Direct Deposit Checklist: What Employers Require (2026)

Direct deposit is the fastest, safest, and most reliable way to get paid — whether you're using a traditional checking account, a credit union account, an online bank, or a prepaid debit card that supports direct deposit.

But here's what many people don't realize: even a single incorrect digit in your banking information can cause your paycheck to be rejected, delayed, or sent to the wrong account. Fixing payroll errors can take one or more pay periods — time you may not be able to afford.

As of 2026, direct deposit remains the standard payment method for most employers. Many companies strongly prefer it, and some require it entirely. Understanding exactly what information you need and how to provide it correctly can prevent frustrating delays during your first weeks on a new job.

This checklist explains exactly what employers require for direct deposit enrollment, how to find the correct banking information (for bank accounts and prepaid cards), what documents you may need to provide, what to expect during the setup process, and how to troubleshoot if something goes wrong.

Everything here is informational and judgment-free.

Why Direct Deposit Matters

Before diving into the checklist, it's worth understanding why direct deposit is worth setting up — even if it takes a little effort.

Speed and reliability. Your paycheck is deposited automatically on payday, often by early morning. No waiting for a check to arrive, no trips to cash it, no holds on funds.

Safety. Paper checks can be lost, stolen, or delayed in the mail. Direct deposit eliminates these risks entirely.

Lower costs. If you're currently cashing paper checks at check-cashing stores (which charge 1–5% per check), direct deposit to any account — even a prepaid card — saves real money.

Convenience. Once set up, direct deposit requires no action on your part. Your pay arrives automatically every pay period.

Early access. Some banks and prepaid cards offer early direct deposit, meaning your paycheck may be available one to two days before your official payday.

For people rebuilding financially after incarceration, reliable access to wages — without delays or fees — is foundational to stability.

The Four Essentials for Direct Deposit

Every employer or payroll processor uses the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network to transfer wages electronically. To enroll you in direct deposit, they will require four pieces of information.

1. Routing Number (9 digits)

The routing number identifies the financial institution where your account is held. Every bank, credit union, and prepaid card provider has a unique routing number.

This number tells the payroll system where to send your money. If the routing number is wrong, your deposit will be rejected or sent to the wrong institution entirely.

Routing numbers are always exactly 9 digits. If you have more or fewer digits, you're looking at the wrong number.

2. Account Number (varies in length)

The account number is your unique identifier at that financial institution. It tells the bank which specific account should receive the deposit.

Account numbers vary in length — they can be anywhere from 8 to 17 digits depending on the institution. Don't confuse your account number with your debit card number (which is 16 digits and printed on the front of your card). These are different numbers that serve different purposes.

3. Account Type (Checking or Savings)

You must specify whether the account is a checking account or a savings account. This affects how the ACH system routes the payment.

If you select the wrong account type, your deposit may be rejected — even if the routing and account numbers are correct.

Most people receive wages into checking accounts. If you're using a prepaid debit card, it typically functions as a checking account for direct deposit purposes (but verify with your provider).

4. Signed Authorization Form

Federal law requires your written permission before an employer can deposit funds into your account. This authorization form is typically provided by your employer's HR or payroll department.

The form usually asks for your routing number, account number, account type, your signature, and the date. Some employers use paper forms; others have online enrollment through their payroll system.

Never give anyone your banking information without understanding exactly what it will be used for. Legitimate employers will only use this information for payroll deposits.

How to Find Your Routing and Account Numbers

The process for finding your direct deposit information depends on what type of account you have.

For Traditional Bank or Credit Union Accounts

You can find your routing and account numbers in several places:

On a paper check. If you have checks for your account, look at the bottom of any check. The routing number is the first set of 9 digits on the left. The account number is the second set of numbers (length varies). The third set is the check number (ignore this).

In online or mobile banking. Log into your bank's website or app. Look for "Account Details," "Account Information," or "Direct Deposit Info." Many banks display routing and account numbers on the main account summary page.

On your bank statement. Monthly statements typically include your account number. The routing number may or may not be printed — if not, you can find it on the bank's website or by calling customer service.

By calling the bank. If you can't find the information online, call your bank's customer service line. They can provide the routing number and verify your account number after confirming your identity.

Important: Do not use the 16-digit number printed on your debit card. That is your card number, not your account number. They are different, and using your card number will cause your direct deposit to fail.

For Prepaid Debit Cards

If you're using a prepaid card for direct deposit, the process is slightly different — and the information you need is not printed on the physical card.

Prepaid cards that support direct deposit provide a routing number (for the underlying bank that holds your funds) and an account number (unique to your prepaid account). This account number is different from the 16-digit number on your card.

To find this information, log into your prepaid card provider's website or mobile app, look for "Direct Deposit," "Account Details," or "Add Money," and locate the routing number and account number displayed there.

If you can't find it online, call the customer service number on the back of your card and ask for your "direct deposit information" or "ACH routing and account numbers."

Many prepaid card providers offer a downloadable or printable Direct Deposit Form specifically designed to give to employers. This can be easier than filling out a generic form manually.

For Online-Only Banks (Neobanks)

Online banks typically make direct deposit information easy to find within their mobile apps. Look for "Direct Deposit," "Get Paid Early," or "Account Details." Some apps include a feature to email or share your direct deposit information directly with your employer.

Documents Employers May Request

In addition to the authorization form, employers often ask for one supporting document to verify that the account belongs to you and that the information is correct.

Voided check. This is the most commonly requested document for traditional bank accounts. Write "VOID" across the front of a blank check and submit it with your authorization form. The employer uses the printed routing and account numbers for verification. If you don't have paper checks (many accounts don't come with them), ask your bank for a direct deposit verification letter or use one of the alternatives below.

Bank or credit union direct deposit form. Many financial institutions provide official forms specifically for setting up direct deposit. These forms are pre-printed with the routing number and include space for your account number and signature. Ask your bank or credit union if they offer this.

Printed bank statement. Some employers accept a recent bank statement as verification. The statement must clearly show your name and account number. You may want to redact transaction details for privacy — the employer only needs to verify account ownership.

Screenshot or printout from online banking. Some employers accept a screenshot showing your name, routing number, and account number from your online banking portal or app.

Prepaid card direct deposit form. If you're using a prepaid card, many providers offer downloadable forms specifically for employer direct deposit setup. Check your provider's website or app.

Not all employers require supporting documents, but having one ready can speed up the process and reduce back-and-forth questions.

Setup Timeline: What to Expect

Direct deposit does not activate instantly. Understanding the typical timeline helps you plan and avoid surprises.

Standard activation time. Most employers take one to two pay periods to fully activate direct deposit after you submit your enrollment form. During this time, you may receive paper checks.

Pre-note verification. Before sending your first real paycheck via direct deposit, many payroll systems send a $0.00 test transaction called a "pre-note" to verify that the routing and account numbers are valid. This test typically takes one full pay cycle.

If the pre-note fails (due to incorrect information), you'll need to correct the details and the process starts over — potentially delaying direct deposit by another pay period or two.

First deposit confirmation. Once direct deposit is active, your first deposit may arrive on payday morning, or even a day or two early if your bank or prepaid card offers early direct deposit. Check with your financial institution to understand their specific timing.

What to do during the waiting period. Stay in contact with your HR or payroll department during your first two pay cycles. Ask them to confirm when direct deposit will go live and whether the pre-note was successful. If you're expecting direct deposit but receive a paper check instead, that may indicate a setup issue that needs attention.

Common Mistakes That Delay Paychecks

These are the most frequent errors that cause direct deposit failures or delays:

Using your debit card number instead of your account number. This is the most common mistake. Your 16-digit debit card number is not the same as your account number. Using the wrong number will cause your deposit to fail.

Selecting the wrong account type. Choosing "Savings" when your account is actually "Checking" (or vice versa) can cause rejections. If you're not sure, check with your bank or prepaid card provider.

Transposing digits. Accidentally swapping two numbers in your routing or account number will send your deposit to the wrong place or cause it to be rejected entirely. Double-check every digit.

Forgetting to sign the authorization form. An unsigned form is invalid. Your employer cannot process direct deposit without your signature.

Submitting outdated information. If you've recently changed banks, closed an account, or switched prepaid cards, make sure you're providing current information — not details from an old account.

Closing or changing accounts during setup. If you close your account or switch to a different bank while direct deposit is being set up, your deposit will fail. Wait until direct deposit is confirmed and working before making account changes.

Not registering your prepaid card. Some prepaid cards require activation or registration before direct deposit can be enabled. Make sure your card is fully set up before submitting the information to your employer.

Take five minutes to verify all information before submitting your enrollment form. It's much easier to prevent errors than to fix them after a paycheck goes missing.

If Direct Deposit Fails or Is Rejected

If your expected direct deposit doesn't arrive on payday, don't panic — but do act quickly.

Step 1: Check your account first. Log into your bank or prepaid card app and verify whether the deposit arrived. Sometimes deposits post at different times than expected.

Step 2: Contact payroll immediately. If the deposit isn't there, reach out to your HR or payroll department the same day. Ask whether the direct deposit was sent successfully or returned/rejected.

Step 3: Verify the information on file. Ask payroll to read back the routing number, account number, and account type they have on file. Compare these to your actual account details digit by digit.

Step 4: Check pre-note status. Ask whether a pre-note test was sent and whether it was successful. A failed pre-note is often the cause of direct deposit not activating on time.

Step 5: Request a paper check if needed. While you sort out the issue, ask if your employer can issue a paper check so you're not left without pay. Most employers have a process for this.

Step 6: Correct the information and restart. If there was an error in your banking information, submit a corrected authorization form. Unfortunately, this may restart the one to two pay period activation timeline.

Rejected deposits are common and usually fixable. The key is catching the issue early and communicating proactively with your payroll department.

Special Situations

Splitting deposits between accounts. Some employers allow you to split your paycheck between multiple accounts — for example, sending a fixed amount to a savings account and the remainder to checking. If this is available, you'll need routing and account numbers for each account.

Changing direct deposit information. If you switch banks or prepaid cards after direct deposit is already set up, you'll need to submit a new authorization form with updated information. Allow one to two pay periods for the change to take effect, and don't close your old account until you've confirmed the new one is receiving deposits.

Direct deposit for gig work or multiple employers. If you work multiple jobs or do gig work (DoorDash, Uber, etc.), you may need to set up direct deposit separately with each platform or employer. The process is the same — you'll need your routing number, account number, and account type for each.

What to Do Next

If you're navigating banking challenges or paycheck setup issues, these resources may help:

→ Why you're being denied a bank account (2026)

→ Banks that don't use ChexSystems (2026)

→ How to get paid without a bank account (2026)

→ Prepaid debit cards for direct deposit (2026)

🔒 Informational only. We do not collect personal information on this page.

Bottom Line

Direct deposit is simple — when the details are correct.

Taking a few extra minutes to verify your routing number, account number, and account type before submitting your enrollment form can save you weeks of frustration and missed paychecks.

Whether you're using a traditional bank, a credit union, an online bank, or a prepaid debit card, the process is the same. Provide accurate information, submit the required documents, and stay in touch with payroll during your first few pay cycles.

Getting paid reliably is foundational to everything else — housing, transportation, stability, progress. This checklist ensures you're prepared.