How to Set Up Direct Deposit: A Step-by-Step Guide

Direct deposit is one of the most convenient features of modern banking — your paycheck, tax refund, or government benefit arrives in your account automatically, usually a day earlier than a paper check. Setting it up takes about five minutes and requires just two pieces of information: your routing number and your account number.

What You'll Need

• Your bank's routing number (9 digits)
• Your account number (varies by bank, usually 8–17 digits)
• Your account type (checking or savings)
• The name on your account

If you're not sure of your routing number, use our routing number lookup tool or find it in the bottom-left corner of a paper check. If your bank has multiple routing numbers for different states, use the one for the state where you opened your account. You can also browse banks in our directory to find the right number.

Step 1: Locate the Direct Deposit Form

Most employers provide a direct deposit form during onboarding, or you can request one from HR or payroll. If your employer uses a payroll portal (ADP, Gusto, Workday, etc.), you can usually add or update direct deposit online without a paper form. Government benefit programs like Social Security, Veterans Benefits, and state unemployment insurance all have online portals for direct deposit setup.

Step 2: Fill In Your Banking Information

The form will ask for your routing number, account number, and account type. Fill in these fields carefully — a single transposed digit can send your paycheck to the wrong bank or cause it to be rejected entirely.

If the form asks for "ABA number" or "transit number," those are the same as the routing number. Some forms distinguish between ACH and wire routing numbers — for direct deposit, always use the ACH routing number, which is the one printed on your checks and listed first in your bank's mobile app.

For credit union accounts, the routing number works exactly the same way. Credit unions participate in the ACH network and support direct deposit just like banks. Look up your credit union's routing number in our lookup tool.

Step 3: Attach a Voided Check (If Required)

Some employers and older government forms still require a voided check for verification. Take any check from your checkbook, write "VOID" in large letters across the front, and attach it. The MICR line at the bottom of the check contains your routing number and account number, which payroll will use to verify what you wrote on the form.

If you don't have checks, ask your bank for a "direct deposit form" or "bank letter" — most institutions can print an official document listing your routing and account numbers. Some banks also provide a pre-filled direct deposit form in their mobile app that you can download as a PDF.

Step 4: Submit and Verify

Submit the completed form to your employer's payroll department or through the online portal. Most payroll processors take one to two pay cycles to activate direct deposit, and some will make a small test deposit (a few cents) before activating the full amount.

After your first direct deposit processes, verify the amount matches your expected pay, and confirm the money arrived in the correct account. If something went wrong — wrong account number, wrong routing number — you'll need to contact payroll immediately to correct it before the next pay cycle.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Wrong routing number type: Use the ACH routing number, not the wire transfer routing number.
• Multiple routing numbers: If your bank has routing numbers by state, use the one for the state where you opened your account.
• Leading zeros: Some account numbers start with a zero. Don't drop it — every digit matters.
• Savings vs checking: Make sure you select the correct account type. Direct deposit to a savings account may be subject to transaction limits at some institutions.

For more help finding the right routing number, explore our guides section or use our free lookup tool.