J.P. Morgan Prepaid Debit Cards Help Brooklyn, Chicago Buy Back 7,500 Guns

NEW YORK. — Brooklyn and Chicago recently used J.P. Morgan prepaid debit cards in successful campaigns to take firearms off the streets. The gun buy back programs were sponsored by local law enforcement officials who offered citizens prepaid debit cards for working guns, no questions asked. More than 7,500 firearms were collected at community churches and other turn-in sites in the two cities.

“We are proud to assist a number of major cities become more secure through the distribution of J.P. Morgan’s prepaid debit cards,” said Laurie Neill, managing director of public sector solutions, J.P. Morgan. “Prepaid debit cards are the best payment option for programs like these. Program administrators are able to distribute cards on the spot at collection locations and do not have to worry about the additional time, costs and oversight associated with paper check distribution. Participants are paid instantly and have immediate access to their funds instead of having to wait for a check to arrive in the mail or taking time to cash a check.”

Police in Chicago recently collected more than 6,800 firearms during the city’s “Don’t Kill a Dream, Save a Life” gun turn-in program. Participants received $100 J.P. Morgan prepaid debit cards for weapons and $10 cards for BB guns, air rifles and replica guns. Since 2006, more than 18,000 guns have been collected. The program is managed by the Chicago Police Department’s CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) Office with administration support from Carlson Marketing Worldwide.

“J.P. Morgan has been an instrumental community partner from the very first day. Their support along with other community partners and residents has helped us create the nation’s largest gun turn-in program, making the neighborhoods of Chicago safer,” said Vance Henry, Director of Chicago Police Department’s CAPS Office.

A recent program sponsored by the New York Police Department and the Brooklyn district attorney’s office netted almost 700 guns. People who dropped off guns received a $200 J.P. Morgan prepaid debit card and a $20 card for BB guns and air pistols. Overall, 697 functioning guns were collected, including 204 revolvers, 193 pistols, 226 rifles and shotguns and 12 assault weapons. The guns will be melted down into hangers to be used at dry cleaners.

“I applaud J.P. Morgan for its outstanding commitment to the safety of the citizens in Brooklyn,” said Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes. “By partnering with the New York Police Department and my office in our enormously successful buy back program and facilitating the use of cash cards, J.P. Morgan demonstrated what corporate responsibility is all about.”

The use of prepaid debit cards for gun buy back programs is not new. In June of 2007, the city of Buffalo, New York collected more than 800 weapons from city residents in eight hours as part of its “No Questions Asked” gun buyback program. More than $42,000 in prepaid debit cards was distributed. Citizens received $10 J.P. Morgan prepaid debit cards for BB guns and pellet guns, $50 for rifles and shotguns, $75 for handguns and $100 for assault weapons such as Uzi’s and AK-47s. Cards remained active for four months and all recipients were provided with a card carrier package that contained a PIN for the card and a list of where and how the cards can be used.

J.P. Morgan is the leader in providing prepaid debit cards for pay and benefits under government programs across the U.S. and internationally. Government payment cards eliminate the costly process of producing and mailing checks and also help reduce check fraud. State, county and municipal government agencies can deliver recurring or one-time payments to citizens for disaster relief, child support, unemployment and workers’ compensation as well as gun buybacks. Recipients can access their funds at ATMs worldwide or make purchases at millions of merchants. More information can be found at www.jpmorgan.com/publicsector.