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Direct deposit is a convenient way to receive your paycheck without requiring a paper check or a bank trip. Most banks offer direct deposit as a standard feature in their checking accounts. Some banks even offer early direct deposit, granting you quick access to your money days ahead of payday. Read on to discover the top banks with early direct deposit.
32 Best Banks With Early Direct Deposit
Early direct deposit allows you to access your money before your actual payday. Here are the 32 top credit unions, financial services and banks with early direct deposit.
| BANK | DIRECT DEPOSIT ESTIMATION |
|---|---|
| Albert | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Ally Bank | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Andrews Federal Credit Union | Paycheck up to one day early |
| Axos Bank | Paycheck up to two days early |
| BankFive | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Capital One | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Cash App | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Chase | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Chime®* | Paycheck up to two days early1 |
| Citizens Bank | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Current | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Fifth Third Bank | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Fairwinds Credit Union | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Freedom First | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Golden 1 Credit Union | Paycheck up to two days early |
| GO2Bank | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Guaranty | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Hancock Whitney | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Huntington Bank | Paycheck up to two days early |
| KeyBank | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Lending Club Bank | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | Paycheck up to one day early |
| One | Paycheck up to two days early |
| OneUnited Bank | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Pentagon Federal Credit Union | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Regions Bank | Paycheck up to two days early |
| SoFi | Paycheck up to two days early |
| USAA | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Varo | Paycheck up to two days early |
| VyStar Credit Union | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Wells Fargo | Paycheck up to two days early |
| Wisely | Paycheck up to two days early |
Though payment deposits vary based on your payor and bank policies, you can usually use the money on the same day the money gets deposited to your account. Direct deposit doesn’t come with monthly fees, and it is automatically put in your specified checking or savings account, so you never have to worry about lost checks.
Direct Deposit: Key Details To Know
How does direct deposit work? To put it simply, direct deposit uses the ACH Network to send paychecks or other forms of electronic payments directly to your bank account, avoiding the need for paper checks. Many employers offer direct deposit, but it’s not limited to paychecks. You can also receive many government benefits, such as Social Security payments and tax refunds, via direct deposit.
Can You Get Your Direct Deposit Early?
In some cases, yes. Many banks allow customers to access their paychecks before their payday through a feature known as early direct deposit. Banks that offer early direct deposit typically give you access to your paycheck one to two days before payday. If you are interested in this feature, you’ll need to open an account that offers early direct deposit.
How Does Early Direct Deposit Work?
When the bank receives information about your direct deposit from the payor, it credits your account with the funds prior to the paycheck clearing and hitting your account. This means you can access your paycheck up to two days before payday. This system is beneficial for times when you need fast cash. You can use your funds to pay an important bill or buy essentials like groceries.
Direct Deposit Benefits
Direct deposit has many benefits, which is why most employers offer it to their employees. Some of the advantages of direct deposit include:
- Quicker access to funds
- More safety and security than printed checks
- Ability to receive funds without visiting a bank
- Ability to split direct deposits between accounts, such as checking, savings and CD accounts
How To Set Up Direct Deposits
To set up direct deposit, follow these steps:
- Fill out the direct deposit form your employer or a government entity provides.
- Include your name, address, account number, bank name and the bank’s routing number.
- You may also need to provide a voided check or a deposit slip.
Final Take
Early direct deposit appeals to consumers who need quick access to their paychecks. You can use the funds for anything you like, such as a credit card bill, mortgage payment or groceries. With early direct deposit, you won’t need to scramble for cash if you run short before payday. Having access to your paycheck up to two days early can relieve a lot of pressure when you’re trying to make your money last until your next deposit.
Direct Deposit FAQ
When it comes to direct deposits, some of the most common questions include:
- What time of day does early deposit hit?
- The timing can vary from one financial institution to another, so it's best to check with your employer, payroll company and bank.
- Which bank has early direct deposit?
- Several banks give you access to your direct deposit payment early, such as Capital One, Chase or Wells Fargo.
- How early does direct deposit hit?
- Most of the time, direct deposit means you get your money instantly. How instant that is will depend on these factors:
- Your employer's pay schedule. Early access to your funds will depend on when your employer sends info about the upcoming deposit to your bank. If the employer doesn't send the information far enough in advance, the bank won't be able to make your funds available early.
- Your bank. Some banks can take a few hours or a few days for processing and for funds to appear in your account.
- Holidays or weekends. Depending on when the transaction takes place, holidays and weekends can potentially delay when your money lands in the account.
- Most of the time, direct deposit means you get your money instantly. How instant that is will depend on these factors:
- Does Wells Fargo offer two day early direct deposit?
- Wells Fargo offers Early Pay Day standard with direct deposit. With Early Pay Day, Wells Fargo may make your direct deposit funds available to you up to two days early. The exact timing of your deposit will depend on when your employer or other payor shares information about your direct deposit funds with Wells Fargo. There is no fee for this service.
- Does Chase direct deposit pay two days early?
- Chase offers direct deposit up to two days early, depending on when it receives information about the deposit from your employer or other payor. The service comes standard with the Chase Secure Banking account. There's no fee for the service.
- Does Bank of America offer two day early direct deposit?
- Bank of America, Member FDIC, doesn't offer early direct deposit at this time. With Bank of America, you'll have same-day access to your direct deposit funds.
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Caitlyn Moorhead, Nicole Valentine, Melanie Grafil and Andrea Norris contributed to the reporting for this article.
Cash App is a financial platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s).
*Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by, and debit card issued by, The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.
1Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. Chime generally makes these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
Information is accurate as of June 20, 2024.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by Chase. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Chase.
