>There's NO reason in the world that the Feds couldn't cut their expenses to the bone by doing direct deposit.

I agree completely. My understanding from the gov't side is that it's the recipients who refuse it, particularly SS receivers, and orgs like AARP who are resisting. Get this: they've been after *employees* in my dept (DOL) for a few years to take direct deposit, and still about 30% refuse, even though they get paid 5 days sooner. But really, I'd like to see the gov't enforce direct deposit - that is the way to save big money and tighten security, you are quite right. It will trample the wishes of some people, but it's the only logical way to transact these payments.

>Bruce, you sincerely have my respect and appreciation that you are willing to put up with all the nonsense. I have a neighbor who has been working for Uncle for almost 30 years and he's REALLY tired of the internally generated stuff.

Well, heck, I put up with plenty of nonsense in the private sector, too, just of a slightly different and more personal nature than the bureaucratic crap we have here :)