This article was subjected to a comprehensive fact-checking process. Our professional fact-checkers verify article information against primary sources, reputable publishers, and experts in the field.
Are you still getting paper paychecks or only direct depositing to your checking account? You may also be able to direct deposit into savings, eliminating the need to make additional transfers from your checking to your savings account.
I don't know about you, but one of the best strategies I know for making progress toward financial goals is automation. Direct deposit does just that — builds up your savings with every paycheck after you make the decision just once to set it up.
After you decide how you need to allocate your paychecks among checking and savings accounts, setting up direct deposit is fairly simple. Here's how it works.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
4.30%Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Minimum Balance for APY
$0
Bonus Offer
Up to $300New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit 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 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found athttp://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Why We Like It
Earn a $50 or $300 bonus and up to 4.30% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit 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 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at<a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> on your money with eligible direct deposit
Limited-Time Offer: +0.70% Boost on Savings APY for 6 months on new accounts with eligible Direct Deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
No account, overdraft, or monthly fees3 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a></p>
Get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit4 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3 million5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
You can set up direct deposit into different types of bank accounts, including savings as well as checking. All you need for direct deposit is to provide details to your employer identifying the specific account or accounts where you'd like to send your money. You might specify a dollar amount or percentage if splitting paychecks among two or more accounts.
If you're going to direct deposit into a savings account, you'll have to provide the financial institution's name and routing number and your account number to your employer. You might also need to provide your Social Security number.
What is direct deposit?
Direct deposit is a simplifying measure that allows you to receive your paychecks automatically into an eligible checking or savings account. Given the percentage of people working remotely who might not even set foot in the state or country where their employer is, it's extremely useful. No need to deal with paper checks and in-person visits to your financial institution.
Fill out your employer's paperwork, which is simple and quick and only needs to ensure your money goes to the correct account. Decide how much of your paycheck you require in checking for everyday expenses versus how much you want to sock away for the future and for emergencies.
Most banks also offer direct deposit options, and some even allow you to enroll in early direct deposit. This makes your paycheck available in your deposit account up to two business days earlier. If you need your money even faster, consider using a paycheck advance app.
The advantages of direct deposit into a savings account
Convenience
Considering you don't have to do much more than fill out a few bank details, direct deposit is a convenient way to transfer your paycheck into your savings or checking account (or both). The setup itself doesn't typically take more than a few minutes.
I'm old enough to remember the hassle of waiting for a check to arrive, driving to the bank, and filling out a deposit slip to deposit the funds. As nice as the tellers were, it was always a hassle. Direct deposit takes away that inconvenience.
The convenience factor means direct deposit also works regardless of location. If you're traveling or temporarily relocated, you don't need to stress over whether you'll get your money when you need it. It will appear in your designated bank accounts as scheduled.
Safety
While people still send checks via the mail, it can be a security risk. Your check could be delivered to the wrong address or someone could even steal it right out of your mailbox. Unless you're watching it like a hawk, you could be vulnerable to thieves looking to steal your money and your personal information.
That isn't to say that online banking information is completely safe from hackers. However, financial institutions typically have security measures in place to prevent data breaches. This includes requiring multiple-factor authentication and passwords to access your online account.
Speed
If you had the choice to receive your money sooner rather than later, you'd always pick the faster option, right? Direct deposit, whether into checking or savings, ensures you typically receive access to your funds as quickly as possible.
When it comes to your money, time is often of the essence, and mail delays could prove very costly if you end up incurring fees from overdrafting your account. Using direct deposit enables you to more reliably count on your money being deposited on time, with no unnecessary waiting.
Save Automatically
Some direct deposit programs allow you to split your paychecks between multiple accounts. This is great because you can automate your savings.
It's easier to set up automatic savings and forget about it, rather than rely on yourself to transfer funds from checking into savings every month. Even if it feels like a hardship to give up whatever amount you allocate for savings, chances are good that once it's on direct deposit, you might not even miss that money.
Direct deposit into savings enables you to save money for specific goals, including saving for a rainy day emergency fund, a car, or a house. This automated approach can be more effective than relying on your own willpower.
You can go through your budget and decide how much you want to save each pay period. For example, you might have 15% of every check directly deposited into a savings account and 85% deposited into checking.
If you're also automating investments, perhaps you have 70% of your money going into checking, 15% into savings, and 15% into a brokerage account. This covers your main financial bases without you having to think much about it on a monthly basis.
How to set up direct deposit into a savings account
When signing up for direct deposit, choose one of the best savings accounts and talk to your employer. Here's how you typically get started:
Speak to your employer's payroll department to learn their process for direct deposit.
Follow your employer's instructions, which may include signing in to an online portal.
If your employer doesn't use an online portal, you may have to fill out a direct deposit form and submit it to your human resources department.
You'll need certain information, including your name and address, bank account and routing numbers, signature, and possibly a voided check.
Select the account you want your money deposited into. You may also be able to split your paycheck between multiple accounts.
If your employer only allows you to direct deposit into one account, you can try the easy workaround that I use: internal recurring transfers at your bank. Most banks have a recurring-transfer option, so if you direct deposit your full paycheck into checking, you can automate savings with a transfer into one or more savings accounts on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis.
4.2
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Use Cash App As Your All-in-One Financial Services Platform
Bank6 <p>Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Savings provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.</p><p class="">Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Direct Deposit provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.</p> without all the fees—save, send, and spend your money the way you want.7 <p class="">Your balance is eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance through our Program Banks Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and/or Sutton Bank, Members FDIC for up to $250,000 per customer when aggregated with all other deposits held in the same legal capacity at each Program Bank above, if certain conditions are met. Cash App is a financial services platform, and not an FDIC-insured bank. Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See <a href="https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement">terms and conditions</a>. </p> Get paid up to 2 days early – up to 2 days earlier than most banks8 <p>Your first deposit may take longer depending on your employer.</p>
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
2025 award winnerBest Checking and Savings Combo
SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $300 When You Set Up Direct Deposit
Limited-Time Offer: Earn a $50 or $300 bonus and up to 4.30% APY on Savings (3.60% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit 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 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at<a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> FDIC Insured.5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Openbank High Yield Savings - 4.20% APY9 <p>Interest Rates and Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) are accurate as of 12:01 AM ET September 23, 2025. The products and rates we offer may vary between locations, are available in select markets only, and are subject to change without notice. Rate for this product will be based on the residential ZIP code entered when account is opened within online application process. This is a variable-rate account and the rate applicable may change at our discretion any time without notice. A minimum deposit of $500 is required to open a Openbank High Yield Savings account. Personal accounts only.</p>
<p>Openbank is a division of Santander Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. There is a maximum of $250,000 of deposit insurance from the FDIC per depositor for each category of account ownership. Visit FDIC.gov for details. Deposits at Santander Bank, N.A., and Openbank are combined for the purposes of calculating FDIC insurance limits (FDIC Cert #29950) and are not separately insured.</p>
Earn 10x the national savings average for Savings deposit products as published on FDIC.gov.
It depends on your situation. The main difference between checking versus savings accounts is you typically use checking accounts for everyday transactions, while savings accounts are designed for storing money. Examine your income and budget to decide how much you need in checking vs. savings.
Keep enough in checking to comfortably cover your bills, but remember that savings accounts often offer higher interest rates than checking accounts. You can earn money on your savings, especially if you have a high-yield savings account.
Can you direct deposit into any account?
You can typically direct deposit into any checking or savings account as long as your direct deposit program and financial institution allow it. To set up direct deposit, you often need to fill out a direct deposit form from your employer or financial institution and give it to your employer. Splitting paychecks among different bank accounts is typically simple as well.
Can you deposit a check into a savings account?
Yes, you can deposit a check into a savings account. Depending on your financial institution, you might be able to deposit your check in person at your local branch, by using mobile banking features on your bank's mobile app, or through an ATM if you opened a savings account with an ATM card.
How can I withdraw from a savings account?
One of the withdrawal methods from a savings account is by using an automated clearing house (ACH) transfer. An ACH transfer is an electronic transfer of funds between banks that is fast, secure, and convenient. You can typically initiate an ACH transfer online or in the app of your bank. It's common to provide information like the name, routing number, and account number of both institutions.
Bottom line
Direct deposit is often the quickest and easiest way to deposit paychecks directly into a checking or savings account. You might decide to deposit into one account over the other, depending on whether you want easy access to your funds or to help build your savings.
You can enjoy convenience and speed with direct deposit, removing unnecessary stress that can come from waiting for your money. Check out our list of the best checking accounts to find an account that meets your personal finance needs.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
2025 award winnerBest Checking and Savings Combo
High APY of up to 4.30% on Savings (3.60% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit 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 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at<a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
Paycheck access up to 2 days early with direct deposit4 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees3 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a></p>
Streamlined savings and savings goals with Vaults
Access to a large ATM network10 <p>We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.</p>
Advertiser and Editorial Disclosures
Advertiser Disclosure
FinanceBuzz is an independent, advertising-supported website. Some or all of the offers that appear on this page are from third party advertisers from which FinanceBuzz receives compensation. For example, we may receive compensation when you click on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
FinanceBuzz does not include all financial or credit offers that might be available to consumers nor do we include all companies or all available products. Information, including rates and fees, is accurate as of the publishing date and has not been provided or endorsed by the advertiser.
The credit card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which FinanceBuzz receives compensation such as banks or CardRatings.com.
Editorial Policy
The FinanceBuzz editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make financial decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
FinanceBuzz makes money when you click the links on our site to some of the products and offers that we mention. These partnerships do not influence our opinions or recommendations.
FinanceBuzz reviews and rates products on a variety of quantitative and qualitative criteria. Whenever possible we test each product and include our honest, firsthand experience using it. Read more about how we rate products.
Partners are not able to review or request changes to our content except for compliance reasons. Financial products are highly regulated so we work closely with partners to make sure the information we have on our site is accurate and includes any required legal language and disclaimers.
We aim to make sure everything on our site is up-to-date and accurate as of the publishing date, but we cannot guarantee we haven't missed something. It's your responsibility to double-check all information before making any financial decision. If you spot something that looks wrong, please let us know.
Thanks for subscribing!
Please check your email to confirm your subscription.
/images/2018/01/23/navina-side-hustle-mid_MPfEDfV.jpg)
/images/2019/12/06/smart_strategies_to_save_money_on_car_insurance.jpg)
/images/2022/03/17/young-asian-woman-on-cell-phone.jpg)
/authors/ben_walker_updated.png)
/authors/kate-underwood-headshot.jpg)
/images/2024/07/31/sofi_logo_-_cropped.png){kind=logo}
/images/2025/06/19/cash_app_logo_rO38hx9.png){kind=logo}
/images/2024/07/31/sofi_logo_-_cropped.png){kind=logo}
/images/2025/11/10/1137b0a2-f997-4c0c-b539-a36ba793a594.png)
/images/2024/07/31/sofi_logo_-_cropped.png){kind=logo}
