Top 10 Banks & Credit Unions That Offer Early Direct Deposit

Kait Scirri headshot Kait Scirri
Verified & Updated Feb 15, 2023
Woman checking bank balance after early direct deposit

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The direct deposit process usually takes a few days. First, your employer must send notification of funds to your bank or financial institution. The employer will typically set a release date for the funds. Most traditional banks will not release the money prior to the set date. However, some online banks and credit unions will release the funds to your account as soon as they receive them. This means you’ll get your direct deposit early — sometimes up to three days before your scheduled payday. See our related research for the list of direct deposit times at major banks.

Note: Some apps like DailyPay and PayActiv let you request earned wages prior to your next payday. Keep in mind, you can only use these platforms if your employer partners with the company. Additionally, the app will charge a fee any time you request to receive a portion of your wages early.

What We Recommend

When you’re looking to open a bank account that allows you to get your direct deposit early, Axos Bank’s Essential Checking account is a great no-fee, online account that lets you receive direct deposits up to two days early. Other online banks like Radius, Chime, and Varo also offer similar low-fee online checking accounts with early direct deposit.

If you prefer an account with the option of physical branch locations you can visit, Andigo Credit Union and Digital Federal Credit Union both have membership requirements that allow most people to join, and they offer direct deposits up to one or two days early.

The List

Below, we list the banks and credit unions that offer early direct deposit. To obtain this information, we checked each bank’s website and contacted customer service if the information was not available online. We’ve ordered the list starting with the best overall options.

Axos logo

1. Axos Bank

  • Online or brick-and-mortar: Online only
  • Early direct deposit policy: You may receive your direct deposit up to two days early, depending on when your employer sends the funds to the bank.[1]
  • Requirements: You must have an Essential Checking account and enroll in Axos’s Direct Deposit Express.[1]
  • Open an account

Chime logo

2. Chime

  • Online or brick-and-mortar: Online only
  • Early direct deposit policy: You may receive your direct deposit up to two days early, depending on when your employer sends the funds to the bank.[2]
  • Requirements: To use the Chime app for mobile banking, you must have either an Apple or Android device.
  • Open an account

Varo logo

3. Varo

  • Online or brick-and-mortar: Online only
  • Early direct deposit policy: You may receive your direct deposits up to two days early, depending on when your employer sends the funds to the bank.[3]
  • Requirements: Varo is an online-only bank that operates through an app; an Apple iPhone or Android device is required to run the app.[4]
  • Open an account

Digital Credit Union logo

4. Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU)

  • Online or brick-and-mortar: Both (located in Massachusettes and New Hampshire)[5]
  • Early direct deposit policy: You may receive your direct deposit up to two days early, depending on when your employer sends the fund to the credit union.[6]
  • Requirements: You can join DCU if you’re related to a member, work for a participating employer, or meet other criteria. Membership requirements are listed on the DCU website.
  • Open an account

GreenDot Bank logo

5. Green Dot

  • Online or brick-and-mortar: Online only
  • Early direct deposit policy: You may receive your direct deposit up to two days early, depending on when your employer gives notification of the payment.[7]
  • Requirements: Green Dot offers online and mobile banking only; you must use the mobile app or online banking website to access your account.[8]
  • Open an account

For more information, see our research on when Green Dot posts direct deposits.

Insight logo

6. Insight

  • Online or brick-and-mortar: Online only
  • Early direct deposit policy: You may get your pay up to three days early, depending on when your employer sends the funds to the bank.[9]
  • Requirements: Insight offers online and mobile banking only; you must use the mobile app or online banking website to access your account.[9]
  • Open an account

Note: Insight also provides prepaid cards, which can be used for early direct deposit as well.

Navy Federal Credit Union logo

7. Navy Federal Credit Union

  • Online or brick-and-mortar: Both
  • Early direct deposit policy: You may receive your direct deposit from the military to your Active Duty checking account one day early.[10]
  • Requirements: You or a joint account holder must be an active-duty member of the U.S. military, a reservist, or retired Armed Forces personnel in order to set up an Active Duty checking account.[11] Membership requirements are listed on the Navy Federal Credit Union website; see our related research for more on the member application process.
  • Open an account

Security Service Credit Union logo

8. Security Service Federal Credit Union (SSFCU)

  • Online or brick-and-mortar: Both
  • Early direct deposit policy: If you are an active or retired member of the military, you may receive your direct deposit from the military one to three days early, depending on when the funds are sent to the credit union.[12]
  • Requirements: You may be eligible to join the SSFCU if you live, work, or attend school in Colorado, Texas, or Utah, if you’re related to an SSFCU member, or if you are a member of select branches of the military. Membership requirements are listed on the SSFCU website. In order to qualify for early direct deposit, your funds must be from a Leave and Earnings Statement.[12] Other types of direct deposit, such as payroll or Social Security, do not qualify for early direct deposit.
  • Open an account

SEFCU logo

9. State Employees Federal Credit Union (SEFCU)

  • Online or brick-and-mortar: Both
  • Early direct deposit policy: You may receive your direct deposit to your SEFCU personal checking account up to one day early, depending on when the funds are sent to the credit union.[13]
  • Requirements: Membership requirements are listed on the SEFCU website.
  • Open an account

Langley logo

10. Langley Federal Credit Union

  • Online or brick-and-mortar: Both
  • Early direct deposit policy: You may get your paycheck up to three days early, depending on when your employer sends the funds to the credit union.[14]
  • Requirements: You can join by opening a Langley savings account with a minimum $5 balance; this account is required to get any other services including a checking account.[14]
  • Open an account

For more direct deposit options, see our research on how to get direct deposit without a bank account.

Banks That Don’t Offer Early Direct Deposit

During our research, we contacted several major banks and credit unions to ask about early direct deposit. The following banks told us that they do not release funds prior to the date specified by your employer:

  • Bank of America
  • BECU
  • Central Bank (including MetaBank)
  • Chase
  • Citibank
  • KeyBank
  • PNC
  • Regions
  • TD Bank
  • U.S. Bank
  • Wells Fargo

While Fifth Third Bank doesn’t have automatic early direct deposit, it does have a service called MyAdvance, which allows customers to borrow against a future direct deposit in the form of short-term credit.

To use this feature, you must have a minimum of $500 in qualified direct deposits added to your Fifth Third account at least every 35 days. You’ll also need to have a minimum of 35 days of direct deposit account history. This service is only available if you live in one of the following states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennesse, or West Virginia. Fees apply.[15]

  1. https://www.axosbank.com/blog/2019/11/01/19/53/3-Reasons-Why-You-Need-Early-Direct-Deposit[↩][↩]
  2. https://www.chime.com/get-paid-early/[↩]
  3. https://support.varomoney.com/hc/en-us/articles/115011614668-Does-Varo-offer-early-direct-deposit-[↩]
  4. https://varomoney.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115011460247-What-types-of-devices-are-supported-[↩]
  5. https://www.dcu.org/access/ways-to-connect/branches-atms.html[↩]
  6. https://www.dcu.org/access/money-movement/direct-deposit.html[↩]
  7. https://www.greendot.com/for-people/deposit-money/direct-deposit-asap[↩]
  8. https://www.greendot.com/helpcenter/top-questions/how-do-i-check-my-card-balance-and-transactions[↩]
  9. https://www.insightcards.com/mobile-banking[↩][↩]
  10. https://www.navyfederal.org/checking-savings/checking/active-duty-checking[↩]
  11. https://www.navyfederal.org/checking-savings/checking/active-duty-checking.html[↩]
  12. https://www.ssfcu.org/military-services/direct-deposit[↩][↩]
  13. SEFCU Customer Service online chat[↩]
  14. https://www.langleyfcu.org/checking-essential[↩][↩]
  15. https://www.53.com/content/dam/fifth-third/docs/legal/early-access-terms-and-conditions-final.pdf[↩]
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