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Navy/Marine Cash™ - Next Generation ATMs-at-Sea Rolls Out

Press Release from Naval Supply Systems Command
http://www.navsup.navy.mil/npi/

The Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP), Navy Family Support, in partnership with the Financial Management Service (FMS), a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, announces the roll out of the Navy/Marine Cash™ financial system on 175 Navy ships through FY2008.

Beginning in April 2001, as an evolution of NAVSUP's ATMs-at-Sea program, the Navy/Marine Cash™ initiative started on the USS RENTZ (FFG46), followed later that fall on the USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD6).

Navy/Marine Cash™ was a highly successful pilot program deployed on eight U.S. Navy ships representing six ship classes from 2001 to 2003. The new financial cash management system allows afloat Sailors and Marines to conduct personal banking and purchasing electronically while deployed. The system consists of an electronic purse on a commercial debit card, which utilizes both stored-value chip and magnetic strip technology. Navy/Marine Cash™ reduces the need for cash on board the ship and significantly reduces workload afloat.

Using a commercial PIN-protected debit card, Navy/Marine Cash™ provides 24/7 access to pay and allowances on and off the ship. Afloat personnel are able to receive electronic pay, access home bank and credit union accounts, transfer and withdraw funds, and make purchases, both on ship and ashore.

On board ship, Cashless ATMs are used to verify card funds, transfer funds to and from the Navy/Marine Cash™ card chip and magnetic strip, and to authenticate PINs. Purchases are made using Point of Sale devices and vending machine card readers that access the card’s chip. Once ashore, funds can be accessed by the magnetic strip to withdraw funds from over 900,000 automatic teller machines (ATMs) worldwide and make purchases at more than 32 million merchants.

So far in 2004, sixteen additional ships, including the aircraft carriers USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN75) and USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76) have had the Navy/Marine Cash™ system installed. To date, a total of 24 ships have successfully implemented the new cashless system. More than 25,643 active Navy/Marine Cash™ cards are currently issued with $27 million processed since the program's inception. Over 5.7 million transactions have passed through the system in the form of transfers, vending and store purchases and ATM withdrawals.

According to Rear Admiral Justin D. McCarthy, Commander, Naval Supply System Command, Navy/Marine™ is one of the key initiatives of NAVSUP's Afloat Supply Department of the Future. "The system is aimed at providing the convenience and ease of living cash-free to Navy, Marine and other assigned personnel aboard ship, and freeing up the Disbursing and other Retail Offices from the often labor-intensive payment and reporting mechanisms used aboard ship," McCarthy said.

"Navy Cash™ provides the Navy with a great alternative to cash and coin, boosts Navy's efficiency and security, and provides a convenient tool to enhance cash management," said FMS Commissioner Richard L. Gregg.

"This is a rewarding and challenging private/public venture which provides our afloat supply operation with a robust financial cash management system," said Barbara C. Straw, Director, NAVSUP's Disbursing Division. "The system delivers greater efficiencies, promotes flexibility and interoperability between both DoD and other government agencies, and most importantly, improves the quality of life of our Sailors and Marines in the fleet."

Additional program stakeholders include the Marine Corps, Defense Financial Accounting Service (DFAS), and JP Morgan Chase, a financial agent designated by the Department of the Treasury.

NAVSUP's primary mission is to provide U.S. Naval forces with quality supplies and services. With headquarters in Mechanicsburg, Pa., and employing a worldwide workforce of more than 24,000 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP oversees logistics programs in the areas of supply operations, conventional ordnance, contracting, resale, fuel, transportation, and security assistance. In addition, NAVSUP is responsible for quality of life issues for our Naval forces, including food service, postal services, Navy Exchanges, and movement of household goods.

For more information, call the Navy/Marine Cash™ Program point of contact, Lucinda Wilson, Navy Cash™ Assistant Program Manager at (717) 605-7033 or DSN 430-7033.

For further information, contact Melody Barrett at melody.barrett@fms.treas.gov or call (202) 874-6557 in the FMS Office of Legislative and Public Affairs.