Direct deposit can be a convenient way to receive funds and can take from mere moments to a few days to go through.
Direct deposit can be a convenient way to get paid or otherwise receive funds without the hassle of checks or setting up payment apps and then transferring funds to your bank.
Key Points
• Setting up direct deposit can be done in minutes, but it may take a few weeks or pay cycles for it to become active.
• The exact timeline for direct deposit to go through depends on the entity issuing the funds and your financial institution.
• Some direct deposits can be available on the same day they are transferred, while others may take one to three days.
• To determine when your direct deposit will be available, you can contact your bank or observe the timing of previous direct deposits.
• Direct deposit can offer the advantage of faster access to funds compared to waiting for a paper check to clear.
How Does Direct Deposit Work?
Direct deposit allows someone to electronically send money from their bank or financial institution directly into someone else’s bank account.
The money is sent via the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network, which transfers money between banks and financial institutions.
ACH transfers eliminate the need to send physical checks or cash. These transfers can also happen almost instantaneously because they’re digital and you don’t need to worry about things like proving that a check is legitimate. That means direct deposit can be faster and more convenient. In some cases (as with payroll), your financial institution may even offer early access to the funds, up to two days before the scheduled date.
Most employers now offer direct deposit as an option, and, in some states, even require it. Employers typically find direct deposit convenient because they can process payroll much faster without having to deal with issuing, signing, and mailing checks.
Direct deposit is a popular way to get your paycheck, but that isn’t the only use. It may also be the way you get a tax refund, Social Security benefits, unemployment benefits, investment-related dividends, as well as other payments.
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How Do You Set Up Direct Deposit?
Setting up direct deposit is likely to be very simple — and fast. If you’re wondering how long it takes to set up direct deposit, all you have to do is fill out a direct deposit authorization form. Typically, this just takes a few minutes, provided you have the right information on hand (such as bank account and routing numbers; more on that below).
This usually happens on your first day of work, but you can often choose direct deposit or change your information later on. Some companies handle this process entirely online and some use a third party to sign you up.
When setting up a direct deposit, especially at a new job, you’ll want to remember to have the following information available to make it as simple as possible:
• Your bank account number(s) and type of account
• Bank routing number
• Bank name and address
• Whether you’re putting money in a checking or savings account
• How much of your paycheck you want to deposit in the account (you may want to split the deposit; read on for details)
• A blank, voided personal check
Much of this information can all be found on a personal check, by checking your banking website or app, or by contacting your financial institution directly.
Splitting Your Direct Deposit
If you want to split your paycheck between multiple accounts, you can typically add each account to the direct deposit form and specify how much of your pay should go into each. Most forms ask what percentage of your pay goes into each, instead of just a dollar value. You may need to fill out a new form for each account.
For example, you might designate a set amount of money to move automatically into whatever kind of savings account you have, while leaving what you know you’ll need in checking for bills and smaller payments.
It’s up to you, of course, to determine how much of your paycheck to save; many financial experts recommend 10%.
Get up to $300 with eligible direct deposit when you bank with SoFi.
No account or overdraft fees. No minimum balance.
Up to 3.80% APY on savings balances.
Up to 2-day-early paycheck.
Up to $3M of additional FDIC insurance.
How Long Does It Take to Get Direct Deposit?
Signing up for direct deposit can be done in minutes. However, it may not take effect for a few weeks or even more because the payor has to confirm your bank account information.
With your employer, direct deposit may take one or two pay cycles to become active. During that time, you may receive a paper check as payment instead.
In some cases, an employer may hire an employee at the start of the pay cycle so that the direct deposit authorization process is done just in time for the new employee to receive their first payment via direct deposit.
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Is Direct Deposit Instantaneous?
Exactly when you will have access to your direct deposit income will depend on the entity issuing the funds and perhaps your financial institution that receives the funds.
For example, if your employer uses payroll software to process your paycheck and send the transfer, they’ll set a pay date, which might be a day or two before your regular payday.
That’s the date the funds will be transferred into your bank account, and you can typically access the funds by the end of that day.
That said, other direct deposits may process on a different timeline. The funds could take one to three days to become available. To learn how long direct deposits take to post to your account, you can contact your bank directly, or watch to see what time of day the first few direct deposits come into your account.
Advantages of Direct Deposit
Receiving your paycheck or other income via direct deposit can simplify your life.
You won’t have to worry about waiting for a check or making time to take the check to the bank for deposit. And, you typically have access to your money sooner, since you don’t have to wait for a check to clear.
Direct deposit also makes it easier to stay on top of your personal finances because you know exactly when money is coming into your account.
This accuracy can help you manage your money and work towards short-term financial goals, such as paying all your bills on time or saving for an upcoming expense.
If you know when you have access to your paycheck, for example, it’s possible to schedule your other bills or an automatic transfer to your savings account soon after the direct deposit is scheduled.
Other advantages of direct deposit include:
• Your bank might waive your account maintenance fee if you receive regular direct deposits.
• It reduces the risk of check fraud or identity theft from a lost or stolen check.
• You can’t lose or misplace the funds.
• Electronic records don’t clutter drawers or fill file cabinets.
• You can easily track your paychecks and make sure none have been missed, since there is an electronic record of each payment in one place.
The Takeaway
Direct deposits are a convenient, electronic way to receive funds, and this can be instantaneous or take a few days. This process is typically used when an employer, government agency, or other third party instructs its financial institution to digitally deposit funds into your spending or savings account on a specific date.
Direct deposit can make it easier to keep track of your finances, pay bills on time, and avoid negative balances and overdraft fees.
Looking for more ways to simplify your financial life?
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
FAQ
How long does direct deposit take to hit a bank account?
Direct deposit can happen almost instantaneously, but it can also take one to three days to hit your bank account, depending on factors such as bank holidays and weekends.
Why has my direct deposit not hit yet?
If your direct deposit hasn’t hit in one to three days, check with your bank. It could be that there is a hold on your account or your account is new or overdrawn, or that the sum is large enough to warrant additional review.
Is direct deposit available immediately?
A direct deposit should be available within one business day if it’s made via an electronic transfer. In some cases, direct deposits can be available almost immediately; in others, it can take up to three days.
About the author
Julia Califano
Julia Califano is an award-winning journalist who covers banking, small business, personal loans, student loans, and other money issues for SoFi. She has over 20 years of experience writing about personal finance and lifestyle topics. Read full bio.
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SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit activity can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below).
Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you're earning 3.80% APY, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives. If your APY is not showing as 3.80%, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning 3.80% APY from the date you contact SoFi for the rest of the current 30-day Evaluation Period. You will also be eligible for 3.80% APY on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.
Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.
As an alternative to Direct Deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.
SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving an Eligible Direct Deposit or receipt of $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.
SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until SoFi Bank recognizes Eligible Direct Deposit activity or receives $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit.
Separately, SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days can also earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. For additional details, see the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
Members without either Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, or who do not enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days, will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.
Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
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