Press Release

FIS Enables States to Provide Online Grocery Shopping for SNAP Benefit Recipients

April 14, 2020

​​Key facts

  • Through a pilot program, run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit recipients can make online purchases of groceries through authorized retailers – such as Walmart and Amazon.
  • FIS has already enabled Washington, Oregon and Nebraska which are now live on the pilot program.
  • FIS clients Florida, California, Idaho and Arizona are expected to be operational with online shopping capabilities in the coming weeks.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 14, 2020 – Financial services technology leader FIS™ (NYSE: FIS) announced today that it is assisting a number of U.S. states to enable online purchasing of food for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit recipients under a pilot program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

​As a leading provider of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) processing services for state-administered SNAP benefits, FIS has enabled Washington, Oregon and Nebraska to go live on the USDA online pilot program. The states of Florida, California, Idaho and Arizona, which contract with FIS for EBT processing services, have been approved under the USDA pilot program and are expected to be operational with online shopping capabilities in the coming weeks.

​Through the USDA’s pilot program, SNAP recipients in participating states can use their EBT cards to make online purchases of groceries through authorized retailers, including Walmart and Amazon. Typically, EBT cards could only be used for purchases at the brick-and-mortar stores of participating retailers.

​“In these times of need, it is critical that SNAP recipients and families be able to shop for the food they need from the convenience of their home,” said Jim Johnson, head of Financial Institution Payments and Wealth at FIS. “As a critical infrastructure provider, FIS is committed to working with our government partners to speed assistance to those who need it the most during the current health crisis.”

​More information on how FIS is supporting its clients and the world during this current crisis can be found on the FIS COVID-19 Online Resource Center.

About FIS
FIS is a leading provider of technology solutions for merchants, banks and capital markets firms globally. Our more than 55,000 people are dedicated to advancing the way the world pays, banks and invests by applying our scale, deep expertise and data-driven insights. We help our clients use technology in innovative ways to solve business-critical challenges and deliver superior experiences for their customers. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, FIS is a Fortune 500® company and is a member of Standard & Poor’s 500® Index. To learn more, visit www.fisglobal.com. Follow FIS on Facebook Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter (@FISGlobal).

For More Information
Kim Snider, 904.438.6278
Senior Vice President
FIS Global Marketing and Communications
kim.snider@fisglobal.com