Mastercard has announced the release of its latest debit card system. Direct Express is taking aim specifically at veterans and will allow for veterans to access their pension and compensation funds directly from the card. The Direct Express cards were made available after nearly half a million reports made by vets that their checks had either been lost in the mail or arrived extremely late.

Both the Social Security Administration and the U.S.

Department of Treasury are encouraging veterans to sign up for the card. Once the payment has been sent to the bank, the funds become available on the card.

Funds are accessible from ATM’s as well as some retailer point of sale terminals.