9:03 ET, Mar 14 2021
- Invalid Date,
WELLS Fargo and Chase customers are furious over stimulus check delays as banks refuse to process $1,400 payments until March 17.
Millions of Americans began receiving their $1,400 stimulus checks as early as Friday, a day after President Joe Biden signed the $1.9trillion relief bill into law.
The first batch of payments will be sent by direct deposit, which some recipients started receiving as early as March 12, the Internal Revenue Service explained on its website.
On Friday, Chase addressed their customers concerns regarding their stimulus payment saying the checks won’t be available until March 17.
“We expect that electronic stimulus payments will be available in eligible Chase accounts as soon as Wednesday, March 17, 2021,” the bank said on their website.
Wells Fargo said the same that it will treat all checks as arriving March 17, whether they arrive earlier or not.
Wells Fargo will process all of the direct deposits according to the effective date provided by the U.S. Treasury ,” the bank said on .
An angry Wells Fargo customer tweeted he’s going to “drop” his account after the payment is clearing
“Yeah going to drop my wells account after the direct deposit hits, unbelievable,” the irate customer wrote.
Another customer tweeted, “So, it sounds like the #Stimuluschecks are out there. I’m seeing a lot of reports of people getting theirs already.
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What Happens When A Deposit Hold Is Placed On My Funds
During the time a deposit hold is in effect, you should not write checks against or attempt to withdraw the held funds. If a deposit hold has been placed, we may decline withdrawals or return checks if the total amount of available funds in your account is insufficient to pay these items. If checks you have written are returned or items are paid using the funds held, they may be subject to fees.
Irs Stimulus Check Wells Fargo Controversy
According to HuffPost, Wells Fargo and Chase said that they wont be issuing the stimulus checks until Wednesday, March 17. Even if the money arrives in accounts earlier, some banks are waiting until the effective date the U.S. Treasury has given.
This means that even if the money appears in someones account, it will not be available to use until March 17.
This isnt uncommon for stimulus checks. Sometimes larger banks take a few days to actually credit the money to an account.
Luckily, those with direct deposit will receive their checks faster than those with no direct deposit on file. These individuals will be getting paper checks or new debit cards in the mail.
While it may seem like people are just being impatient, the annoyance comes from the way banks will be prospering. The stall in payment until March 17 will let banks get interest off the pending deposit money. The delay can boost loans to other customers and overall improve profits.
The bank has stated its alliance with the official payment day on their site and on social media.
It’s your money. The stimulus checks come directly from the United States Treasury. So why are and holding onto your money until March 17?
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Why Hasn’t My Direct Deposit Hit Yet
You may have entered the wrong date when processing payroll. Verify the check date first. … If payroll was not processed as all live checks, check the timing on the processing. If the time is before 9 am, posting deposits may not have happened, or there may have been a delay with the federal reserve.
Stimulus Check Payments: Chase And Wells Fargo Issue Statements
“We expect that electronic stimulus payments will be available in eligible Chase accounts as soon as Wednesday, March 17, 2021,” Chase wrote on its website.
Meanwhile, Wells Fargo tweeted: “Customers who are eligible to receive direct deposit of their stimulus payment may expect it as soon as March 17, 2021, emphasizing on its website that it would process the payments in line with effective date provided by the U.S. Treasury of 17 March.
To our understanding, Bank of America has not issued a statement regarding when they will process the payments, but it appears that many Bank of America customers on Twitter are complaining about their payments being withheld.
Some digital banks, like Chime, meanwhile, have said they authorized their clients to have instant access to their payments. On Friday, Chime issued a so-called “stimmy alert” on Twitter saying it had already distributed $600 million-worth of payments to its customers.
Millions of Chime members have received over $3B in stimulus payments, and more are on the way. Thats up to 5 days earlier than most traditional bank accounts. We know that every day counts and Chime always has your back
Chime
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Who Is Eligible For A Stimulus Check
The vast majority of Michigan residents are eligible to receive a stimulus check from the federal government this year. Even if you have no income, you are still eligible, but need to take action to receive your stimulus payment. This includes individuals with low or no earnings who normally dont file taxes. Every American adult earning less than $75,000 is eligible for a stimulus check from the federal government this year. While this site is geared toward Michigan residents, the information is applicable nationwide.If you still have questions about your stimulus check after reviewing this website, call the IRS at or, United Way at .
After you sign up, make sure to add your account information on the IRS website. If you dont want to sign up for a bank account, you can also link to your prepaid debit card instead.You can also receive your funds through the Cash App, by providing the IRS with the routing and account numbers connected to your Cash App. You can download the Cash App or locate your Cash App account information here.
What if I havent filed taxes?
What if I dont qualify where else can I get help?
If you dont qualify for the stimulus payment, we recommend reaching out to Michigan 2-1-1. They can connect you to resources in your community.
Will my payment be reduced or offset if I owe tax, have a payment agreement with the IRS, owe other Federal or State debt, or owe other debt collectors?
After You Receive Your Money

Use the Wells Fargo Mobile® app mobile deposit feature. Built into the Wells Fargo Mobile app, mobile deposit2 allows you to deposit your stimulus check, if you receive one by mail, from home at any time.
Check the branch locator. If you need to cash your government check, use the branch locator to find the nearest ATM and check the latest hours and services.
Pay digitally. Enter debit and credit cards into your digital wallet of choice so you can use your phone to pay, minimizing the touching of surfaces.
Move money. Send and receive money with friends and family with Zelle®3 without going to the bank, and use Wells Fargo Online to move money between accounts and pay bills.
Beware of scams. Dont share passwords, account numbers, or personal financial information with anyone by phone, as coronavirus phishing scams are on the rise. You do not need to sign up to receive your stimulus check. Wells Fargo and the IRS will not contact you to confirm confidential personal or account details. Ignore any suspicious requests, and do not click on any links or open any attachments.
Visit wellsfargo.com/coronavirus for the latest Wells Fargo COVID19 updates, including customer service options and tips to begin using the companys online banking and mobile banking features.
1Sign up may be required. Availability may be affected by your mobile carriers coverage area. Your mobile carriers message and data rates may apply.
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When Will Chase Bank Release 3rd Stimulus Checks
On Wednesday, March 17, the official payment date for the stimulus checks, the third and latest stimulus check will begin to be placed into the bank accounts of Chase and Wells Fargo clients who have chosen direct deposit.The first wave of $1,400 stimulus payments was processed for some Americans on Friday, according to the Federal Reserve.What you need to know about the status of your stimulus payment
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You Can Receive Both A Personal And A Business Welcome Bonus
If you are a small business owner, you can receive a welcome bonus for opening a business checking account even if you have an existing personal banking relationship with Chase.
Likewise, if you do not have a personal checking account with Chase but do have an existing business account, you may be eligible to receive a welcome bonus for opening a personal account.
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Who Is Eligible For The Third Stimulus Check
If youre trying to track your stimulus check, youll first want to know if youre eligible to receive one information that the Get My Payment tool wont explicitly inform you when you go track your check.
One good rule of thumb for determining if you qualify: If you were eligible to receive the full amount before, youll be eligible again. Income requirements for receiving full stimulus checks are the same for both individual and married tax filers, while income information is based on your most recently processed tax return .
If you earned up to $75,000 youre slated to get the full relief check worth $1,400. Married couples will thus receive $2,800 as long as their combined AGI doesnt top $150,000.
But the point at which payments completely phase out for Americans happens sooner on the income scale, a move meant to appease more deficit-minded lawmakers and shrink the size of the overall relief package.
Individuals total payments decrease by $28 per every $100 over the income threshold. Single filers and married couples who make $80,000 and $160,000 or more a year, respectively, wont receive a check at all.
Eligible U.S. adults will see $1,400 per each individual in their household, including adult dependents, such as college students.
If youre ineligible for a stimulus payment but currently out of work, heres how to apply for unemployment benefits.
Rd Stimulus Check: Updated Dates
Since the bill was signed last Thursday, the IRS and US Treasury have been making electronic transfers to bank accounts and in paper checks to those eligible for the third stimulus check.
The next group of payments that will go out will be in the form of direct deposit, a paper check and EIP debit cards. Here are the latest check delivery dates:
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Jpmorgan Chase And Wells Fargo Face Customer Anger Over Stimulus Checks
The IRS has started distributing a third round of federal stimulus payment, worth up to $1,400 per eligible adult and child. But exactly when Americans get a check may depend partly on a bank’s individual policies, with some customers of JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo expressing frustration after the banks said the coronavirus relief payments won’t be available until March 17.
About 90 million payments, worth a combined $242 billion, were deposited into accounts on Wednesday, the Treasury Department said in a statement. It added that another 150,000 checks worth about $442 million were sent by mail. Within the next 10 days, about 100 million checks should reach U.S. households, IRS and Treasury officials said earlier this week.
Wells Fargo and Chase said the timing of the payments is outside their control. Although the IRS started issuing payments over the weekend, the official payment date was set for March 17, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase told CBS MoneyWatch. Wells Fargo added that it “is not holding the funds” and that it will deposit the money into accounts as soon as possible.
On Wednesday, JPMorgan Chase said it had deposited all the funds it had received from the IRS into customer accounts. Some Wells Fargo customers reported problems accessing their online accounts on Wednesday morning, which the bank said it was working on fixing. By mid-afternoon, Wells Fargo said it had resolved the issue.