A provider of payroll debit cards says more than half of employees using its services have bank accounts and use the cards as a savings tool and for daily expenses.

Ecount surveyed a random sample of more than 2,000 of its cardholders. The company found that nearly 54 percent of employees utilizing payroll cards were banked and using direct deposit, and use the program for savings or discretionary usage.

"Many of our banked cardholders place around 10 to 20 percent of their check on their Paycard," says Matt Gillin, chief executive officer of Ecount. "Some use it to save for big-ticket items like a TV or vacation, and many use it as 'mad money' or discretionary income to buy lunch or household items."