Don't wait for payday. Here's your guide to direct deposit.
- 4 min read
What we'll cover
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Why you should use direct deposit
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Benefits of early direct deposit
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A guide to setting up direct deposit
The wait for payday can be stressful. You might be eager to put some of your paycheck toward your weekend plans or just want to make sure your bills get paid. Regardless, waiting for your money can cause anxiety. One solution to ease that stress is directly depositing your money into your bank account.
The process to set up direct deposit to your Ally Bank Spending Account is simple and straightforward, and you may be able to get your paycheck up to two days early — eliminating some of that waiting game.
Take these steps to set up direct deposit.
How to set up direct deposit
1. Open an Ally Bank Spending Account . If you already have one, congrats! You're done with this step.
2. Set up direct deposit using one of these three methods:
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Connect right from your direct deposit account page (found at the "Profile" or "Settings" tab in your account)
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Download a form to provide your employer or government payment provider
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Access your account number and our routing number to enter into your employer or payment provider site
Note: It might take 1-2 pay cycles for your direct deposit to take effect.
3. Decide if you want to split your direct deposit among multiple accounts. This is where you'll select the amount and the accounts. Note: This feature is only available if you set up direct deposit via form or directly through your payment provider.
Note: Once you've opened your Ally Bank Spending Account, you're eligible for early direct deposit and could receive your paycheck up to two days early.
If you don't see your direct deposit early, it could be because we didn't receive your payment details early, or your deposit type isn't eligible (like a transfer between bank accounts). In one statement cycle, you can receive up to eight early direct deposits per account as long as each paycheck is $10,000 or less.
Benefits of direct deposit at Ally Bank
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Automated set up: Set up direct deposit right from your account by searching for your employer and connecting directly. (As an alternate option, you can also download a pre-filled form.)
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Early direct deposit: May give you access to your direct deposit up to two days before payday (for free). Having early access to paychecks can help you avoid the headache of moving money back and forth to cover upcoming expenses at the end of the month.
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Split your direct deposit: If your employer or payment provider allows it, you can split your direct deposit across multiple accounts — so, if you want to set aside a portion of your paycheck, you can automate it and not face the temptation to spend that money.
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CoverDraft: If you do overdraw your account, CoverDraft may temporarily cover you up to $250 (standard coverage is $100). You'll have 14 days to raise your account balance above $0, with your next deposit automatically applied to the negative balance. Keep in mind, CoverDraft is a service, not a line of credit or a guarantee. If your purchase isn't covered for any reason (let's say the transaction exceeds your CoverDraft limit, for example), it will be declined – but we'll still never charge you an overdraft fee.
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Convenience: You no longer have to keep track of a paper check come payday — with direct deposit, you not only may be able to access that paycheck early, but you'll also get paid directly to your bank account.
Stay ahead of the game
At Ally, we're always looking for ways to make money less stressful. And there's nothing quite like seamlessly setting up your direct deposit and getting to payday a little early.
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