By Eric Dalton, prepaid-card support lead with 10 years of government disbursement and cash-access operations experience
Last reviewed: July 26, 2026
ReliaCard is a reloadable prepaid debit card issued by U.S. Bank for payments from participating government agencies. Cardholders can generally check their balance, make purchases, request cash back, and withdraw money through permitted ATMs or financial institutions. This independent guide is not affiliated with U.S. Bank.
Before withdrawing cash, check three things: the available card balance, the withdrawal method allowed by the program, and the applicable Fee Schedule. Money held in ReliaCard savings cannot be withdrawn directly at an ATM.
What is ReliaCard?
ReliaCard is a prepaid debit card that allows participating government agencies to distribute eligible payments electronically. Once funds are loaded, the card can generally be used for purchases, bill payments, online transactions, cash back at participating merchants, and withdrawals at ATMs, banks, or credit unions.
It is not a credit card.
U.S. Bank issues and services the card account. The government agency determines whether a payment is due and sends the funds. A cash-access problem belongs with ReliaCard support, while a benefit that the agency has not issued must be addressed with that agency.
Do payment verification first. Skip replacing the physical card simply because an unemployment, child-support, or workers’ compensation payment remains under agency review.
How to check a ReliaCard balance
The official ReliaCard mobile app provides an account dashboard where cardholders can view the card balance and recent activity. The app is intended exclusively for U.S. Bank ReliaCard accounts and supports login with an established username and password, plus biometric access on compatible devices.
The dedicated ReliaCard website is another account-access route. It also contains card-status, account-help, card-problem, and customer-support functions.
Check the available balance, not merely the amount of the most recent government payment.
A $700 agency load does not mean $700 remains available after purchases, withdrawals, merchant holds, fees, or transfers into ReliaCard savings. The transaction list provides the context that the headline balance alone cannot.
Use the app or website first. Skip relying on an old receipt or a missing text alert when a current balance is needed.
A displayed balance may also differ from an earlier monthly statement because the statement covers a completed period, while current activity continues afterward.
Available balance versus total money in the account
Some ReliaCard programs include a savings feature. U.S. Bank says savings funds cannot be accessed directly through an ATM or point-of-sale purchase. The money must first be transferred from savings to the card through the website, mobile app, or Cardholder Services.
This creates a common decline.
A cardholder may see money associated with the overall ReliaCard relationship but have too little in the spendable card balance for an ATM withdrawal or store purchase. The ATM does not pull directly from the savings portion.
Move it first.
For example, if the card balance contains $40 and savings contains $300, a $100 ATM request may fail until enough money is transferred back to the card. The total is not the same as the amount currently available to the physical card.
Do the balance-location check first. Skip repeated ATM attempts while the funds remain in savings.
Savings availability itself can vary by program, so use the controls visible in the actual ReliaCard account rather than instructions written for another government agency.
How to withdraw cash at an ATM
U.S. Bank says ReliaCard holders whose program permits ATM access can use an ATM within the supported network. After inserting the card, select Checking when the machine asks for the account type. This routes the request to the correct source of funds.
Select Checking.
Choosing savings does not access the optional ReliaCard savings balance. That feature must be handled inside the account before the ATM transaction.
A withdrawal may still fail because:
- The available card balance is too low
- The PIN is incorrect or locked
- The amount exceeds the card program’s limit
- The ATM imposes a lower transaction maximum
- The card has not been activated
- A security restriction affects the account
- The machine does not support the attempted transaction
Check the balance and PIN status before trying another machine. Skip repeating the request several times when the same underlying restriction remains.
Finding an in-network ATM
U.S. Bank provides an ATM locator and says its wider ATM network includes U.S. Bank machines and participating partner networks. Terms and conditions apply, and the network status relevant to a ReliaCard depends on the card’s program disclosure.
The distinction between in-network and out-of-network matters because fees can differ.
For example, one current Alaska unemployment ReliaCard disclosure describes U.S. Bank, MoneyPass, and Allpoint ATMs as in-network. That definition belongs to the Alaska program and should not be assumed for every ReliaCard.
Use the locator connected to the ReliaCard account or program materials. Skip trusting a general map result that does not identify whether the machine is in-network for the specific card.
An ATM owner may also display its own surcharge before the withdrawal is completed. That operator charge can be separate from any fee imposed under the ReliaCard program.
Read the screen before accepting.
Can you get cash back at a store?
U.S. Bank says ReliaCard holders can request cash back with purchases at participating merchants. The merchant must accept the applicable Visa or Mastercard debit network and support cash-back transactions.
Cash back normally requires a PIN-based purchase. The merchant controls whether the service is offered and may set its own minimum purchase or maximum cash-back amount.
Ask before paying.
A store decline does not prove the ReliaCard account is blocked. The merchant may not support cash back, the requested amount may exceed its limit, or the available balance may not cover both the purchase and the cash request.
Do the merchant check first. Skip assuming every retailer follows the same cash-back rules.
Cash back can be useful when an ATM is unavailable, but the card’s Fee Schedule and the merchant’s transaction conditions still govern.
Withdrawing cash from a bank or credit union teller
ReliaCard funds may also be withdrawn at banks or credit unions that accept the applicable card network, subject to the individual program’s rules. U.S. Bank includes teller withdrawals among the general cash-access options for ReliaCard.
At the teller window, the financial institution may require the physical card and acceptable identification. The teller cannot necessarily see the ReliaCard balance, so know the intended withdrawal amount before requesting the transaction.
Program disclosures frequently list Teller Cash Withdrawal as a separate fee category. Several official ReliaCard disclosures currently show a $0 U.S. Bank fee for eligible teller withdrawals, but those examples are tied to individual programs and do not establish a universal national price.
Check the exact Fee Schedule first. Skip citing another state’s document as proof that the withdrawal will cost nothing on your card.
A teller withdrawal may be useful when the PIN is unavailable, but acceptance remains subject to the institution and program terms.
Why the PIN works online but fails at an ATM
The ReliaCard website password and physical card PIN protect different functions.
A successful app login confirms digital access. It does not confirm that the card PIN is correct, unlocked, or accepted by the ATM.
At the machine, verify that:
- Checking was selected
- The correct PIN was used
- The requested amount is available
- The physical card is active
- The ATM supports the card
- Savings funds were transferred to the card first
Do one controlled attempt. Skip repeatedly guessing the PIN.
Repeated incorrect PIN entries can lead to a lock, while changing the online password will not solve an ATM PIN failure. Use the official card-management or support route when the PIN is no longer known.
The number on the back of the card is the safest product-specific contact route.
ATM fees are not the same for every ReliaCard
ReliaCard is used by numerous government agencies, and each program can have a separate fee disclosure.
Official examples show real differences. One Wyoming workers’ compensation disclosure currently lists a $1.25 U.S. Bank fee for an out-of-network ATM withdrawal, while a Massachusetts unemployment disclosure lists $0.75. An Alaska unemployment disclosure lists its own in-network terms.
None of those amounts should be applied automatically to a different card.
Possible fee categories include:
- In-network ATM withdrawal
- Out-of-network ATM withdrawal
- ATM balance inquiry
- Teller cash withdrawal
- International ATM withdrawal
- Replacement-card delivery
- Card-to-bank transfer
Use the disclosure supplied for the actual government program. Skip generic claims that ReliaCard has one national withdrawal fee.
Fees and networks vary by region.
Why an ATM shows one amount but the app shows another
An ATM can display a withdrawal limit or available amount that differs from the balance visible in the app.
Several layers can cause that:
- The ATM has a per-transaction maximum
- The card program has a daily cash limit
- Pending transactions reduce available funds
- The machine dispenses only certain denominations
- An operator surcharge is included
- Part of the money remains in savings
- Earlier withdrawals consumed part of the daily allowance
The app balance is not a promise that the entire amount can be withdrawn in one transaction.
Check the requested amount and machine rules first. Skip dividing a large withdrawal into numerous attempts without confirming the account limit, because repeated requests may produce additional fees or security reviews.
When the account activity does not explain the difference, use ReliaCard support rather than general U.S. Bank instructions written for ordinary checking accounts.
Protecting the card during cash withdrawals
The official ReliaCard site warns that legitimate companies, including U.S. Bank, do not request passwords, PINs, Social Security numbers, or account numbers through unsolicited emails, phone calls, or text messages. It advises cardholders to call the number on the back of the card when such a request appears.
The same caution applies at ATMs.
Inspect the card slot and keypad before inserting the card. Shield the keypad while entering the PIN, keep the receipt when it is needed for reconciliation, and leave the machine if someone offers unsolicited help.
Never disclose the PIN to a caller claiming that it is needed to reverse an ATM transaction.
When an ATM does not dispense cash but the account shows a completed withdrawal, contact ReliaCard support promptly and retain the location, date, amount, and ATM operator information. Do not attempt to resolve it through an unknown telephone number attached to the machine unless its legitimacy is clear.
Official ReliaCard support
U.S. Bank lists ReliaCard customer support at 855-282-6161, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It lists 918-858-0448 for cardholders outside the United States and states that relay calls are accepted.
Use official support for:
- ATM cash not received
- An unexplained completed withdrawal
- A lost or stolen card
- PIN trouble that cannot be resolved
- Account restrictions
- Incorrect balance after reviewing activity
- Teller withdrawal questions
- Program-specific cash-access problems
Call through the number on the card or the official ReliaCard contact page. Skip numbers supplied by unsolicited messages or social-media accounts posing as support.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check my ReliaCard balance?
Use the official ReliaCard app or dedicated cardholder website.
Which account type should I select at an ATM?
Checking.
Can I withdraw directly from ReliaCard savings?
No. Transfer the money to the card first.
Can I get cash back at a store?
Yes, when the participating merchant accepts the card and supports cash-back transactions. The store may set its own purchase and cash limits.
Can a bank teller withdraw money from ReliaCard?
Possibly. U.S. Bank lists banks and credit unions among ReliaCard cash-access routes, subject to the card program and institution’s acceptance rules.
Are teller withdrawals always without a fee?
No universal answer applies. Several program disclosures list a $0 U.S. Bank teller-withdrawal fee, but the cardholder must check the Fee Schedule issued for the actual government program.
Why was my ATM withdrawal declined with enough money?
The requested amount may exceed a program or machine limit, the PIN may be wrong, part of the balance may remain in savings, or a pending transaction may have reduced available funds.
Who should I call about an ATM problem?
Call official ReliaCard support at 855-282-6161. U.S. Bank lists service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
