Maryland has begun rolling out new Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards equipped with EMV chip-and-tap technology, becoming the fourth state in the nation to adopt the enhanced security measure aimed at reducing fraud and protecting customers from skimming and other forms of theft.
Governor Wes Moore announced the statewide rollout Friday, saying the upgraded cards will provide stronger protections for families who rely on food and cash assistance benefits. The new cards follow a successful pilot program in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, and Dorchester County, where 92% of chip-enabled transactions were approved. During the pilot, more than $191,000 in retailer transactions and over $130,000 in financial activity were processed, with about half of all purchases made using tap or chip technology.
Current EBT cardholders will automatically receive their new cards by mail over the next three weeks. Once activated, the new card will automatically deactivate the customer’s existing magnetic stripe card while preserving all benefit balances. Maryland Department of Human Services officials encourage recipients to activate the new cards as soon as they arrive. All legacy magnetic stripe EBT cards will be permanently deactivated on Sept. 30, 2026.
Officials also recommend customers create an account through the ebtEDGE Cardholder Portal or mobile app to help manage their benefits, though doing so is not required to activate the new card. More information is available through the Maryland Department of Human Services.
